Driving Legend Ian Moustache

The one and only Driving Legend Ian Moustache visited Swanage today.




Ian from the Kimmeridge team got the name many years ago after showing the team some off road driving skills - the name has stuck ever since.

The reason for the visit is that there has been a land slip in the Kimmeridge area and the emergency signs are stored at Swanage on behalf of Dorset County Council.

So Ian and Colleague jumped in their truck and drove up to collect the signs, popped back and put the warning signs up.

Coastguard teams tasked to Old Harry

The team along with colleagues from St Albans, both Swanage RNLI Lifeboats, Rescue 106 from Portland and Dorset Police were tasked this afternoon to an area close to Old Harry Rocks.

Members of the public had reported seeing a female fall from cliffs to the South of Old Harry Rocks.

A body was located and with the assistance of the RNLI crews was airlifted by the crew of Rescue 106 to Dorset County Hospital.

In memory of Norman

A very sad day for the Southbourne Coastguard Team as it was the funeral of Norman Feast.

Norman sadly lost his brave battle with illness a few weeks ago.

As The Deputy Station Officer, Norman's humour was known especially towards the Swanage Team.

Norman always carried out his duties to the highest traditions of the Coastguard Service......he will sadly be missed by us all.

Big Tides

Today and Tomorrow will see some of the biggest tidesof the year.

This could cause some flooding in places

Lifeboat slip gone!

Popped down to the lifeboat station today to liaise with the mechanic and see how the work for their new boat house is coming on,




The digger has eaten the slipway with ease!

Search for overdue climbers

The Swanage Coastguard Team along will colleagues from the St Albans Coastguard Team were tasked to search for two climbers last night.

Two climbers from Devon were reported in the Durlston area had not returned after a days climbing.

The teams set off just as the local Police found their car and thankfully the two climbers inside safe and well. The pair had been climbing in the Boulder Ruckle area and the climb had taken longer than they thought. Both were a little cold but ok and were grateful that the teams had deployed to search for them.

Mystery Bang

At approximately half past midnight this morning a loud bang was heard around Swanage.

Jumping out of bed it brought back memories of how the Coastguard team use to be called out. One maroon was fired to summons the Coastguard team or two to summons the lifeboat crew.

So having heard the bang for a split second I thought who is calling the team out but waking up a little more I realised it was impossible as we haven't fired maroons for nearly 10 years.

So it remains a mystery who would be firing something like this ( very different to a fire work). Even the small cloud the maroons made when they had exploded could be seen hanging in the sky.

We are keeping our Brian

Readers may be aware that a horse called Brian, training to be a police horse may be renamed to fit the tougher image of police horses.




This caused a stir on station and an emergency debate on whether "Brian" was a suitable name for a rough tough volunteer Coastguard.

Thankfully after..... About 3 seconds we decided that our Brian would not officially be renamed unless public demand warrants it.




Brian the Coastguard faces many YEARS of tests before knowing if is really a tough Coastguard. Here speaking to his best friend Ruth (sat to his left)

Night Exercise

Tonight in a cold and strong easterly wind the team popped up to Peveril Point to set up the cliff equipment.

Fresh Falls

The scene yesterday up by Sheps Hollow at the North End of Swanage Bay.

Kerry's Helicopter

Kerry headed off to join the Southbourne team this morning for some helicopter training.

She was a bit cross they wouldn't let her fly the aircraft but said they showed the team how to be winched up and how to use the stretcher.

Coastguard Rescue Officers train with the helicopter crews to ensure the safety of everyone during an incident. This includes landing areas, winching and flight safety.

We are lucky where we live.

After a tough week, what better than an early morning walk to enjoy the area we live in?

Throw in a little Coastguard check of access routes and condition of tracks and what more can you ask for?




The track down to the light house at Anvil Point , bit slippery and watch out cows on the path (watch where you step!)

Out to sea a tug pulling a large barge  battling the heavy swell.




Sun rising over the Anvil Point Light house. The tracks heading west are quite muddy although frozen first thing.

The emergency phone at Anvil Point has unfortunately been out of order so BT along with the Rangers are trying to resolve the fault.

In an emergency call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

It's Dry

Readers will know that since the station was built we have always had a little puddle out the front of the building due to a couple of small springs.

Well the Town Council have been carrying out some work in the car park and the water seems to have stopped !

Landslip

A good low tide this weekend saw Steve go out and take some photos of the cliffs.

In same afternoon Kerry nearly called in an incident after  a dog got stuck in the mud from one of the slips, but thankful the dog managed to get out.

Ordnance

The team returned to north of Sheps Hollow today after a member of the public reported a possible mine on the beach.

A EOD team ( bomb disposal ) arrived and after a few minutes discovered an old pulley wheel and chain - maybe an old mooring ?

It was a good call from the member of the public - items should never be touched, just call 999 and ask for the Coastguard.

Yesterday in Studland someone found a WW2 cannon shell and placed it on a dust bin, the National Trust called the Police who called the EOD team to dispose of the item. These items are still very dangerous after 70 years and should never be handled.

Snowy Swanage

It's snowed in Swanage! Hopefully Lifeboatman Andy Lyons has sent some snowy photos to the BBC. ;-)

Phone the Coastguard

An interesting day for the local Coastguard and partner agencies world.

Several incidents today which involved ordnance, the National Trust found a cannon shell placed on top of a bin at Knoll Beach and had to call in the Police and an EOD team to dispose of it.

A concerned member of the public phoned a team member regarding a possible piece of ordnance.

The team member called the National Maritime Operations Centre (NMOC) and reported it straight away which tasked the team to search for the item.

The item has been photographed and will be again assessed at a suitable tide.

If you see something on the beach please contact the Coastguard straight away - the number is simple, 999 ask for Coastguard.