Crew from SARA’s Tewkesbury station have recently undergone professional vehicle winch training, provided free by Recovery Safe. The course saw five crew members undertake both theory and practical courses towards a ROSPA accredited qualification. SARA use vehicle winches to assist and recover boat launches as well as it being an essential skill within their rescue work. The crew from Tewkesbury were required to understand LOLER and PUWER regulations, be able to calculate safe winch loadings as well as demonstrating an ability to perform a safe vehicle recovery on varied ground types.

Mark Hartell, MD of Recovery Safe Training Services Ltd of Twyning, Tewkesbury, wanted to help the local team and has previously assisted by providing First Aid training to new crew members. Mark’s passion is best practice and he was keen to ensure the team at Tewkesbury have the best possible knowledge as well as up-to-date qualifications. Mark, who’s brother Mike is an operational crew member, has pledged to do ‘as much as possible to help SARA Tewkesbury’.

Tom Keeling, Station Manager at SARA Tewkesbury took part in the training.

“This training really opened my eyes to the dangers involved in winch operation. Thankfully, the course provided by Mark has enabled us to implement his best practice procedures – all the crew who attended thought it was great. I’m looking forward to working again with Recovery Safe in the future, and can’t thank Mark enough for his kind and continued support”.

Recovery Safe can be contacted through their website, www.recoverysafe.co.uk, and offer a range of courses covering vehicle recovery, first aid and 4×4 driving.

On Thursday, (18th October 2012) SARA Tewkesbury declared Barchester Health Care’s new residential home in Tewkesbury, Ashchurch View, officially open. Barchester and SARA have been working closely together over the last 6 months supporting each other with local community projects. SARA today received a generous donation of £2000 from Barchester to commemorate the opening of Ashchurch View.

The money has been allocated to the overhaul and refurbishment of MRU 3, one of SARA Tewkesbury’s specialist search and rescue land rovers.

SARA’s Tewkesbury Team would like to pass on their thanks to Barchester Health Care and everyone at Ashchurch View for their support.

19th October 2012
St Pierre Golf and Country Club

Severn Area Rescue Association is passing through its 39th year of operation. All of this would not be possible without the continued support of you and others in raising funds. This year’s SARA Annual Ball is being held on 19th October at the exclusive St. Pierre Golf and Country Club, Chepstow.

Tickets are now available and can be purchased individually, for couples or for groups. Tickets are limited and offered on a first come first served basis. So if you want a ticket, please confirm ASAP!

The dress code is Black Tie and Ball Gowns (a chance to get dressed up).

The evening is going to be one to remember and definitely one you won’t forget – We do hope you can join us and indeed bring a friend or two!

For further information, questions and tickets, please contact:

Jane Propert – 01291 627268
jane@properts.co.uk
Gemma Monday – 01291 627268
gemma@properts.co.uk
David Thompson – 07725744636
d.thompson@sara-rescue.org.uk

A joint SARA/GFRS team, based in Tewkesbury at Gloucestershire Water Rescue Centre, were declared winners after a two day competition at the UK Rescue Organisation (UKRO) event in Lincolnshire, where nearly 140 teams competed for the right to be called the best in a number of technical disciplines.

Every year, the UK Fire Service meets to practice and develop its rescue skills with conferences and competitions (challenges) designed to demonstrate the very best practices for Vehicle extrication, trauma care, rope rescue, and boat handling/water rescue.

The team consisted of Ben Peachey, Helmsman at SARA Tewkesbury and officers Phil Ryan and Adrian Lawman from Gloucestershire Fire & Rescue Service. Ben is believed to be the first volunteer member of a crew to compete in this competition.

Chief Fire Officer Jon Hall saw the team in action and said: “I am so very proud of the crew’s performance. They were up against some stiff competition from the likes of London Fire Brigade and hosts Lincolnshire Fire & Rescue and did more than hold their own – they quite simply led the way and showed just how good a dedicated part-time and volunteer rescue team can be.”

Gloucestershire Water Rescue Centre opened in Tewkesbury less than a year ago and saw the joining together of the County’s Fire & Rescue Service with SARA in a partnership believed to be the first of its kind in this country.

Professional retained firefighters train and work alongside volunteer responders to create a combined water rescue team with a broad mix of skills.

Speaking in a BBC interview, Chris Crowley, Chairman of SARA Tewkesbury spoke of his pride in the team, and reinforced the importance of this unique arrangement. [Listen to the interview - 2hrs 16mins 45secs in]

Cllr Will Windsor-Clive is Cabinet Member responsible for community safety at the county council; he said “We knew we were breaking the mould when we established this rescue centre. I’m just delighted that the whole community can now see what can be achieved with a partnership such as this.”

The team will now help ensure that all responders in the county benefit from their experience to ensure that Gloucestershire continues to be the best. Plans are already being made for next year’s entry when the team hope to defend their crown.

In The News:

• Gloucestershire Fire & Rescue Service (GFRS) – Gloucestershire crew crowned water rescue champions
• Gloucestershire County Council– Gloucestershire crew crowned water rescue champions
• BBC News – Gloucestershire water rescue team crowned UK best
• Gazette – Gloucestershire’s water rescue team wins UK Fire Service competition

SARA Tewkesbury have recently taken delivery of a new medical rucksack kindly donated by Apprentices are MAD (Making a Difference), a charity with links to motor industry apprenticeship programme. The Charity recently completed the three peeks challenge. Angie Lowes chairman of the Charity said “We are very happy to support SARA in the work they do”.

The medical rucksack will be filled with all the necessary equipment to carry out casualty care in remote places and is the part of increasing the medical skill and capacity of SARA Tewksbury. Two team members have already taken part in the Mountain Rescue Trauma Care Conference held at Edale Mountain Rescue Team earlier this year.

We would like to thank MAD for this extremely useful donation, the bag is already kitted up and on-board MRU3, ready for use at any time transporting key medical supplies.