The team at the Museum of Ryde, part of the Historic Ryde Society, would like to wish all our visitors and the wider community a very Happy Easter! Spring has arrived in Ryde, bringing with it new life, colour, and a wonderful opportunity to explore the rich and often surprising history of our town. To celebrate the season, we are delighted to invite families, locals, and visitors alike to take part in our Easter Bunny Hunt, set throughout the museum. Hidden among our fascinating exhibits, you will discover clues, stories, and a few surprises along the way—perfect for children and just as enjoyable for the young at heart. Located in the unique setting of the Royal Victoria Arcade, our museum offers far more than a seasonal activity. From remarkable local artefacts to intriguing stories—including Ryde’s colourful past and its unexpected connections—you will find something to spark curiosity at every turn. Whether you are visiting for the first time or returning to uncover something new, Easter is the perfect moment to step inside and experience the charm of the Museum of Ryde. Join us, follow the trail, and celebrate Easter with a touch of history. We look forward to welcoming you.

  We hope you are all enjoying the recent beautiful weather and the welcome signs of spring, with bluebells beginning to appear across the island. As the season unfolds, we are delighted to be preparing a range of children’s Easter activities at the museum. Young visitors are invited to join us to create Easter cards and crafts for family and friends—an enjoyable and creative way to celebrate the holiday. Alongside these activities, visitors can explore our fascinating local history displays, including the ever-popular Donald McGill postcards, offering a light-hearted glimpse into the past. Opening TimesTuesday to Saturday: 10:30am – 4:00pm (last entry at 3:15pm) Admission Adults: £5 Children: £1 Under 8s: Free All tickets are valid for 14 days, and annual memberships are also available. We are currently looking for new volunteers to join our team. If you are interested in getting involved, please visit our website for more information: 👉 https://historicrydesociety.com We look forward to welcoming you soon.

Set during the 2nd World War 4th in the series, All About Peggy is a captivating account of a Red Cross Nurse on the Isle of Wight. The air raids persist, and Peggy continues to live as normal a life as possible. She finds romance and adventures with Brian as they begin a new chapter together in the uncertain times. Susan CourtBA Hons in English & Applied Linguistics Jo succeeds admirably in capturing the mood of Britain at a decisive moment in our history. Fiona NewnhamBrothers B.E.M. Enticed into Nurse Peggy’s world during WWII, you will be kept on your toes, interleaving with real life events and the horrors of war. Set on the Isle of Wight, with sweetheart Brian, the couple experience many dangers.

On Friday we said a very heartfelt farewell to one of the Museum of Ryde’s most treasured volunteers, Alan Brading, who has decided to step down after an extraordinary 15 years of dedicated service. For a decade and a half Alan has generously given his time, knowledge, and enthusiasm to help bring the history of Ryde to life for countless visitors. His kindness, wisdom, and quiet dedication have made him not only a valued member of our volunteer team, but also a dear friend of the museum. His presence will truly be missed by all of us. Alan has helped preserve and share the story of our town with great care and passion, and we are deeply grateful for everything he has contributed over the years. We wish him all the very best for the future and sincerely hope that the museum will always remain a place he feels connected to. The door will always be open for him to come back and visit whenever he wishes. Alan’s retirement also reminds us how important our volunteers are. We are currently in urgent need of new volunteers to help continue the work of sharing Ryde’s remarkable history with the community. Anyone

  BREW – We would like to say a warm welcome to BREW who has joined us and the marvellous unique shops in The Royal Victoria Arcade in Union Street Ryde. BREW opened for the first on 18 February. BREW is just upstairs to our Museum which re-opened this week – The museum is open from 10.30 to 4.00 with last admission at 3.15 – Tuesdays to Saturday – £5 admission £1 children ( age 8-16) and under 8’s free and your ticket lasts for 14 days. Plenty of local history including ghosts and runaway bears Sportsmen, Policemen, An Ice Well and Cheeky Works of Donald McGill.