After more than 3 decades of dedicated service, Firefighter Ross Singleton has stepped down from his on-call role at Ryde Fire Station, bringing an end to 34 years of commitment to the Isle of Wight community.
Ross joined Ryde Fire Station on 1st October 1991 and has been widely respected for his positive attitude, professionalism, and willingness to support others both inside and outside the service.
Alongside his firefighting duties, Ross worked as a teacher at HMP Isle of Wight, later moving into a fixed-term contract with Ryde’s Green Watch following his retirement from the prison service. He then secured a wholetime position at Southsea Fire Station, where he continues to serve on White Watch.
Over his 34 years of service, Ross responded to countless incidents in Ryde and surrounding areas, supported local initiatives such as The Prince’s Trust, and acted as a union representative for on-call firefighters. He also regularly gave his time to assist colleagues with pension matters and welfare support.
Although Ross requested ‘no fuss’ upon stepping down, his colleagues at Ryde Fire Station organised a surprise farewell gathering on Tuesday (21st October). More than 50 people attended the event, including past and present crew members, former chiefs, training staff, and even the Station Officer and Sub Officer who originally interviewed him in 1991.
Ross’s departure marks the end of an era for the Ryde crew, where his dedication and presence have left a lasting impact.
While his on-call alerter has now been retired, Ross remains an active part of the fire and rescue service in his wholetime role at Southsea.
Ryde Fire Station has thanked Ross for his outstanding service and contribution to the local community, wishing him all the best in the next stage of his firefighting career.
