Guernsey Press

Cheshire Home and Wigwam users enjoy day on the water

A CHARITY which gives disabled and disadvantaged people the chance to enjoy a boat trip was in Guernsey on Saturday and several islanders took advantage of the opportunity.

Published
Cheshire Home user Marie Le Tissier comes up the ramp after her boat trip. (Pictures by Peter Frankland 30992610)

Wetwheels is based in Jersey and after being chartered to take a group of people to Herm on Saturday, it was decided to offer some Guernsey residents a short trip.

Thanks to sponsors PraxisIFM and Livingroom, Cheshire Home residents and youngsters from the Wigwam group were able to take to the water.

The trippers were taken down the east coast to Fermain, giving them the chance to enjoy the sea-side view of some of the island’s coastal properties, and on their way back to St Peter Port Harbour they were also able to get closer to the visiting cruise ship Hamburg, moored in the Russell.

One of the passengers from the Cheshire Home was given the chance to take the helm, too.

‘I had a go at driving the boat, it was nice,’ said Colin Elliston.

Crew member Susan Hollick said Mr Elliston had spent about half an hour on the wheel, going around the liner.

Cheshire Home resident Jean Ceillam could hardly remember the last time she had taken a boat trip.

‘I think it was to Jersey,’ she said.

She and all the other passengers had a great time.

‘I’ll come again.’

Carer Karyn Marsh said there had been a lot of interest in the trip.

‘Others would liked to have come but they are not very well at the moment.

‘It’s nice we have been able to go out because they’ve been stuck inside for such a long time.’

Skipper Richard Hollick said that next year the charity would like to spend a week in Guernsey, taking more people out on trips, and hoped to find sponsors.

n Wetwheels was founded by disabled yachtsman Geoff Holt and launched its first boat in Portsmouth in 2011.

The Jersey boat was introduced in 2013 and since then, boats have been launched in Hamble, Whitby, Dover and Falmouth. The next one is due to be in Edinburgh, later this year.