Ryde Inshore Rescue were assisted by Peter Andre, and the crew of the “Here to Help!” TV programme realising their dreams.
For anyone who has not seen this programme Peter Andre and a team of others are given a project to complete. The aim is to get local businesses and trades people to donate products and time to the cause. (Similar to “Challenge Anneka” in the early 1990’s.) In return for the help or goods Peter has to do a job, favour or challenge for the supplier
Peter Andre and his team of ‘Here to Help’ took on one of their biggest challenges at Ryde (IoW) to replace the existing felt roof of Ryde Inshore Rescue, an independent lifeboat station which is on call to H M Coast Guard, 365 days of the year. Despite popular belief, just like 60 other lifeboat stations within the United Kingdom they are not part of the RNLI and do not receive funding from them or the government. They survive solely on the generosity of the public and with running costs of around £30,000 each year they need people to be generous!! So when Peter Andre and the team of Here to Help came to the island it became a real community effort.
Peter had to enlist the services of local scaffolders, roofers and strike a deal with a builders merchant to obtain thousands of pounds worth of materials. Travis Perkins came on board with the majority of supplies but in return Peter had to clean their gentlemen’s toilet. TP were unable to fulfil the whole request for roofing materials and ‘Team Andre’ was directed to Sydenhams at Ryde for assistance.
Kevin Clarke, Manager at Ryde BM was at the Group Meeting at the time of filming and when Peter Andre and the cameras descended on the branch asking for help in the way of materials in exchange for a task or job to be done Joz made the call to Kevin to confirm that this could be arranged and it was agreed for the 18 rolls of Iko torch on felt to be taken for the project. In return, as it was such a surprise to Sydenhams and the staff there on the day he was given the simple task of leaving the branch with a number of pages from a notepad with his autograph on it.
During the four day project, the volunteers at Ryde Inshore Rescue were still on full alert as 1800 yachts sailed through the Solent as part of the JP Morgan round the island yacht race. The Rescue team attend 27 separate incidents in a 7 hour shift, highlighting the dire need for their centre to be fully functional.
After four gruelling days Peter and the Team made Rescue staff dreams come true. The materials were used to repair the leaky roof of the lifeboat station and the event was celebrated with a party on the sea front, uniting the community, raising funds and attracting new recruits.