Its cold

Weather warning now covers Dorset, risk of sleet and snow, with a warning of ice in the morning.

Probably a night for staying in. Brrr

Squashed tea

When I arrived at the incident last night I chucked my work bag into the truck and started to get briefed by Austen. Thankful the incident was nearly finished and we were soon on the way back to the station for a de brief.
Back at the station I asked where my bag was and some kind person shouted its ok its in the truck....... I recovered my bag from the back seat and discovered that my tea.....a Cornish Pasty was now the size of a sausage roll......

So come on who sat on it please?

A date in time

2010 will see the end of the Coastguard Calendar........no longer will they be produced.

With the belt being tightened the calendar was seen as an expense that could be cut.

So a couple more years and these could be worth some thing on one of those auction sites!

Weather Warning

Early warning for the weekend of ice, sleet and snow.

http://www.metoffice.gov.uk/weather/uk/uk_forecast_warnings.html?day=5

Medal of Honour

During one of our uniform blogs, a sharp eyed reader spotted that John's medals were being worn the wrong way round. Well spotted and thank you, the photo was taken 2 years ago and now in our new procedure manual issued in June there is a section which clearly explains "Medal Protocol"

"The order of precedence (from the centre of the body) is: Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals, Commemorative Medals (e.g. the new jubliee Medal) and lastly Long Service Awards."

So we will do better !

The Royal Warrant for the award of the Long Service Medal to volunteer Coastguards was introduced and signed by Her Majesty the Queen on 27 January 1954. The original Warrant has since been subject to Amending Warrants in 1966, 1997 and 2002.

The Warrant enables the award of the Long Service Medal to those recommended who have completed 20 years service as a volunteer Coastguard rescue Officer.

The Warrant also enables the award of a Clasp to the Medal after an additional 10 years service and then a second Clasp after a further 10 years (40 years in total service).

Night Swimming

A story from the BBC website about some teenagers in Dorset who, having had the odd drink or two, decided it would be a good idea to go midnight swimming on one of the coldest nights of the year so far.....http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-dorset-11811198

There was a certain inevitability that something would go wrong....and it did. Fortunately, it could have been a lot worse, but equally it would have been a whole lot easier on the rescue services, on their families and on the guys themselves if they hadn't attempted a late night dip in the first place!

....and now for something completely different.

Not Coastguard related, but superb nonetheless.

Click and then scroll right to see, or rather not see him?

Working at Height

Ian caught 'working at height' without personal protection equipment. I say height, it was only 18 inches, but for Ian that's pretty damn high.

Just look at the fear on his face.

The risk assessment is that after this blog I shall be cleaning the Station.

New Kit

Well this week the Coastguard have really done well..... our new harnesses arrived, along with a new rescue harness.

As Austen modelled the new harness it shows its really figure hugging and shows "one size" fits all.

Just to explain that our older harnesses had come to the end of their life so this is the reason for the new replacement.

Strictly Come Coastguard

Our Sector Manager, Rob, came down last night with lots of new kit and to provide some training. Ooooh new kit, always smells good.


We learnt to Huddle, ….yup Huddling. It’s when three grown men put their arms around each other and wade into water to save someone. Whilst it looks a little odd it gives stability in swift water conditions.

It was a bit like Strictly Come Dancing, three men spinning around like a bunch of ballroom dancers. I for one will not be voting for Austen. In reply Aus said he’d look good in a ballroom dress, I have no reason to doubt this and no reason to want to see him in one either.

Craig Revels-Dogwood “Delightful darling, delightful”

Len Goodspin: Very Good technically, but wishy washy footwork

Alyssa: I liked it.

Bruno Tombola: Oooh Austen, you hot dog you.



The Judges’ Scores are in….

4 6 7 ....SEVEN!