Ryde Scouts Go Behind The Scenes On Wightlink Ferry

Young people from a Ryde Scout group have been given a behind-the-scenes look at life on board a ferry as part of their journey towards one of scouting’s top awards.

Members of the 5th Ryde Scout Group spent an evening at the terminals and on board Wightlink’s St Clare, learning how the service operates and the roles involved in keeping passengers and crew safe.

The visit formed part of the group’s wider programme aimed at building practical skills and offering new experiences.

It also contributes towards their World and Adventure Challenge Awards, which count towards the Chief Scout’s Gold Award.

During the trip, Scouts explored the vessel and were invited onto the bridge, where Captain Tim Bills demonstrated how the ferry is operated and explained the responsibilities of his role.

Group leader Jamie Dowsett said the experience had a lasting impact on those involved.

He said:

“The Scouts had an amazing time, learning frontline life skills that will be essential as they grow and eventually become independent.

"A big thank you to Wightlink for making it all possible.”

Wightlink’s Head of Customer Experience, Sara Howden, said the company was pleased to welcome the group.

She added:

“It was a pleasure to host the 5th Ryde Scouts on our Portsmouth–Fishbourne route.

"We were able to show how the port operates, from loading procedures to the facilities on board.

“The group particularly enjoyed touring the vessel and visiting the bridge with Captain Tim Bills and his team.

"We were delighted to share an insight into our daily operations and loved their enthusiasm throughout.”