Masqueryde is a member of the Ryde Business Association and I took a trip round it using the periscope app. It is marvellous to be able to share our Ryde Shops with the world. Sally and Julie have provided costumes for school plays, giggly grannies shows fancy dress parties and for Bestival – the Biggest dressing up party in the world probably.
So check it out at – Masqueryde – a real Alladin’s Cave
Be sure to pay a visit whether you want to buy or hire 
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!
What 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!
It it was a fun day but not sure I’ll be invited back after holding up the bank manager
And staff – held to ransom for their pieces of 8
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.
Sunday arrived and Ryde was awash with swashbuckling Buccaneers
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.
The girls danced and the Samba band played
Lots of fun was had by all
and there were a lot of Jack Sparrow lookalikes who were happy to pose for photographs.
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 .
Members of the Ryde Business association organised a pirate spotting competition in the town
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
That’s right I said the pirates are coming and I am taking my role as the Chair of Ryde Business Association quite seriously as you can see.. Shipwreck Isle if on 28th June and the pirates are coming so I thought it only right that I ought to be prepared. I have been to see Sally at Masqueryde, to order my pirate costume but thought I’d pop in and see Emma and Stuart at the Tourist Information Point in their shop, Kollective Gifts to see what “pirate” goodies they had.
As we looked around the shop we found quite a few “pirate” items. We found flags
we found a pirate ship
cutlasses and hats and pirate buckets and spades. In the absence of eye patches, Stuart got creative and cut up a black piece of rubber to do the job. We planned a pirate spotting competition around the town with the help of Laura, Julie and Rhianon (manager of Costa coffee. There will be a lot of fun as we celebrate Shipwreck Isle as the pirates gather on Appley Beach
So as the chair of Ryde Business Association, I urge you all to come and enjoy yourself. For those of you across the water board your ship and join us for what promises to be a very fun filled swashbuckling day with music, competitions, storytelling,renactment music, fun and laughter.
You arggggggh going to have a good time ! and what’s more its FREE.