The award ceremony was held at Sharpness Lifeboat Station open day, yeaterday 15th August.  The following awards were presented. 

• The award of ‘Bristol Blue’ paper weights to Keith Hadly, Alan Palmer and Graham Tudor, for 25 years service.
• Bouquet of flowers each for the wives of the above
• Commendation awards to Any Mills, Nick Phillips, Martin Everett and Kevin Green
• Bouquet of flowers to wives of the above
• Award of Merit to Megs Green

Commemorative plaque’s to:

• HM Coastguard Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre Swansea
• HM Coastguard Sharpness CRT (Accepted by Pete Western SO)
• ‘A’ Flight 22sqn Royal Air Force Chivenor
• Gloucester Fire & Rescue Service  (Accepted by Tim Lanfear)
• Gloucestershire Police (Accepted by Ch Insp Derek Jones Operations)
• Great Western Ambulance Service (Accepted by  Kevin Dickens)
• SARA Executive (accepted by Alan Stanley)

Bob Eaton single sculled from Stourport on Severn to Worcester, a distance of just over 19 kilometers, on 23 July 2010. The river had risen dramatically overnight but on inspection was found to be safe to make the trip. There were three river locks to negotiate and manouvering a scull in and out of the locks was a bit of an experience.

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

From Thursday 05th to Sunday 8th of August members from Wyre Forest provided first aid cover for a Country and Western event at Stratford Racecourse hosted by the Redditch Westerners.

Gunfighters from the Redditch Westerners with SARA Wyre Forest Members

Formed in 1998 Redditch Westerners are one of the largest Western Clubs in the Midlands – with many of their members being “authentic” westerners – with gunfighters, Indians and “Mountain Men”.

This is the 3rd time SARA has provided first aid cover to the Blue Rodeo event at Stratford Racecourse – now hailed as the biggest event of its type in the Midlands with a large outdoor stage, replica western town and gun fighting arena.

Crew from Wyre Forest attended and set up a First Aid post complete with Ambulance and Minor Injuries and Treatment centre and provided 24hr cover including foot patrols for the duration of the event whilst open to the public. Thankfully the skills of the team were only required to treat minor injuries including minor burns and insect bites – but still managed to treat 20 patients and raise over £400!

At the end of the event the flags from all participants and the “States” they represent were paraded around the arena. SARA was represented by Dan Gale, WF Secretary bearing the SARA pennant.

Wyre Forest have now not only been asked to cover the event again next year but the crew have been invited to attend one of the monthly social events the club holds to let their hair down and enjoy themselves!

On Sunday 15th August 2010, Sharpness will be hosting their annual open day, this year celebrating 25 years of service on the River Severn.  The station will be open from 10am till 4pm so there is plenty of time to call in.

• Lifeboat station tours
• Lifeboat demonstrations
• Crew sponsored swim, Beachley Station to Sharpness Station (9.5 miles) – Sponsor Rob here!
• BBQ
• Cake stall
• Boat Jumble
• Dinghy sailing
• Award ceremony 14:00hrs
• Other Emergency Services (Ambulance, Police)
• Meet author Chris Witts who will be selling signed copies of his new book ‘The Severn Bridge Disaster’

During the day, Rob an accomplished swimmer and a fully trained lifeboat crew member will be attempting to complete a sponsored swim from Beachley Station to Sharpness Station. This over a 9 mile swim in some torturous water. If you would like to sponsor Rob, please click here. 

Please remember that the Severn represents some of the most dangerous water around the UK coast and that swimming should never be undertaken in its fully tidal waters. Rob will have two lifeboats accompanying him all of the time he is in the water.

Bring your family along for an enjoyable day by the water, see your local lifeboats and meet the crew, enjoy the BBQ and home made cakes.

Call in and support your local lifeboats!

This month sees the migration of SARA from the old to the new UK SAR (United Kingdom Search and Rescue) radio frequancies. 

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