The Ryde Slide

The Ryde Slide

Wayne Whittle, deputy chair of Ryde Business Association , introduced the idea of a Ryde Slide a long time ago having been told about the Bristol Screamer. When he saw pictures of the Screamer, he realised it looked just like Union Street in Ryde and so why shouldn’t he arrange a giant water slide to raise money for charity. The idea was born and gathered momentum until finally on July 12th 2015 the day arrived. The roads were closed, the Ryde slide was set up and much fun was had by all. Julie and I (aka the Giggly Grannies) had no intention of riding – that was for others not for us – it would be too fast and scare the living daylights out of us. However, it appeared, on the day,  that The Ryde Slide was not as fast as we feared so we set off , raised about £60 in sponsorship for the Ryde Slide Trust  there and then and took to the slide. I hadn’t bought any spare clothes – good job I was offered a lift home :) Would we do it again? You bet!

Ryde slide

 

Shipwreck Isle

Shipwreck Isle

 

poster - ship wreck isleWhat a fun weekend. As chair of the Ryde Business association, I had the opportunity to promote Shipwreck Isle in Barclays Bank in Ryde two days before the event!

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It it was a fun day but not sure I’ll be invited back after holding up the bank manager

image  And staff – held to ransom for their pieces of 8 :)

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Barclays UK responded to my son’s tweet and commented on the fun we have in Ryde!

I also promoted the pirate day after the Mardi Gras as the town was packed with happy people many of whom had not heard about Shipwreck Isle coming to Ryde. Look who I met on my travels.

Jack sparrow lookalike Graham Stevens

Sunday arrived and Ryde was awash with swashbuckling Buccaneers

lots of prates

 

 

 

providing fantastic free family entertainment on Appley Beach all day with stalls to buy pirate items and fruit both very well supported . There were many Jack Sparrow lookalikes who happily posed for all those wishing to take photographs.

imageThe girls danced and the Samba band played

 

imageLots of fun was had by all

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and there were a lot of Jack Sparrow lookalikes who were happy to pose for photographs.

Lyn with two Jack sparrows

During the day it was estimated there were between 3000 and 4000 people and here Neil Southwell of Southwell photography‘s  picture shows many  of them . The event lasted from 11 until 6 .

 

southwell photography

Members of the Ryde Business association organised a pirate spotting competition in the town

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and Rhiannon of Costa coffee executed it. They also ran pirate activities to keep thje children amused.

Thanks to Costa coffee , Quakers about crafts, Kollective Gifts for donating prizes .

The event was organised by Visit Isle of Wight who did a marvellous job. It truly was a fun family day .

Thanks to Graham Reading for all the wonderful pictures and thank you to Masqueryde for my super duper pirate outfit.

 

And finally thank you to Graham Stevens – Jack Sparrow lookalike who gave the following testimonial when he noticed how much tweeting I had done to promote the Shipwreck Isle.

 

To say I had a fun day would be an understatement. So many things happening in Ryde. Ryde rocks :)