Mrs Suzi De la Billere naming the boat

The launch of the new SARA 3 ‘Swift and Bold’ was a great success, thanks to everyone who turned up to support the SARA Beachley crew. The boat was named by Mrs Suzi De la Billere, wife of the Commanding Officer of 1 Battalion the rifles.

The new SARA 3 is now operational, the old boat has been de-commisioned and is no longer operational at Beachley station.

SARA 3 out training on the River Severn 13/03/11

For all of those who missed the opportunity to have a look at the new boat and around the station don’t panic, the annex building will be completed and officially opened in June.

After several years of waiting Beachley station is very pleased to announce the launch of the new SARA 3 lifeboat ‘Swift and Bold’.
The official launch day for the new boat is Saturday 12th March, everybody is welcome at the Old lifeboat station, Beachley from 9-9.30 am onwards.
(Postcode is NP16 7HH for those needing directions!)
Our thanks go out to everybody that helped us raise the astonishing total required to purchase the boat; I can guarantee that it will be put to good use.
The boat has been named ‘Swift and Bold’ after the 1st Battalion the Rifles who are based at Beachley with several serving soldiers also volunteering for the station.
We look forwards to seeing you all!

SARA 3

The desperate need to raise the funds required to replace SARA 3 was highlighted in the first week of June as she was tasked to three shouts in 24 hours.

SARA was tasked to assist in the rescue of a stranded cow in the River Severn and to two separate incidents on the River Usk. This emphasises the need for an inflatable like SARA 3 on our waters. The public effort to raise money for the SARA 3 replacement has been amazing, but we still have lots left to raise.

If you would like to donate please send cheques to, “SARA 3 Replacement”, The Lifeboat Station, Beachley, NP16 7HH. Made payable to ‘Severn Area Rescue Association’.

Alternatively why not take part in the 200ft SARA abseil at the National Dive and Activity Centre on September 5th? For more information about the abseil visit the National Diving & Activity Centre website, read our news story or contact David Thompson.

SARA volunteers Dave Thompson and Victoria McKenzie with Jessica Gibbs from the Free Press and pupils at Pembroke primary school

SARA volunteers strongly believe that teaching local people about sea safety is one of the more important aspects of what we do. As the summer starts and the weather warms up there is a massive temptation to take a dip in either the River Severn or Wye, but SARA want to remind people that these waters are very dangerous. Throughout June SARA have been visiting local schools to speak to children about how to stay safe this summer.

On 11th June Dave Thompson and Vicky McKenzie went to Pembroke Primary School in Bulwark to present children with certificates of thanks for raising money to replace SARA 3. They also took SARA 3 and Mobile 1 with them and spoke to several classes about the dangers of the water.

The next day, on 12th June Mark Carwardine and Vicky McKenzie went to Offa’s Mead Primary School’s Summer fete in Sedbury with SARA 3 and Mobile 1. The children were given informal discussions about how to keep themselves safe while enjoying the summer weather.

Senior Coxswain Ron Harris

SARA were tasked by H.M. Coastguard on the evening of Sunday 23th June to assist a vessel in distress on the River Severn. No-one was injured but the vessel had suffered engine failure and on a rough and fast running tide was in danger of being swept onto the notorious “Charlston Rocks” near the Welsh shore. The lifeboat “SARA ONE” was launched in a matter of minutes and soon located the casualty vessel approximately 20 metres off the rocks

Carrying out a well-practised manoeuvre in the rough conditions the lifeboat crew secured the casualty vessel and successfully towed it to the nearest safe location at St Pierre Pill, which fortunately had been the vessels original destination.

Only hours earlier during their regular Sunday morning training session the SARA lifeboats and crew were in St. Pierre Pill where Senior Coxswain Ron Harris explained that St.Pierre Pill would be the nearest safe “foul-weather” refuge for a casualty vessel found near Charlston Rocks.