Leonard Stanley Wine Circle: with Deryck Pritchard from SARA (Severn Area Rescue Association)

GREAT to see a full hall after our summer break and the meeting opened with Bob who had just come back from a month’s cruise welcoming everyone, including some visitors.

Keeping business short, members were reminded it is the AGM on October 26, and that nominations for a Vice Chairman are required to work with the new Chairman David Price.

We still need an events organizer, although the 2017 programme is complete apart from the annual outing.

It’s a job to believe that Christmas will soon be upon us and menus for the Christmas Dinner to be held on December 21, will be given out at the AGM and members were requested to let Chris know their requirements at the November meeting and to give cheques to cover the cost of £18 per person to Sue at the same time.

Our speaker for the evening was Deryck Pritchard from SARA (Severn Area Rescue Association) who is the Fund Raising Officer and an operational crew member who was accompanied by a colleague. Deryck joined in 2008 and the Sharpness Station was opened in 1986 and SARA is the largest marine rescue operation after the RNLI.

It is staffed by volunteers and funded 100 per cent by public donations.

There are four lifeboat stations in this area – Beachley, Sharpness, Tewkesbury and Wyre Forest.

We listened with interest as to how the water flowed and how dangerous it could be.

There are four lifeboats and a hovercraft at Sharpness.

Members watched a short film showing how they coped with an emergency on the River Severn, including getting stuck in that horrible mud.

Their work also covers flood rescue and they helped out at the last flooding we had at Uckington.

The crew carry a pager which can ring any time of the day or night.

Deryck himself received several messages whilst talking to us but luckily none were serious enough for him to rush off!

Training is constantly ongoing, including navigation, search patterns, first aid etc.

We thoroughly enjoyed this talk and there were lots of questions for Deryck and his colleague to answer. This is a very worthwhile organization which apparently costs around £100,000 running costs per annum.

Our meeting finished with the usual well laden table of food provided by members and conversation flowed over a glass of wine or two.

Visitors and possible new members are always welcome – please contact the Secretary on 826510 if you are interested.