The initial construction of Totland Bay Pier was commissioned by the Totland Bay Hotel and completed in 1880. Never one of the front runners, Totland Pier began humbly with a small amusement pavilion on one end and a shed on the other. Steamer traffic from the mainland kept things humming in the early days, but by 1931 the pier had fallen into such a state of disrepair that ferry services and pleasure cruises were discontinued. Reconstruction after the Second World War led to the return of the steamers and throughout the fifties and sixties, Totland Pier seemed to be on the up. Sadly, by 1969 the visiting craft had dried up again and the pier faced another period of decline that has continued to the present, with ownership passing through a number of private hands. The amusement arcade was destroyed in the 1987 hurricane.

Totland Bay Pier may not be much to write home about these days, but the beach is still popular and kept clean by the local council, and the Pier Head café has kept open to the public; other local attractions include nearby Totland Church Hall, where you may be lucky enough to catch folksters such as the Old Rope String Band. Totland’s also good for celebrity spotting: Police 5’s Shaw Taylor (“keep ‘em peeled”) is a local resident - and he lives next door to Bill Pertwee, aka “Warden Hodges” from Dad’s Army!

Incidentally, if you happen to see Bill Pertwee whilst visiting Totland Pier, don’t be tempted to shout out one of his catchphrases (such as “put that light out!”). The correct response when encountering one of the few surviving members of the Dad’s Army cast is to confuse them with Clive Dunn and flap your hands around in front of their face while repeatedly shouting “don’t panic, don’t panic Mr Mainwaring!” Unless it actually is Clive Dunn, in which case you should say “f-fetch a cloth, Granville.”

Final Word

“And I’m expecting Syd Barrett
Hello Syd Barrett
Probably selling ice creams
Strawberry ice creams
Perhaps down on Totland Pier”

From Diamond Wight by Keith Gore

Keith Gore is originally from Mansfield. He drives the Southern Vectis bus from Yarmouth to Needles and can be heard singing Diamond Wight on Vaguely Sunny – an Isle of Wight Rock Anthology. He describes his delivery as “like a sardonic Tony Hancock by way of Billy Bragg”.