Changing Of The Guards

Dermot & John 9SEPT16

ven before younger brother Niall’s voice broke during his tribute speech to his brother, it was clear that tonight was a hugely significant night not only for John Ferns but his entire family.

Paddy Doyle hands on the baton to Derek Ferns

It was back in 1952 that the father of the family, Derek Ferns, signed up for the Irish Coast Guards in Greystones. His sons, John and Niall, joined when they were just 16 and 14 respectively. 

Such was the pull of this noble volunteer job that two more siblings, Isaac and Joyce, also became members soon after.

And now, tonight, after serving with the Irish Coast Guards for 36 years, John is the last of the Ferns family to step down from the Greystones branch. And such a moment plainly struck deep with the family.

The seafront was hopping tonight, as representatives of all the major rescue services attended the official farewell at The Hot Spot. And given the long history of John and his family in the Irish Coast Guards, all of the people here tonight were friends too.

John was handing over the key to the local station, and the role of Officer in Charge, to his long-term buddy, Dermot Macauley, but first, there were the memories, the tributes and the jokes to get through.

It was fitting that pretty much all of the country’s rescue services were here tonight given that Niall reminded his older brother of that time, way, way back, when John broke into the coast guard station and, heading down to the water, let all the flares off, one by one – triggering rescue services all across the land. “Jaysus, I never told anyone about that,” smiles John, as the crowd let out a roar of approval.

Niall & John Ferns follow in their father’s footsteps

That Niall is currently Coast Unit Sector Manager at their Dublin HQ means that the Ferns flag is still flying high in the Irish Coast Guard.

Below though, as the speeches came to an end, and before the rush to the bar, John was overcome, as he realised that it was up to the next generation of the family to keep that Ferns flag flying in Greystones…

You can catch our video chat with John here, as he said goodbye to his station for the very last time.