Isle of Wight Observer August 18, 1860
ISLE OF WIGHT VOLUNTEER RIFLES
It is with great pleasure that we announce that a presentation of silver bugles will be made to the first and third companies of the above corps by the ladies of Ryde on Thursday next. By the kind permission of Miss Player, the interesting ceremony will take place in Ryde-house Park, and their will be other festivities on the same day. As stated elsewhere in to-day’s Observer, a cricket match will begin at 10 o’clock in the morning in the Park, and the stumps will be drawn at 5 o’clock whether finished or not, but most probably it will be long before that hour. The band of the Ryde Rifles will be in attendance at 2 o’clock, and will play during the afternoon. The presentation of bugles will take place at 6 o’clock, and doubtless there will be a very large gathering, should the weather be favourable for the purpose. This event will be one we shall look forward to with hopeful anticipations, as it will be a distinctive mark of public approbation in favour of this great national movement in our locality, and one of which we are justly proud. By-the-bye, we cannot understand why it is that the honorary secretary withholds every kind of information from us; thus leaving it entirely to chance whether we hear of intended events, or not. NB Since writing the above we hear that a ball, in honour of the occasion, will be held at the Victoria Rooms in the evening on that day.
THE LONDON VOLUNTEER ARTILLERY
Verily, Ryde is becoming quite military. On Monday afternoon, the first detachment of the above corps landed on the Pier, and were met by our Rifle Volunteers, and their respective bands enlivened the scene; the second arriving on the day following. The London corps ( about 150) proceeded to Sandown Bay, where they undergo a fortnight’s practise, and a more fitting spot could not be selected. On Thursday, they joined the Isle of Wight corps in battalion practise on Mersley Down, and the evolutions were of a very attractive character. The London and Ryde bands blended, and played in unison in fine style during the afternoon, which performance elicited unbounded applause. Indeed, this was the muster that should have been attended by the inhabitants of the Island; and, should there be a repetition of the same, we hope it will be accompanied by a half-holiday, so to enable all to participate in the spectacle.
