Going Out on time

Its no coincidence last year the team headed out on patrol at 2pm as statistically for the last 7 years most incidents happened on a Saturday and Sunday between 2pm and 5pm. Having the vehicle out meant the IRT could respond quicker and be on scene reporting back to the MRCC.

So funny yesterday at 14.03 as Austen and Terry arrived on station to do some training ,off went the pagers!

Ferry Terry

Apparently the recession has hit hard in Spain and as such Terry’s Shop is selling less pants. Terry has therefore decided to get a Saturday Job. He starts work on Monday onboard a cruise ship.

I say cruise ship it’s actually the Sandbanks Ferry.

So from today he’ll be known as ‘Ferry Terry’.


Good Luck Ferry Terry.

IRT Callout

14:02 The IRT have been called out to an incident at Peveril Point. Our local MRCC at Portland are co-ordinating the rescue. More later.

Durlston

Part of the Swanage Coastguard patch includes Durlston County Park. We have a lot of incidents up there ...not because it’s inherently dangerous, far from it, it’s just a lot of people visit.

Rightly so as it’s a lovely place to go walking.

“Durlston Country Park and National Nature Reserve, situated 1 mile from Swanage in Dorset, is a fabulous 280 acre countryside paradise, consisting of sea-cliffs, coastal limestone downland, haymeadows, hedgerows and woodland. With stunning views, walking trails, the historic Great Globe, superb geology and fascinating wildlife there is always something different to see."

An amazing variety of wildlife, dolphins, puffins and peregrine falcons. It has cows too; big hairy brown ones with horns. (I may do a special feature on these cows tomorrow, if Ian can have Slipwatch, then I can have Cow-watch)

Durlston Country Park looking east towards Anvil Point Lighthouse

It’s free to visit and parking is a reasonable £1 for 2 hours weekdays or £2 for 2 hours weekends. There is a cracking walk down to the Anvil Point Lighthouse which opens its doors so you can have a look inside.

Meanwhile Durlston Castle is coming on a treat. It’s part of a Dorset County Council project to refurbish the premises to become the gateway to the Jurassic Coast. The project has been running for a number of years and I reckon that this year this place will become even more special and hopefully will receive the national recognition it deserves.

Well worth a look.

Slip Watch

In the latest episode of "Slip watch" just a small amount of movement from the previous picture, its whats above the building which could be interesting.

Out for a walk

Now patrols and accident prevention are stopped, the only way the team can keep pace of the changing landscape is by walking the patch (in their own time) and updating the information board at the station or highlighting issues during training.



The above picture taken just north of Sheps Hollow shows another slip which could cause problems this year. Not only is it still moving, but there is a risk anyone to the north of it (under Ballard) could be cut off at certain tides and then risk climbing up and over the mould and getting stuck. Whilst the top "crust" appears solid, put weight on it and you will sink into the clay (that's why its slipping due to the water content plus other factors).



So if you are out for a walk, check the tides, weather and stay off the cliffs.

1st Aid

Tonight's training, session two of our 1st aid training. Under the watchful eye of Terry (Paramedic) we ran some sessions like we might come across, perhaps a person collapsed in a kitchen?

We have over the years been flagged down by the public to help in properties. It also was useful training to work in a tight location.

Sunny at Durlston

News round up

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-12376244

Humber Coastguards talking about how vital local knowledge is.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-cumbria-12377106

Search in Cumbria called off.

Am I that old?

So there I was at the museum the other night, looking through these old logs and the very last one looked a little familiar .

Many many years ago, we kept a log in the mobile to write up details of incidents. Flicking through the pages, I came across this entry which related to a cliff incident at Dancing Ledge.

23 July 1992.....Team members - Aux I/C Ian Surface, I Brown (some young man??) J Smith, M Williamson, D Eggleton, B Smith, J Bentham , J Peto and the SXO - Sector Manager as they are called now.

My handwriting hasn't got any better and what a thought, something I wrote is now in a museum! I also think I have the plastic maroon case fired that day ....