American D-Day Veteran Wes Mullen Visits Swanage

Photo Credit:Wes Mullen (Far right)

American D-Day Veteran Wes Mullen is returning to Swanage today for a dedication service. Wes was based here prior to the D-Day landings in Normandy and was one of the fortunate few from his platoon to return home to his family. He's arriving at Swanage Station to met by the townsfolk at 11.00.

If you're in town at 11.00 please pop over to the station to give Wes a well earned cheer before he has a tour of the town in a WWII Jeep Convoy.

Thorpe Park - Living life to the extreme.

In non-coastguard theme park related news......

Yesterday, as a treat, Station Officer Ian Brown's kids took him to Thorpe Park. Ian was really excited and wanted to go on all the big roller coaster rides.

Thorpe Park's Vomit-Extreme Ride

But sadly he was not tall enough to pass the height restriction test. :-(

No ride for Mr Brown.

..and had to settle for a more sedate ride.

At what point was it wise to send this photo to the team ?
- you know it's only going on the blog!

During the day he had 4 candy-flosses, 3 ice creams and 2 cans of fizzy drink, ......and so sadly, due to the extreme nature of the children's train ride, he felt very queasy and was nearly sick.

Living life to the extreme!

*usual caveat for Coastguard HQ - other theme parks, rides and fairground confectionary type products and services are available.

A special visitor

On Saturday 30th June a special visitor is arriving by train at Swanage Railway Station.

The last time he was here was 68 years ago and the World was very different, in fact it was at war. 

The visitor is an American GI Wes Mullen who in 1944 stayed in Swanage before heading off to Normandy.  Sadly many of those troops never returned so Wes is returning to Swanage to thank the town for its kindness.

Having arrived at the Station, the party will head up to the memorial by the bandstand for a short service.

So if you are free and wish to welcome Wes to Swanage, come down to the railway station at 11am on Saturday.

Topless for the Summer

The MRU looked a bit different this week - the boss had removed the SnugTop cover from the back (ie the big blue bit at the back marked 'HM Coastguard') and the truck had reverted to being a crew-cab pick up again.

The bit in the red circle came off but we didnt get any photos - use your imagination!!

Contrary to my suspicions, this wasn't the new summer look, but had to be done to gain access to replace the rear cab window which broke recently.  Its thought that constant on / off road driving and the associated body stresses and movement had finally taken its toll on the window which had cracked and dropped in and then shattered everywhere.

Once the new window was installed - a matter of seconds - the SnugTop was refitted and all our rescue kit replaced - a matter of hours.  Ian kindly checked off all the kit as he did it which means kit night tonight won't be quite so long, with half of the work having already been done - thanks Ian.

Second Aid

After our First Aid training the other week, we had some more tonight, presumably that makes it Second Aid.  The session was led by our very own Chris, himself is a student paramedic, and it concentrated on the sorts of scenarios we might come across as Coastguards.

In particular we looked at dealing with unresponsive casualties and administering CPR using a life sized dummy.

Look at what you missed, Brian!

What you won't always find in the manuals is the bit about making the casualty comfortable with coke and jaffa cakes, but here in Swanage we like to be hospitable to the people we rescue.


NB. Other fizzy drinks are available, although I'm not sure if there is any other orange centred confectionery available with a chocolate coating one side complemented with a tasty sponge the other. Have to check next time I'm in Budgens.

NB. Other supermarkets are available in Swanage selling a range of  fizzy drinks and lip-smackingly good confectionery

Press Release

The MCA issued a press release after last weeks incident in the bay. Always check the weather forecast before setting out.

Austen has an accident

Its not every day you walk round the station and find a body laying on the floor.  Yesterday morning Austen walked round the truck and had the fright of his life when he saw a pair of legs letting out a yelp and having trouble controlling himself.

It may be a clue to training on Monday ?

Kimmeridge Ian makes it 4 in a row

This morning patrol saw the two Ian's (Station Officer Ian and Kimmeridge Ian) head out to see what was happening in the patch.  As the patrol arrived at the seafront there in the sea was a Land Rover Discovery .....yes in the sea.

The vehicle looked rather stuck and clearly surrounded by water it wasn't doing much for the anti corrosion warranty let alone the engine.

The kind chap at Ocean Bay had given some word of advice before the owner decided to reverse the jet ski and the vehicle into the sea.  He was also on hand to assist in towing the vehicle out having had some advice from us along with some crowd control in case the tow rope snapped.

We all waited to see if the vehicle would start.......the above photo shows the results as the engine tried to throw out all the water and contents of the engine onto the beach (which was then cleaned up by the nice chap at Ocean Bay !)

This was the fourth time Ian had been out on patrol and the fourth incident in a row.....

Fruit based frivolity

In more fruit based frivolity here’s Coastguard Nick on the beach – one evening earlier this week I’m told. Doesn't it look gorgeous - not him - the weather!

Nick joined 1st July 2010 and is one of the Coastguard Rescue Officers that provide day cover for Swanage.

Bananarama - 'Cruel Summer'. 

What this photo demonstrates is never to put compromising photos on your Facebook page.

Grapes.

I was just down the Coop* doing some shopping when I saw Swanage Lifeboat Mechanic Dave Turnbull with his shopping trolly full of grapes - a half price offer and boy was he was stocking up. He must like grapes an awful lot I thought...or perhaps he has a garden shed full of Mexican fruit monkeys which he needs to feed. Either way it was a lot of grapes, at least four fruit bowls worth.

We had a quick chat about the weather; I turned around and suddenly he was gone.

Either the lifeboat crew have been paged and he's had to make a dash for it, or alternatively he's eaten too many grapes and had to make a dash for it.

Coop workers replenishing the grapes. 

*other supermarkets are available in Swanage, all offering a delicious selection of seasonal fruit.