The team unpacked the delivery to find it included a Rescue Pathway, Scoop Stretchers, Spine Boards, Head Immobilisers, 46 Meters of New England Rope, Medical Boxes, a Basket Stretcher and various other rescue equipment.

If we had to purchase this equipment, we estimate it would have cost in excess of £4000. SARA Tewkesbury would like to thank Ferno UK Ltd for their hugely generous rescue equipment donation and the crew have already started to use the equipment in training.

Donations like this make all the difference to voluntary rescue teams, and this donation will make a real difference to the service we can provide to local people. If you can help support the Rescue Station, please contact Sarah Kneath, Chairman, Tewkesbury Rescue Station (sarah.kneath@sara-rescue.org.uk)

Ferno UK Ltd – http://www.ferno.co.uk

SARA 11 is currently the newest boat in the fleet, and was purchased as part of establishing the rescue service in the town. It was funded by donations from the local community.

The school ran a non uniform day for all the pupils and they raised £111.05 for SARA which was presented by the schools Head Teacher, Mr David Forster.

We invited the SARA team into school as we felt that not only were they an invaluable resource to our community of which the children should be aware, but also in order to raise the awareness of the children of the importance of water safety, particularly in the Tewkesbury area with its history of flooding.

The children were thrilled to meet the team and ask questions of them about the water safety equipment and procedures for life saving that were demonstrated. They particularly enjoyed seeing the 4 x 4 and safety boat and also myself wearing the dry suit provided by the team, which created much hilarity!

A big thank you to SARA and keep up the good work.

Mr David Forster, Head Teacher
Carrant Brook Junior School

SARA volunteers strongly believe that teaching local children about water safety is an important aspect of our work and we would like to thank the school, parents and pupils for their support.

“Mobile 3, a Land Rover unit based at Tewkesbury, is in need of electrical rewire / modernisation of all the axillaries and charging system. This donation enables this work to be completed without delay.”
Sarah Kneath, SARA Tewkesbury Chairman

The crew of Tewkesbury would like to say a big thank you to the Tewkesbury Cross Stitch Club for their support.

In The News:
This is Gloucestershire – Rescue group’s on the lookout for new home

The trip was accomplished in just over 3 hours and without major incident, only a couple of close calls with overhanging trees.

72 year old Bob has now completed the last fundraising spectacular in his ‘Four Elements’ challenge. He has driven from Oman to Bewdley (Land), done a parachute jump (Air), a barefoot fire walk (Fire) and now the scull (Water). All done in aid of the Acorns Children’s Hospice in memory of his own son David.

To date Bob has raised over £1,000 and the firgure is still rising. Bob has written a letter of thanks and made a personal donation to SARA for providing his safety cover.

Read more:
SARA – Supporting Bob Eaton & Acorns!
Stourport Boat Club – Challenged

This shake up effects all major UK Search and Rescue Teams.  As part of the migration SARA have needed to replace or reprogram all the raidos across the association.  No small task!

We would like to thank PMR Products for sponsoring our radio re-programming and supporting us with both expertise and radio equipment donations.

Visit PMR Products

This followed a visit by 2 crew members on the 12th July where they talked about water safety in the school’s assembly.

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.

The unit will not only house the team’s vehicle and boat, it will also provide a great office space.

“Without this generous offer from Basepoint, Tewkesbury SARA would be a lot further away from becoming an operational rescue station, and huge thanks must go to manager Kate Harrison for arranging this.”

Sarah Kneath, Station Chairman

SARA Tewkesbury would also like to thank Cheltenham College for allowing them to use their boathouse in Lower Lode Lane as a temporary base until a more permanent home was found.

Once up and running, SARA Tewkesbury will serve as a stand-alone station operating within the Tewkesbury area, as well as continuing to provide assistance where needed further afield.

Tewkesbury will be holding a station open day on Saturday, October 31, which will be open to everybody to come and meet the crew.

See this sory in the news:
Tewkesbury Admag – River rescue team celebrates new base in Tewkesbury
Evesham Journal – River rescue team celebrates new base in Tewkesbury
Invest in Gloucestershire – Business centre aids SARA team

It became apparent that even though the SARA team has a number of drivers, not all had much off road experience and the fact that 24 hour cover was required in the inclement conditions meant it was difficult to find sufficient available volunteers to cover the whole period. This cover was achieved but the shortage of training was highlighted.

In stepped Landrover. A one day course, tailored to SARA needs, was provided to six of SARA’s volunteers on 11.2.09 which took place at the home of Landrover Experience, Eastnor Castle Nr Ledbury, Herefordshire. The six drivers were given a theory lesson and then practical experience in snow, ice, deep water and muddy conditions, all typical of what the volunteers can expect to face on any of the callouts they are asked to attend at whatever time of year. www.landrover.com/experience

Alan Stanley, SARA Executive Chairman and member of the Wyre Forest team stated “this was an invaluable gesture by Landrover and the volunteers cannot thank them enough”. He added “It will result in making our access to scenes so much safer and the reliance on the same drivers so much less”.

Digging the first sod. From left to right Arthur Burden (Chairman Burdens Group) Merv Fleming (SARA Beachley Station Chairman) Eddie Hayward (Chepstow Plant International) Peter Wischhusen (SARA Executive Fundraising Officer)

Work began today, Monday 12th November, on the long awaited Boathouse extension to the SARA (Severn Area Rescue Association) Chepstow Rescue Station. When the £300,000 project is complete it will enable this vital lifesaving organisation to keep its frontline rescue boats and emergency response vehicles under one roof. Thus improving emergency response times and equipment reliability as well as providing a purpose built classroom for community awareness of water safety on the dangerous river Severn and estuary.

The building contract has been awarded to a local building contractor G Hughes (Chepstow) Ltd part of Chepstow Plant International Limited with the national builders merchant Burdens providing materials at a substantial discount.

Peter Wischhusen, Executive Fundraising Officer for SARA said “It is great to see this essential project get underway. We are grateful to the contractors G Hughes (Chepstow) Ltd for providing charitable terms for the contract and to Burdens for their generous offer of materials well below market price. We are also grateful to all those individuals and organisations that have generously donated funds towards this development but we are however still in need of £120,000 to complete the project and I would appeal to businesses, community service clubs, social clubs and individuals to donate what they can in order that we can complete this lifesaving project without delay.”

Peter went on to say “We would also be grateful to receive donations of equipment, in particular an air conditioning unit for the drying room and lights and electrical fittings.”

SARA was actively involved in many rescues during the recent flooding in Gloucestershire and remains in full readiness for the next inevitable incident wherever this may occur throughout its area of operation stretching from SE Wales to the Midlands, its volunteer members are on call 24/7.

If you or your organisation would like to make a donation please send your cheque payable to: SARA BUILD ACCOUNT to The Lifeboat Station, Beachley, Chepstow, Monmouthshire, NP16 7HH or if you would prefer to present a cheque in person phone Peter Wischhusen on 01594 510349 01594 510349 who will make an appointment with you.