Cliff Training

As Deputy Blog mentioned yesterday, Austen led a cliff training session last night on a beautifully sunny Swanage evening.

These sessions give experienced team members a chance to brush up on their skills and techniques whilst giving the newer recruits the relevant training on the route to becoming cliff 'operators'. And of course, it gives us all familiarity with the kit in a non-pressure situation; next time it might be for real, and it might be dark, wet, windy, cold or any combination of those.

Once the session was over and the kit stowed away, a debrief over a customary cup of tea was held at the station.

Training

Training tonight is going to be led by Austen.

Hopefully we will be able to undertake some cliff work and try and get more training for the Cliff Technicians and Operators. Basically Technicians go over while the Operators operate the rope and safety line from the top. I saw Rid earlier and he was looking forward to starting training towards his Technician ticket.

Just watching.

Coastguards spend a lot of time just watching.

Like today when the lifeboat launched, the role of IRT was just to watch......watch the lifeboat and watch the yacht in trouble. Whilst technology has greatly improved and electronics monitor the lifeboat you can not beat the mark one eye ball (or in the case of the IRT 4 eye balls)

The IRT is the eyes and sometimes ears of the Maritime Rescue Centre at Weymouth. Situations can be reported back and this allows everyone to stay safe. From the vantage point high up on a cliff the IRT can also act as safety cover to ensure other vessels stay out the way of a rescue.

Election Fever

So what have the elections got to do with Swanage Coastguard. Well it's been a well known secret (although for fairness to other candidates we've not been able to put anything on the blog) that Ian stood in the Election to Swanage Town Council.

Well he's only been elected!

Which is great news.

I reckon that he'll make a damn fine Councillor as he really cares for the town and people of Swanage.

I'm sure they'll be a lots of supportive comments from the team at training next week .... Along with requests that pavements be fixed, more dog poo bins be provided, double yellow lines in Station Road etc. etc.

Well done Councillor Brown.

I'm told he's celebrating by going to the Swanage Railway Diesel Weekend and beer festival which is um ....this weekend.(see 'local link of the week' on the top right of the blog for more info)

Last few hours

Today is the last day for the public and partner agencies to comment on the modernisation plan for future of the Coastguard.

So if you haven't had a look.....quick!

What a place to live

Things you have to do as a Station Officer ! Local Shop wanted a beach scene so inflatable palm tree, deck chair and a local Coastguard......

Nurdles

I was at a friends the other night and in a pot there was a collection of "Nurdles".

Nurdles are the raw material of plastic and how plastic is transported around the world to be made into products (a very simple explanation).

Now sadly these little bits of plastic are finding their way into the seas, incidents like the Napolli off the Devon coast saw several containers of these go into the sea. Fish and birds eat them and this kills them, many millions of them float around and come up on the beaches.

Now my friend has a super idea to help clear them up. When his children want an ice cream, they have to collect 100 of these little things before obtaining the funds to purchase the ice cream!

Simple and a good way to help the environment?

Health warning - these are very small and not to be eaten! Be careful when digging around in the tide line, there is often all sorts of rubbish mixed in with these. Wash hands before eating ice cream. This activity should always be done under the supervision of an adult!

Whats that in your bucket?

Now before anyone thinks we are putting rude pictures on our blog.....STOP!

This is in fact a 20mm anti aircraft round, fired around 70 years ago somewhere close to Studland. Possibly from the anti aircraft battery that was sited close to Studland village protecting the Royal Navy Cordite Factory at Holten Heath.

A member of the public spotted it and reported it to Dorset Police who called a Bomb Disposal Team (EOD Team). They decided it was best to get rid of it so two police officers, two Coastguards and two National Trust Wardens closed a small part of the beach for 10 minutes whilst the EOD team carried out a controlled explosion.

As you can see, these item are very real and still dangerous......Never touch them, call 999 and ask for the Police or Coastguard.

Another Profile

Name : Ian Brown

Age - Nearly 40!

Position in the Team - Station Officer or The Boss

Qualification - Officer in Charge, Technician, Operator. First Aid, 4 x 4 driver.

Nickname - Sir - plus others but I never hear them

Biscuit Eating Potential - Very High
Role in the team - Lead the team, custodian of the equipment at the station, attend local meetings on behalf of the Coastguard. PACT chairman, COMAH meetings, Chief Cleaner (suffers from OCD at the station).

Early Morning

An early start at Middle Beach Studland - Old Harry Rocks in the background.