'Quirky' chain-ferry challenge in memory of friend

Five friends have completed a charity fundraising event using all seven vehicle chain ferry routes in the UK within a 24-hour period.

The group, from the Isle of Wight, are thought to be the first people to complete the challenge.

They began on 10 June in Cumbria, where they crossed Lake Windermere, and finished on 11 June on the King Harry Ferry across the River Fal in Cornwall.

The friends were raising money in memory of Daniel Demissie who passed away in 2019. It began when they were on the Isle of Wight chain ferry discussing what an "obscure" mode of transport it was.

Talking about how the idea to raise money for a suicide prevention charity arose, the friends said they had a conversation about chain ferries during the summer after A-levels.

Edmund Phillips said:"I think one night after I'd finished work, I must have been on the chain ferry with him [Dan].

"We were joking about what an odd mode of transport a chain ferry is, how obscure they were."

Phillips continued: "By the time we got off the ferry, we were sort of doubled over with laughter.

"It was just one of those very funny and memorable conversations.

"And then later, when sadly we were at his funeral, in the eulogy there was an allusion to passing on being like a boat, setting sail for another shore, and that brought to my mind in that moment that conversation."

Describing Demissie, Phillips said he was a "brilliant guy" and was "exceptionally talented".

He added: "He stood out amongst our peer group for the degree of his cultural interest.

"He was always reading things, always listening to music that no one else had heard of, always had his head in fascinating books, and he was just extremely gentle, patient, kind."

Nearly seven years on from his passing, the group decided to raise money in memory of Demissie by taking on a challenge involving chain ferries.

Phillips said: "I just know that he [Dan] would love it. He would love the quirkiness of it, and the absurdity of it, you know.

"He loved that kind of stuff. I can see him smiling and chuckling about it right now."

The group spent time planning the 750 miles (1207km) challenge, factoring in ferry times, ferry loading and offloading time, driving times and EV battery performance and charging.

Rules included the clock starting when the first ferry moves, the same car being used throughout the challenge completing all seven crossings.

The challenge is raising money for Campaign Against Living Miserably, a suicide prevention charity that provides life-saving services and practical mental health support to anyone who needs it.

Phillips said they want to help raise awareness about what the charity does: "The fact that you could have a friend who seems well and is interacting with you in normal ways and behind the scenes may be going through an appallingly tough time."

The team completed the challenge in 23 hours, 56 minutes and 56 seconds

Speaking on the way to the Sandbanks Ferry in Dorset they said when they crossed the finish line they would feel "ecstatic, relieved" and it would be "quite emotional".

Richard Biggs added: "Deep down, we know we're gonna do it and that's a great feeling, and it's a great feeling that we're doing it because we're remembering a great friend of ours as well."

A vehicle chain ferry, also known as a floating bridge or cable ferry, is a specialised vessel that transports cars, bicycles, and pedestrians across a body of water by pulling itself along heavy chains or cables that rest on the river or seabed.

They emerged as a way to cross shallow or fast-flowing water and remain highly practical alternatives to bridges due to their low profile and ability to navigate tight spaces.

• Windermere Ferry, crosses Lake Windermere, linking Far Sawrey and Bowness-on-Windermere in the Lake District.

• Reedham Ferry, across the River Yare in Norfolk.

• Isle of Wight Floating Bridge, crosses the River Medina, connecting Cowes and East Cowes.

• Sandbanks Ferry, crosses Poole Harbour, connecting Sandbanks to Studland on the Isle of Purbeck.

• Dartmouth Higher Ferry, crosses the River Dart, connecting Dartmouth to Kingswear.

• Torpoint Ferry, crosses the River Tamar, connecting Devonport to Torpoint in Cornwall.

• King Harry Ferry, crosses the River Fal, connecting Feock with the Roseland Peninsula.

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