Langton Matravers Cubs

Langton cubs came to visit the station last night to have a look round and see what we do.

It was great to see so many enthusiastic faces and to get so many interesting questions.

After a Q+A session we showed them the equipment we use and we even managed to get through the evening without the truck sirens "accidentally" being set off. 

Its always rewarding to do talks like this, and who knows, we may have even inspired some coasties of the future.

 

Coastguard Nick looking grumpy - not very inspiring to Coasties of the future.....

 

Nearly two incidents and finger problems

The IRT were tasked just after 5pm to assist South Western Ambulance at Corfe Castle.   Rescue 106 was also tasked but both the aircraft and IRT were stood down on route as the ambulance service had dealt with the incident.

Then the 1st Langton Cubs arrived on station at 7pm and asked all those difficult questions young children do......  We liked the question "How many MISSIONS do you get, we like this term and we think it should be used instead of the word "incident"

Having given them the safety brief, we then had a phone call from our Nick on the beach reporting someone had lost their dog on the beach.  Now normally dogs fall DOWN cliffs, however this one actually went up one!
Nick was concerned for the owners so called it in as the owners were going to follow the dog up the cliff.  Portland Coastguard assessed the situation and asked Nick to monitor the situation

So back to the cubs and their questions....."Whats that green thing on your belt" , that's a pager and oddly it went off !  Quickly grabbing the phone and watching the Cubs disappear out the station as they had been briefed, the Operations Room had a little apology that someone had pressed the wrong button.

Chased the Cubs back across the car park and back to those questions.  Thankfully I had a PACT meeting so left the group with Austen who was last seen tied up in the trailer whilst 20 Cubs got their ropes badge.

When Coastguards had big choppers

Another photo from the past, this time a school talk at Sandford Middle School in March 2006. In these days the whole team use to get on board and have a flight.

The Coastguard still do have big helicopters in Scotland, its just in the South we have little ones!

Putting one in your own net!

I had my first school talk at the new station today, a school from Reading, very nice group with some really good questions.

During the second group this afternoon, the dreaded mobile phone problem started, you know you start talking and then a beep beep (message received) then another and then someones (probably a mother asking what time the child will be back) mobile goes off.

I jokingly said "at my work if someones phone rings rather than being on silent mode then they have to buy doughnuts for everyone".

Guess what........mine started to ring, much to the amusement of about 20 children now asking for their doughnuts!

Doh!

School talks are a very important for us to get the correct sea safety message across. If your school or group would like a talk whilst visiting Swanage, then please do get in touch with us.

A day out in the Country

Readers of the Swanage Lifeboat blog will have read that we had a day out on Thursday to Wimborne.

http://lifeboatscrapbook.blogspot.com/

The Coastguard along with the other emergency services were invited to Dumpton School in Wimborne were it so happens that John Gilmour of the Swanage Lifeboat teaches.

Residents of Corfe Mullen and Wimborne were perhaps a little worried seeing a Coastguard vehicle driving around their towns, had global warming got that bad?

Now most modern vehicles have Sat Nav....not the Coastguard.... the high tech map!

Us "coasties" don't get out very much so it was a pleasure to go and give a talk to the children, we were well looked after and the school meals......well I never remember them like that.

Thanks John, nice day out, hope the children enjoyed the day.

School talk season

Today saw the 1st school talk of the year, 52 children visiting both the Coastguard and Lifeboat House.

Assisted today by my able deputy Austen and with a small input from Eric, the children got a insight into our world.

You will note the posh flooring that is laid specially for the school talks, we like to ensure our guests have a little comfort.