'A Wight Carry On' - A Huge Success

The fire-fighters and families of Ryde Fire Station are pleased and proud to report the successful completion of ‘A Wight Carry On’.

As scheduled the event began at Ryde’s Western Gardens on the morning of Friday 19th August with BBC Radio Solent and South Today television crews in attendance.

We knew that the task was a gruelling one and the sunshine and heat of the Friday cast a beautiful backdrop but added a further dimension to the individual discomfort and fatigue for the participating crews. The progress on Friday gradually forged ahead of schedule until the sun disappeared from the skies as the ladder crews descended past Blackgang, through Chale and on to the Military Road.

In diminishing light the views were spectacular along the island’s Jurassic coast until complete darkness enveloped the ladder at the Whale Chine check-point. The remainder of the 19.5 mile stretch between Ventnor Fire Station and its next counterpart in Freshwater was a test of character for all involved, trudging slowly along the long and winding road. It was gratifying to discover that rather than withdraw in to ourselves and suffer in silence the mood of the night was recovered by an almost endless sing-song of popular music ranging from Elvis to Oasis; apologies may be due to the scattered residents of that region for the cacophony briefly disturbing them as the spirited ladder crew marched on.

The exertions of the day and evening had bought us time which permitted a longer rest period at Freshwater Fire Station than had been expected where two exceptional individuals from that station took the effort to haul themselves out of their comfortable beds at home and arrive at about half-past three to put the kettle on and make sure we felt at home. It was a simple gesture of great value that the Ryde fire-fighters shall not forget.

Just after four-thirty in the morning the ladder continued to Yarmouth and brought with it the first rays of light; becoming full daylight by the time the Yarmouth Institute was reached and the indefatigable June Ring and her helpers prepared and served us a superb early breakfast.

With full bellies the ladder was pushed on towards Carisbrooke, then on to Newport where White Watch escorted us through the town, before setting a northerly course for Cowes, experiencing the only drizzle of the event before crossing the Medina to East Cowes. Here the station turned out to provide an escort through their patch with a brief stop at Station A3 where the drinks were as appreciated as the welcome.

The grey clouds proved a brief dampener and as the Fishbourne check-point was breached the sun returned with a searing heat. Despite the possibilities for dehydration, the sleep deprivation and sheer hard work of the previous sixty-four miles all crews were now buzzing and passed through Binstead with a spring in the step, dwelling momentarily to celebrate with Maher Ross, one of our corporate sponsors, who had kindly provided pizzas and drinks served by their enthusiastic and supportive staff and families who applauded us as we reached their premise.

The ladder was raised again for the final stretch where we were met on Lind Street, Ryde, by bagpiper Dr Kieron Cooney who piped our return through the town and along the Esplanade before we terminated the event at The Solent Inn where curry and drinks were ready and waiting!

Finally, around an hour later, we hauled the ladder once more at the fore of the Ryde Carnival Main Procession, lead by an incredible band of pipes and drums we were humbled by the applause and cheers directed our way by so many of the people lining the streets of the town which we serve.

One matter that was kept discreetly quiet for her sake prior to the event was the inclusion of Lisa Fletcher in the ladder crew. Lisa is the widow of Crew Manager Paul Fletcher, our colleague whose untimely death in August 2009 laid root to the plan for this event and the cause for which we undertook it. Lisa asked us if she could participate and we were overwhelmed to have her with us, she was a fantastic attribute to the team and matched us step by step over every mile of the route.

Finally the fire-fighters and Lisa wish to extend thanks to so many individuals, organisations and businesses that supported us, too many to list on this page, that we can only do that broadly and hope that the sincerity is identified for without that level of support we could never have achieved what we did.

Equally as servants of Ryde we were overwhelmed by the support, appreciation, generosity and goodwill with which we were blessed by the residents of our home town and many others across the island. During these difficult social and economic times it is sometimes hard to see the positive things in society; but for us at the station we have seen unfettered optimism during the months of planning, fund-raising and on the route itself and for this we thank you all, the people of Ryde and across the island, for the way you have followed us, supported us and joined in the celebration of our achievements.

Long may the spirit of ‘A Wight Carry On’ live on as a tribute to Paul Fletcher and in testament to the good in us all.