New Year Honour

A Dorset Coastguard has been awarded an MBE in the New Year Honours

Malcolm Wright, previously the Station Officer of the Wyke Team (Weymouth) and now a Watch Officer at Portland Coastguard has served for 40 years.

Before joining Portland Coastguard Malcolm was a teacher at a local school.







Here's Malcolm pointing at something - not sure what, but it's damn good pointing.

Team called to Shell Bay

The initial response team were tasked this afternoon to assist the Ambulance with a casualty on the beach at Studland.

On arrival at Shell Bay the team transported the Paramedic in the vehicle to the casualty and having been treated carried them both back to the waiting ambulance.

Boxing Day Quiz

In our festival quiz fortnight, what is the meaning of this sign?




Is it

A) Oh look someone has blocked our route home, lets drive round it and hope that tree is not really blocking the road.

B) I travel this route every day, nothing is going to stop me , not even 2ft of flood water.

C) Lets pretend we didn't see the road closure sign and if it all goes wrong dial 999 and get the emergency services out to rescue us.

D) I think we better use that map granny gave us for Christmas and find another route home.

Several people in Dorset have had to be rescued from flood water in the last few days and with heavy rain tonight please don't ignore the signs or take chances in flood water.

Ferrero Rocketts

...and once again Christmas wouldn't be Christmas down the Coastguard Station without everyone's favourite festive chocolates!


“Monsieur, with these Ferrero Rocketts, you’re really spoiling us.

Twelve Days of Christmas Greetings!

As we get nearer to the big day itself, HM Coastguard has issued its own Christmas Greeting, courtesy of You Tube and a number of Coastguard Rescue Teams around the country.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cueC1qXFf7I

If you look carefully you'll spot our colleagues from Kimmeridge and St Albans.  We were invited to take part but we are saving ourselves for bigger things, and hopefully 2014 will see us taking part in "Britain's Got Strictly Baked off with X-Factor Talent so get me Out of Here. On Ice."

Whilst it all looks like fun (to the performers at least, if not for the poor viewers), there is a serious message in there.  Do stay safe this Christmas - We are in for a couple of really rough days today and Christmas Eve so keep an eye on the weather warnings and heed advice.

The team will be on call all over the festive period - 24/7 as usual - although we hope we dont get another Christmas call out as we did on Christmas Day 2011.  If we do, Tom and Ian are the willing volunteers who have out their names forward this time - well done chaps!
 http://www.swanagecoastguard.blogspot.co.uk/2011/12/christmas-morning.html

On behalf of all the team, we'd like to wish you all a Very Happy Christmas and thanks for your ongoing support.

Amber Weather Warning Issued

Further bad weather is about to spread across the South West bringing heavy rain and strong winds.

The Met Office have issued this latest warning.

An amber warning is "be prepared" and our advice remains the same

Keep clear of flood water

Stay away from Cliff tops

Brighton - sea search for missing woman.

A desperately sad incident over in Brighton.

Two persons have entered the water in rough conditions, a woman remains missing.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-sussex-25476221

Please, please do not enter the water in rough conditions.

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.

More rain

More weather warnings have been issued with rain and wind.

This unsettled weather looks like it will continue for a few days.

Amazing Helicopter Footage

A BBC News story from Canada showing incredible skill and control from a Search and Rescue helicopter pilot and winchman.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-25433923

Weather Warning

A weather warning has been issued for tomorrow (Wednesday 18th December)

Strong winds and heavy rain will sweep across the country.

A little reminder to keep away from rough seas and cliff tops during these stormy conditions.

Children's Christmas Party

The station hosted the annual children's Christmas party this afternoon and it was difficult to tell who was enjoying it more - the children, Terry or Duncan.

Party games included matching pairs and sucking up smarties on a straw, the children meanwhile watched on eating party food.

Special guest this year was Ninja Craker -



Brian so excited having had his uniform delivered this week.

Patrol at Studland

Yesterday's patrol at Studland with a RNLI lifeboat on trials in the bay.

Small, impressive and stunning

It might be a small lighthouse.....(oh look Coastguard helicopter 104 flying past)




Impressive in the right light.




Stunning sun set tonight.

Beach Clean Up

This weekend sees a small clean up of debris from the Landslip at the north end of the beach.

Owners of the beach huts have under guidance been given permission to remove certain items from near and around their huts.

Natural items like clay will be allowed to be place on the beach and allowed to be taken out by the tide. This is the normal process which supports and replenishes the beach. Concrete and metal items will be collected by a contractor and taken away for proper disposal.

This does mean during this weekend there will be machinery on the beach and we ask members of the public to keep clear.

The landslips - nearly a year on

Its hard to believe the landslips at the north end of the bay were nearly a year ago.





Thankfully we haven't had the heavy rain we saw last year however it doesn't mean things have stopped.

After the incident we sat down with several partner agencies to ensure a clear understanding of everyone's roles if and when these types of incidents happen again.
Move on 11 months and after several meetings and workshops with the public a lot has happened.

Warning signs,
Gyones numbered to identify areas quicker,
Part of the gyones removed to ensure safer access,
Emergency policy covering the whole county in place,
Emergency sign storage set up, one in Swanage,
Partnership working with Dorset Fire and Rescue,
Long term signage designed,
Monitoring system in place,
Expert reports on the cliffs from Ocean Bay to Sheps Hollow,
Clearance plan,
Study on Japanese Knot Weed,
Owners of beach huts identified and groups formed to work together for the future.

Last week there was a meeting of the Swanage Coastal Forum which some of the above points where highlighted.

A few reports are well worth reading

Instability report by the Environment Agency engineer.

An experts report, Professor Roger Moore

The following Agencies have been working together to ensure a safer beach.

Maritime & Coastguard Agency, Environment Agency, Dorset County Council, Purbeck District Council, Swanage Town Council, LiCCo, National Trust and the Swanage Coastal Forum.