By Isle of Wight Observer
The Isle of Wight has paid tribute to emergency services personnel at a special flag-raising ceremony outside County Hall, Newport, last Tuesday.
The event marked national Emergency Services Day, also known as 999 Day, and brought together civic leaders, councillors and representatives from the Island’s services to honour the nearly two million people serving in the NHS, police, fire, ambulance, and search and rescue across the UK.
At 9am, the 999 Day flag was raised by Andrew Woodford of the IW Coastguard, followed by a two-minute silence in memory of those who lost their lives in the line of duty.
Council chairman, Cllr Ian Dore, led the ceremony, offering words of thanks and remembrance. He said the bravery and commitment of the emergency services was often unseen but never unappreciated, describing them as “the backbone of our communities.”
Those attending included Mrs Caroline Peel DL, representing the IW Lieutenancy, the High Sheriff, Jacqueline Gazzard, IW Council vice-chairman, Cllr Vanessa Churchman, Chief Inspector Andy MacDonald of Hampshire & IW Constabulary, Louise Walker from the IW NHS Trust and Ambulance Service, Sean Harrison of the IW Fire & Rescue Service, and representatives from Cowes RNLI, WightSAR and the SS Independent Lifeboat.