Showing posts with label Gary Reid. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gary Reid. Show all posts

Monday, 21 August 2017

Local Hero




For the past month there has been a huge tree root sitting close to the moat entrance, this threatened to block the moat during the next big spate. It has been on my mind for weeks, and I have been waiting for a spring tide to move it away from the area. I purchased  a 50 metre rope with the idea of tying it to the root and the Merryton bridge so as to allow the rising tide to swing it away from the moat channel. However it became obvious that it needed a push as well. This week has a spring tide and I am now feeling my age, so needed an action man to give us a hand. My first thought was to contact local supporter and tradesman Gary Reid who tackled the same problem for us 5 years ago, by moving a massive tree root  from the moat all by himself. Gary is a star, and was quick to offer his services by donning his wet suit and wading into the river during the dark, hitching a rope onto it and tying it to the Merryton bridge supports. High tide was at midnight but Gary rocked that root around until it was shifted into the main river channel before 11pm tonight. Gary has been a real local hero to the Trust, and avoided the Trust having to get a local contractor with all the red tape that would have involved. The Trust is very grateful to our local hero, Thank you Gary.

Saturday, 5 May 2012

Grateful to Gary


Today's high tide gave me an opportunity to try and rid the Moat of the huge tree root stuck there. I donned the chest waders and struggled and moved the monster for half an hour, before giving up when it stuck fast. Local tradesman and wind surfing enthusiast Gary Reid saw my struggles, offered to don his wetsuit and have a go at shifting it. Gary heroically grappled with the monster, pulling, pushing and rocking it over the stones and ultimately swimming it into midstream to be carried off with the ebb tide ! I tried to take a photo of Gary's triumph but my camera was soaked - although I had it in a top pocket ...what a cost to keep the moat clear. My Grateful thanks to Gary !