Keep it Clean!

We always clean and check our kit after we've used it and before it is put away, and Terry has found  novel way to make sure everyone's boots are clean before they go into the station following a muddy cliff exercise last month.

Terry's actually a bit of a demon with the pressure washer, and it has to be said, when a new one arrived on station recently it was as though all his Christmases had come at once!

Drone used in search exercise.

Last night the team were on exercise at Anvil Point to carry out a search for two missing people.

Before we started we were treated to a display of a drone fitted with a live camera to scan areas quicker than a search team. There has been some negative media on this devices based about the intrusion of people's private lives however used correctly within the law and safety requirements we soon discovered what an excellent tool this could be.

Whilst it doesn't replace ground searching - areas were checked really quickly .




Live pictures can be monitored and search teams can be quickly directed to objects to be checked.

May be in the future these may be a vital piece of rescue equipment ?




The Sector Manager giving it a test run


Roger decided he now wants one for Christmas.

Thanks for Jon and Sarah for giving up their evening and showing the potential of one of these devices.

Early Christmas

Doesn't Christmas start early? I've already seen a lorry load of Christmas trees being shipped to a garden centre. Buy one now if you want to be hoovering up pine needles before December.

On Thursday our Sector Manager arrived at training at 20:00 with a big box. Fair play as Allan had been on a course all day in Southampton, so a long day for him. Still he said we'd all been good boys this year and that he had early Christmas presents.

Our new kit. Wooo Hooo!

Regular readers will know about the yearly bunfight when we choose kit. Basically we get 50 points to spend and we all argue over who's getting what. Some items like a jacket cost 75 points. Last year we chipped in and got Brian a jacket; and we've been banging on about it ever since...we're not bitter....he's got a jacket so he's happy....in his new jacket that we bought him...with our points. We order in August and sometimes it arrives later the same year.

Shirts and Socks...Big Toes are extra.

So the box was opened and there was a scramble; I say scramble, more an organised fight. Everyone got something. Allan suddenly brought out the new protective eyewear for Nick, some Bolle safety sunglasses. Nice! Austen nearly burst into tears so Allan gave him a pair also. Suddenly all the team were claiming that their safety glasses had gone missing. Allan may be a new sector manager but he's not daft and saw right through that one!

He then brought out a new cliff helmet. Mmmm they may be safety wear but compared to the current ones you look like a plonker in them. Suddenly everyone was saying that their current safety helmet wasn't missing. To be fair they are good helmets.

Father Christmas tries on his Helmet.

So we tried on the kit to make sure it fitted and ate all the best biscuits including a handful of Cadbury Chocolate fingers each (Well Brian, Rid and Gareth did - when quizzed we told the rest of the team that they had already been eaten, which technically was true - we had just eaten them).

The happy shopper digestives were left for Ian's return from Central Park.

What do points make ?.....Prizes! ....Good game, good game.

It's that time of the year where we get to exchange our Coastguard Points for new uniform or kit. Basically we get 50 points to spend on kit that we need. We order in August ...and if we are lucky we get it before next August. The big white bags turn up and its a free for all.

What do points make? Prizes!

So what do you get for the points?

Well socks is 2 points, a shirt 8 points etc.... and ladies hold up tights 3 points apparently.

Sometimes we club together to buy an expensive item like Brian's jacket which was 80 points. Regular readers will know that last year Brian was banging on about a jacket so we clubbed together to get him one with our own points - naturally we like to let him know at every opportunity that we 'paid' for it.

So last night was an important kit night and the final opportunity to fill in the forms and order kit.

I went for some shirts and a hat, ooh and pushed the boat out with a further 8 points by ordering a tie. Nick went for some socks, a couple of shirts and a jumper,

....while Austen went for the ladies tights only to be veto'd by Ian saying they were for lady rescue officers only. Fair play to Austen he tries to order them every year which shows perseverance.

So no Brucie Bonus for Austen.

Pants and Socks?

Having been ordered last year the uniform finally arrived this week. As deputy blog already mentioned, Brian had all the points this year so the rest of us could only order pants and socks!

We will no doubt find that since ordering last September, team members will have "grown" a little (outwards not height wise!) so lets see what will still fit!

Brian's Booty.

There may be a riot up at the station as the new uniform has arrived. There is a big notice on the cardboard box saying ‘hands off’ while it gets sorted.


Regular readers will probably know about our uniform and the fact that we are only allowed a certain amount each year. We get given points which we can ‘spend’ on items – this year it was 50 points, yup 50 big ones. We ordered back in August and the kit has just arrived.

Some items like the Coastguard polo shirts are 10 points, socks 5 points and hats 25 points. A jacket however is a zillion points and in order to get one the team have to be persuaded to throw their leftover points into the bucket so that someone can have a jacket. Buttons are extra.

Well this year it’s Brian turn. He’s been banging on about a jacket for years as he doesn’t think jumpers suit him; he’s also gone for a posh hat I believe and a new belt.

So Brian will look like the bees knees this year while the rest of us slum it in coastguard socks and pants.

Points make Prizes

As Coastguard Rescue Officers we are issued with Personal Protection Equipment - overalls, boots, helmets etc - to allow us to do our job.

However once a year we can order extra uniform such as polo shirts, caps, shirts, jackets etc. To make sure nobody overdoes it each item has a points value and we can spend a maximum 50 points each. Turns out that a Coastguard pullover is worth 13 clip on ties or about a third of a jacket, whilst a coat costs more than 2 years worth of points so I don't suppose they get through many of those.

Well, I've chosen what I want, totalled it up and at 175 points I think I've bust. Might have to rethink; maybe put the shirt back and get a tie instead, or just have the right trouser leg and save up for the left one next year?