Island Life Magazine Ltd February/March 2013 | Page 36

FEATURE

Cole on fire as Neil
is awarded BEM
company, but because he only wanted
shock, because I think there are more
Neil Cole has never forgotten his
to work for them in the winter, and
deserving causes out there.”
first experience as a fire fighter. He
be on the beach in the summer, he got
Neil attended Shanklin C of E
and a mate were sitting outside the
School, and worked on Shanklin beach the sack. That prompted a full-time
Fisherman’s Cottage pub in Shanklin,
return to the beach; eventually getting
as an eight-year-old, putting out and
when a chimney fire began in the
his own pedal boat business, and then
collecting deckchairs. He recalled: “I
thatched building, writes Peter White.
a beach plot in 1976 – and he has been
was paid with either an ice cream or
Quick-think Neil grabbed a ladder,
there ever since.
ice lolly!”
and he and his mate, Chris Mackett,
Neil said: “The biggest changes
dampened down the fire with
I have seen are the reduction
buckets of sea water until the
in the numbers of people who
fire brigade arrived. He said:
go down to the beach, and the
“We weren’t going to leave
lack of sand on it – and I firmly
because we had a couple of
believe the latter is down to
pints in, so we fought the fire
dredging in Sandown Bay. You
instead!”
cannot see the damage that is
On the back of those actions,
being done, but it is like open
Neil was invited to become a
cast mining in the middle of the
part-time fireman, and now
sea.”
some 35 years later he remains a
Neil joined Shanklin fire
retained fire fighter at Shanklin.
service in February, 1978 – after
He is also a well-known figure
helping avert a ‘burn-down’
on the Esplanade at Shanklin as
of the Fisherman’s Cottage.
a longshoreman, as well as being
Ironically, a couple of years later
an active charity worker. Among
he helped fight another fire at
his charity duties have been
the same location, but this time
numerous trips to Romania to
it burned down completely.
deliver clothes to the country’s
Among his fund-raising feats
poverty-stricken street children.
for charity have been walks in
Those are some of the reasons
full breathing apparatus from
why Neil was awarded the
Newport to First Brigade HQ in
British Empire Medal in the
London, on no fewer than four
Queen’s New Year’s honours.
occasions – covering 78 miles
He will receive his gong from
each time.
the Lord Lieutenant of the Isle
Neil pictured on the beach at Shanklin with grand daughter Evie
He has made regular
of Wight, Martin White, and
1,600-mile trips to Romania
later this year he and his wife
since 2005 to help youngsters in need,
He later worked on Welcome Beach,
Marie will attend a garden party at
and closer to home he regularly picks
and one of his tasks was rolling a big
Buckingham Palace.
up and delivers items for the annual
milk churn down the steps to a beach
Neil smiled: “When the letter came
Shanklin Rotary Club sale.
cafe. He reckoned: “Sometimes the
through that I had been awarded
Neil added: “If any charity out there
milk had nearly turned to butter by
the BEM I thought it as a wind-up
is looking for a driver to help them out
the time I got it there.”
from my fire service colleagues, but
occasionally, then I will always do my
When Neil left school he was
then I had a good look and realised
best to be there.”
employed by an Island removal
it was genuine. It was a bit of a
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