By Mal Butler
The ‘Christmas Spirit’ is alive and well on the Island, as a family of four was offered free hotel accommodation in Ryde following a teatime kitchen fire on Saturday.
Lew Carpenter, 45, was having tea with his mother, Jennifer, at the family home in St John’s Road, Ryde, while waiting for his sister, Hayley, and niece, Stephanie, to return from their shop, the Stitching Elmers. Lew, who is assistant manager at the Salvation Army shop in Ryde, explained: “It was around 5.40pm and we were just finishing off eating while waiting for the girls to return home, although they are often late shutting up on a Saturday.
“I could smell smoke coming from the kitchen and realised there was a fire there. We had a dodgy hob on the cooker and occasionally when it had been turned off, the flame came back on.
“I quickly got Mum out through the back of the house and went to the front to call the fire brigade. By now, I could see the flames billowing out of the building. An off-duty fire officer was passing and asked me if there was a door between the kitchen and hallway, so I went back in and closed it.
“I then went around the back and got Mum out of the garden through the garage and into the street.
“The fire brigade was on the scene within five or six minutes and went in to put out the flames. However, on a bitterly cold night, they said we couldn’t stay in the house because they had turned off the gas and electricity.”
That is when the homeless family realised there was a wonderful community spirit in the town. The fire brigade contacted the Red Cross on their behalf, and in turn the Red Cross spoke to Dale Hillier, the founder of the town’s Veteran’s Hub and Veteran’s Hotel, which offers free support and holidays to former members of the Armed Forces.
Lew added: “I spoke to Dale and he offered us four rooms free of charge, just like that; I couldn’t believe it. They put us up for the night and then a friend, who has a two-bedroom holiday let, said we could stay there. So we have been there for the week and hope to be back in our house this weekend.
“Dale was amazing and so were our neighbours and the fire brigade – what a community we have got!”
The Ryde Hotel’s generosity comes as they celebrated a double anniversary of their opening this week and two years since the Veteran’s Hub was set up. Dale said: “We are here for the veterans, but we will help anyone in need. We had the rooms available so, of course, we offered them to the family.
“Over the last year, at various times, we have taken in 11 homeless veterans and given away 47 free respite holidays to veterans and their families. We also gave free rooms to the victims of the recent floods in Ryde, and raised £670 for them from a raffle. We’re here to make a difference.”
Isle of Wight Observer