Search for Reported Fishing Vessel off Peveril Point

Just after 9.00pm last night, HM Coastguard coordinated a multi-agency search following reports of a small fishing boat believed to be sinking off Peveril Point.

Coastguard Rescue Officers searched the shoreline while two RNLI lifeboats and a Coastguard Rescue Helicopter from Lee-on-the-Solent conducted extensive offshore searches. Despite freezing conditions, crews searched for over two hours.

No evidence of the vessel was found, and the sole person believed to be on board—thought to have come from Poole—has not been located. With no further information or reports of a missing person, the search was stood down pending any new information.

HM Coastguard coordinated a large search area throughout the operation.

Anyone with information that may assist is urged to contact the Coastguard by calling 999 and asking for the Coastguard.

Search and Rescue......and More

The team was tasked again on Friday to a kayaker who'd capsized as she tried to cross the tide race at Peveril Ledge, heading out of the bay towards Durlston. The lady was unable to get back on board the kayak in the turbulent water and was washed onto the rocks at the base of Peveril Point.

The team was on scene within minutes of being paged, but as they approached the location it became apparent that the lady had been pulled from the water by some passers by - well done and thanks to the couple in a canoe and a couple out walking their dogs. The team was asked to stand down as the lady was safely ashore but instead chose to carry on, find her and check her welfare.

On arrival the lady was shaken from the events that had just unfolded, so the team calmed her down and checked that she was OK.  Safety advice was given and a discussion took place about planning routes, informing the Coastguard when on passage, flares and radios.  For the second time in as many days, the casualty was surprised that there were no signs warning her of the dangers of strong tides at that location.  The team gently pointed out the Ledge Buoy marking the end of the rocks and the line of breaking white water out to it and said that to someone familiar with seas that ought to be a warning sign in itself.

Once the lady was happy to continue, it was agreed that she'd be better off staying in the bay and the team helped move the kayak and launch it in a safer location.  A route was agreed along the shore, under the pier and back into the bay and accompanied by the couple in the kayak, she set off.

The team monitored her from the Coastguard Rescue Vehicle and once the lady had reached the main beach the team once again checked for her welfare before returning to base.

As HM Coastguard Rescue Service, we are there for search and rescue - indeed we are classed as a Category 1 Responder.  However, on occasions we do more than that, such as today.  Whilst a member of public rescued the casualty (ahead of the lifeboat which was also called), the team reassured the casualty, cared for her welfare and, by gentle safety advice, has hopefully avoided her having a repeat incident.

So it isn't all search and rescue.  Sometimes, its advice, guidance and prevention too.

Late Night Flight

The team were called to assist some of the off duty lifeboat crew last night after they had stopped to help an elderly man whose mobility scooter had toppled over on the Downs.

The gent was in good spirits but also in considerable pain, and so whilst the NMOC operations centre made arrangements for an ambulance, the volunteers checked the man over, monitored his condition, made him comfortable and stretchered him into the nearby lifeboat training room where he could be warmed up and where it was easier for the arriving paramedics to deal with him.

Owing to the man's condition and the proximity of ambulance units, the decision was taken to fly him to Southampton hospital using the CG helicopter from Lee on Solent, and so the team duly set up the landing site at Peveril and assisted with the stretcher transfer for the late night flight.

Once the helo had departed, and the paramedics had left, the CG and lifeboat teams tidied up and re stowed their equipment and stood down around 11.00pm.  A fine example of the two teams working together and liaising amongst themselves to get help to the individual where and when it was needed in a timely and efficient manner.

Swanage Bay and Peveril

A couple of photos from Monday.

Swanage Coastguard Peveril Point 1951

The Coastguard lookout at Peveril Point dated around 1951. In front is a pillbox which was demolished in the 1980's

To the left is the gun emplacement which now supports the Coast Watch lookout.

The gale cone appears to be flown from the mast.

Swanage Coastguard in the past - the Christmas challenge.

This photo turned up this week thanks to Pete Wakefield a team member from a few years ago.

Basically who, what, where and when is then question over Christmas.
(Sadly we don't actually have the answers yet)

I think this is the LSA men - volunteers like we are today.

Their equipment is in the cart behind them which was kept at Peveril.

They are on the Downs, with us looking North across to Ballard.

1920's ?

Can you add names to the picture? On the back of the photo is a name of Tom Langtry.
It is not Eric or Tom in the front row before anyone says - they joined a couple of years after this photo was taken.

How Peveril Point used to be

 Another hairy photo from history - this was when the lookout was operated by the Coastguard.  Mr Brooks from the Council clearly hasn't been up with the mower.

Note the second world war structure under the telegraph pole - today just the footings are left.

Memorial

Yesterday the team were invited to Peveril Point and the unveiling of a plaque to the late Ian Surface.

Ian was the station Manager of the National Coastwatch at Swanage, after serving in the Coastguard for 30 years. During his Service to the town Ian was awarded a B.E.M (British Empire Medal) for his work.  After 30 years, finishing as the Auxiliary in Charge - Ian went on to rebuild the lookout at Peveril and continue the good work from the lookout.

