Ian is our Coastguard of the Year!

The team held its annual Presentation Night at the end of January at the Royal British Legion.

The evening is always a good chance to get the team and their families together over supper and a few drinks to review the year just ended, look at a collection of photographs, reflect on some of the lighter moments and importantly, to make a couple of presentations.

The Spike (Mike) Williamson award is named after a former colleague who we sadly lost in 2004, and who would turn his hand to anything and was always prepared to go the extra mile.   The award is given to the Coastguard who has gone above and beyond the call of duty, not necessarily out on incidents but at the station and behind the scenes as well.

With over 150 incidents in 2018, the Station Officer was minded to award the trophy to the whole team, as everyone had made a special effort and no one could be singled out.  However, the rest of the team had other ideas and contrived to turn the tables on Ian and present the award to him instead in recognition of the long list of things he does behind the scenes - generally looking out for the team, arranging exercise with partner services, team shirts, keeping the station in good order, training, pay forms and admin.....the list goes on.  And that's in addition to leading the team in its second busiest year ever and attending more incidents than anyone else!

So, very well done Ian and thanks for all you do.

All that remained was for Steve, last year's winner, to present Ian with the award.

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Spikes Award

Finally got around to get to the engraver last week and get the plates made for Eric and Gareth who were awarded Swanage Coastguard of the year 2010. The award - in memory of Mike (Spike) Williamson is awarded to the team member(s) who have contributed to the team the most during the year.

Team Award

It was the annual Coastguard Christmas dinner last night and that meant the awarding of the "Swanage Coastguard of the Year" award.

The award is presented in memory of Mike "Spike" Williamson who passed away in 2004, the award is given to team member who has contributed the most to the team.

Now normally its a team decision, however to avoid the risk of a recent football voting scandal, the DSO and I decided we would make the important decision.

This year the award was given to two team members.

Eric - When Eric isn't away on holiday, his commitment to the team has been great this year especially during the day when our IRT coverage is a little short. Eric always turns up with a smile and normally a joke which helps the team get on with the task.

Gareth - Poor Gareth (and Mrs K) get put on a lot living next to the station, alarm activations, checking the building, chasing off youths playing on the building are just some of the things Gareth has done. But its when the pagers go off and you get there to find the truck out of the station, kitted up and ready to go which is one of the main reasons for his award this year.

But lets not forgot the whole team, this year had been our busiest ever and its a credit to all of them that our work continues in the town.

Award

Earlier this year the Rotary Club in Swanage presented me with a very special award.

The certificate reads

"in appreciation of tangible and significant assistance given for the furtherance of better understanding and friendly relations among peoples of the world."

Not only was this a great honour for me but also the whole team, so when the certificate arrived I asked Maggie Hardy the local Rotary Chairperson to present it at the station with the team.

So sorry for the delay in bringing this news but I had mislaid the photos!