Almost a year in the making, on Wednesday 4 Sept we were delighted to welcome some guests and donors to SARA Beachley Station for its Commissioning.
ICU(S) replaces the old ISU, which we retired at the start of 2022, and will support our missing person search operations across Gloucestershire and beyond. It comes equipped with two VHF radios, two computers, to provide mapping and to track the locations of our search parties in real time and a printer to create maps for planning and in the field. It has mobile broadband internet connectivity, essential for viewing satellite imagery and maintaining communications in remote areas. At the same time it provides plenty of space for search managers to plan & manage an operation, and for search parties to be briefed. A robust enclosed awning provides an extra space for briefings which will be vital if the present weather continues.
Christian Harvey from Explore The Scenic Route from Cinderford did an amazing job with the van lining and cabinetry. Then the SARA team of Kathy Donaldson, Steve Trott, Drew Moore and Ben Gleed did wonders to fit out all the electrics and electronics, and all just under budget too.
On Wednesday members of our Board of Trustees, Executive Committee and the Beachley Committee were joined by the Deputy Police and Crime Commissioner for Gloucestershire, the Deputy Mayor of Chepstow and representatives from other organisations in the Beachley area, of the emergency services and our partners at Gloucestershire Cave Rescue Group. SARA CFO Richard Newhouse and Executive Land Search Manager John Dutton explained the value of the new ICU, and then John cut the ribbon to declare the ICU Operational!
The ICU will be housed at Gloucester South Fire Station, which is very central to our operations across Gloucestershire. We are grateful to GFRS for enabling this.
Many thanks to everyone who contributed to this project, which should make a huge difference to our operational effectiveness.

SARA is proud to be one of the founding members of the National Independent Lifeboat Association (NILA), a new charity which has been launched to assist the UK’s independent lifeboats…

Sad to report, we have cancelled our big annual fundraising event, the Wild Wye Swim, due to the extreme conditions and precarious state of the River Wye. We hope the event will return next year.

We have therefore lost our biggest fundraising event of the year. But there are plenty of ways in which you can support SARA, and help us to keep our rescue services operational 24 x 7 x 365. This Saturday we will be at the Gloucester Goes Retro event, with boat rescue demonstrations to watch as well as our collecting buckets.

Then over the next few weeks:
On Sat 3rd and Sun 4th Sept we will be at Morrison’s Ross On Wye
On Sun 11th Sept we’re at at Frampton Country Fayre
On Sat 17th Sept we’re at the Gloucestershire Constabulary Open Day
Plus on Sat 17th and Sun 18th Sept we will be at Morrisons Malvern.
We look forward to seeing you!

Head of Fundraising Can you help SARA to help other people?  SARA is looking for a new volunteer Head of Fundraising, reporting to the CEO and the Board of Trustees,…

SARA is delighted to announce the election of Keith Beckett CBE as the Chair of the SARA Board of Trustees.

Over the Platinum Jubilee Weekend the SARA volunteers will be busy supporting events across our area, providing first aid and water safety cover at some and fun activity for families at others. SARA Tewkesbury got the celebrations started last weekend at the Tewkesbury Big Weekend river parade, and our programme for the Jubilee Weekend is below. Please do come to our stand and say hello if you get the chance!

Thurs 2 June:
Hagley Party in the Park

Fri 3 June
Gloucester Tall Ships Day 1
Portskewett Party

Sat 4 June
Gloucester Tall Ships Day 2
‘Public Services Zone” in Kidderminster
Avon Boat Parade, Twyning

Sun 5 June
Gloucester Tall Ships Day 3
Rogerstone Community Festival
Tewkesbury Civic Service

Congratulations to the four SARA team members who qualified today as Rescue 3 Europe Rope Rescue Operator Instructors.

This is all part of our strategy to arrange for our volunteers to become in-house instructors as much as possible, to keep our costs down. In that capacity they join our existing sets of instructors for powerboat and swiftwater rescue training. They will soon be much in demand to deliver rope rescue operator training courses; watch this space!