Whilst a sad day it was nice to be part of such an event to mark Ian's commitment to the town.

What do you take to the beach?

Most people take a bucket and spade to the beach, this man brought his digger !

Peveril Point - its gone!

Panic not, not Peveril Point but the shelter at the head land. Built in 1940 the Defence Emergency Lighting (or search light ) was finally broken up yesterday.

Coastline Change

The familiar coastline of Swanage will be changing in the next couple of weeks with the demolition of the shelter at Peveril.

Sadly this structure has become unsafe (there is a large hole on the other side) and the Council were left with no choice but to remove it.

The shelter was in fact built in 1940 as a D.E.L - Defence Emergency Lighting or basically a search light. This was all part of the gun battery at Peveril but I'm told this week that there was also a "dummy" gun put in here at some stage to fool the enemy.

So pop on down to Peveril and take the last photos of this piece of history before its gone forever. (Please remember that it an unsafe structure so view from a distance)

Station Officer - the many roles

In a new series for the blog, "The many roles of a Station Officer" we will show you all those extra little things that happen behind the scenes.

In the above photo (taken by David Haysom) it shows how useful a Station Officer can be as a ribbon holder. More to come will include, Station Officer does the washing up and Station Officer empties the bins.......bet you can't wait.

Peveril Point

During the opening of the new information board at Peveril Point yesterday. The Mayoress, The Mayor and Sally Maltby.

Peveril Point - another great project

Another wonderful example of partnership working was opened yesterday at Peveril Point.

The idea by Sally Maltby, a resident of Peveril Point and a watch keeper of The National Coastwatch lookout at Peveril, sees information boards put up in the old gun emplacements.

The project was opened by the Town Mayor - Bill Trite, Sally Maltby and John Master of NCI (oh some Station Officer was used to hold the tape)

I have to declare an interest in the project, as I had an input on a couple of the boards but alot of local people, swanage museum, companies, Town Council and partner agencies came together to give a insight into life at Peveril Point. The boards contain information on The Coastguard, wildlife, shipwrecks, World War Two, National Coastwatch, history of Peveril Point just to name a few.

So pop on down and have a read of the boards - there is a education booklet which encourages children (and adults!) to read the history and answer questions.

My favourite board (below) - it would be of course I co wrote it !

Helicopters at Swanage

In the latest in the series of Helicopters landing at Peveril, here is "Navy 172" landing.

Based at Portland - 772 squadron were regularly landing and training with us - very happy days

This photo was taken around 1993 - and worrying I took it !

Helicopter - another landing

Another old helicopter landing at Peveril Point, this time a Wessex....

So thats a Dragon Fly and now a Wessex

Whats that in the sky............

This photo passed to me thanks to David Haysom at Swanage Museum shows a Dragonfly helicopter of the Royal Navy land at Peveril Point for the 1st time.

Having checked the records it appears the 1st rescue carried out by helicopter in Swanage was around 1969 however I believe this photo is earlier than this.

A possible Coastguard stands to the left?

Peveril is back in Swanage

Readers may remember the blog ...."Take a Letter" where the new sign posts at Peveril Point actually gave a position off Exmouth.

Well it appears the man from the Council did respond to my phone call.....

With a sharp chisel, wood glue and some off cuts....the "SY" has turned into the correct "SZ" !

Take a Letter...

We've been busy this week checking out some grid references for a SW Coast Path project we've been involved in, but more of that another time.

When we went to check the grid ref at Peveril Point we noticed somebody had kindly put up some new signposts, complete with grid refs for easy identification. Nice idea, but the trouble is whilst the numbers engraved on the posts are right, the two grid letters (before the numbers) are wrong, and actually indicate a position in the sea somewhere off Exmouth; SY 040 785 is in the centre of the map above whilst SZ 040 785 is in the centre of the map below - Peveril Point. Both maps courtesy of the Ordnance Survey WebsiteBeing the kind people we are we rang a man at the council to tell him, although we were unable to suggest how he could change the Y sufficiently to make it look like a Z. Nope, I think he has a tough job there. The British Grid is broken down into large 500km x 500km squares bordered on this map by the black lines. These determine the initial letter of a grid reference. The light grey lines indicate 100km x 100km squares which determine the second letter of the grid reference.

One good point in all of this is that if you're ever asked where you'd be if you were exactly 100km west of Peveril Point, you can now say with some confidence that you'd be in the sea just off Exmouth.

Old photos of Peveril Point?

We need your help, for a couple of years we have been researching the history around Peveril Point (our former home for 140 years). We are particular interested in the period 1939 to 1945 when of course photography was a little restricted.

It may be a family photo of someone on the Downs , what we need to do is look over their shoulder to confirm some points of interest that may have been at Peveril.

Can anyone put us in touch with people you can remember the artillery unit based at Peveril?

Over to our readership !