Our volunteers proudly represented RLSS Poole Lifeguards, showcasing the incredible work we do within our community. We were honoured to welcome the Mayor to our stand, where three of our members delivered a brilliant speech about who we are, what we offer, and the benefits of being part of the RLSS. They also highlighted the vital support we provide across the bay — from safety cover at local events to assisting other RLSS and SLSA groups.

The Mayor even joined in with a lifesaving rope‑throwing activity and absolutely smashed it on the first attempt.

A huge thank‑you to everyone who took part. The day was a real success and a fantastic example of teamwork, passion, and community spirit from all those representing RLSS Poole Lifeguards.

We even received a lovely message from Cllr. Mark Howell, thanking the team for their efforts and saying how much the attendees appreciated what we brought to the event.

“It certainly wasn’t beach weather, but the dignitaries, cyclists and other attendees really appreciated your team’s efforts.”

A brilliant boost for our volunteers.

Many thanks to Clare Southam, Kelly Turner Sophie Turner, Sam Travers, Amanda Wise-Hall for organising and setting up, as well as being there on the day. Thanks also to Tom, Daisy, Brian and Ellen for popping along to support the event, not forgetting Emma and Tim Travers for transporting all the gear to and from Branksome Dene Chine.

They chose to support two charities close to their hearts:

• Diabetes UK, in memory of Simon Write’s daughter
• RLSS Poole Lifeguard, in memory of their late colleague Richard McNally, who loved supporting our club and took part in the Brownsea Island Swim over many years. His wife, Maria, continues that legacy by volunteering as a marshal each year.

Last night, they presented our club with an incredibly generous £1,000 donation — completely unexpected and deeply appreciated by everyone at RLSS Poole Lifeguard.

Their achievement is nothing short of remarkable. Although billed as a 52‑mile challenge, the team actually completed 54.5 miles, with all 19 colleagues finishing the walk. To put that into perspective, that’s around 120,000 steps in a single day — the equivalent of doing your daily 10,000 steps twelve times over.

The challenge began at 2am and finished at 8pm on 6th April. Simon described it as the toughest test he has ever faced — physically, mentally, and emotionally. There were moments when they were close to giving up, but each time they dug deep, supported one another, and pushed on to the end.

Simon shared a powerful message: this challenge proves that no matter what life throws at you, you can find the strength to keep going, overcome obstacles, and achieve your goal.

Their social media post even mentioned how much they enjoyed visiting us on poolside, seeing our members training hard and learning lifesaving skills — a lovely connection between their challenge and ours.

We are currently looking to purchase new Club Rash Vests for use during our beach training sessions and at safety‑cover events. Thanks to this incredibly generous donation, we are now able to move ahead with this project — and, in a fitting tribute, we plan to include the name “Ricky” on the sleeve of every rash vest in memory of Richard McNally.

The extract below is taken from their social media page that they set up for the 52 Mile Charity Walk,
Furthe information can be found at https://www.facebook.com/groups/1596689924996778/

Simon, Maria and the guys met up at the BCPLeisure Dolphin Pool in Poole, last night to very proudly watch Simon present a cheque to the value of £1,000 to the RLSS Poole Lifeguard Club. This wonderful amount of money was being donated in memory of our dearly loved and much missed friend Ricky,and was the first of the walks two nominated charities.

It was lovely to meet some of the guys at the lifeguards,and to be shown around the pool,and to see what wonderful work they’re doing day in and day out with a bunch of children,that just want to be able to better themselves in life,by being able to swim and to of course have that most important of skills – to save someone’s life!

Also incredibly lovely to hear just some of the things that our donation will enable them to achieve going forward.

And lastly,it was genuinely heartwarming to see the kids applauding YOUR hard work and effort,on that crazy day in early April,you guys.

Here’s the charities website,if you’d like to check out the great work they do,both in and out of the pool :-

The evening was well attended by Executive and Trust members, Trainers, hardworking rookies, and their families — all coming together to acknowledge the incredible commitment shown across the club. It was a brilliant opportunity to celebrate success, share memories, and reflect on the achievements of our members over the past year.

A huge congratulations to everyone who received an award on the night. Your hard work and dedication genuinely deserve recognition. Thank you also to everyone who attended, purchased tickets, and supported the raffle. Thanks to your generosity, we raised £148, which will be reinvested directly back into the club to support future activities and development.

Details of some of the awards presented can be found below. For those who were unable to attend but received an award, these will be presented over the coming weeks during our regular Thursday meetings.

Thank you once again to everyone who helped make the evening such a success

ASSISTANT LIFEGUARD OF THE YEAR!

Sophie Turner

Sophie not only achieved her Powerboat level 2, and RYA first aid in 2025, but
she is always prepared to get involved and assist at Safety Covers and is happy
to step up when asked to help others like looking after new members at Twilight competitions.
Sophie truly is a lovely young lady and a terrific lifeguard in the making.

BOAT PERSON OF THE YEAR!

David Perch &
Tom McMahon

A JOINT AWARD FOR 2025
Early in 2025, bith David and Tom dedicated a lot of their own time to train and qualify as a RYA Powerboat Instructor and subsequently ran two RYA L2 courses for club members. Their commitment to developing the power boating skills within the club, and the way they have actively promoted safe and confident boat handling, are second to none.

As a club, we are unquestionably stronger, safer, and better equipped because of thier efforts.

ASSOCIATE MEMBER OF THE YEAR

Clare Southam

Clare has thrown herself into the Club and taken on many tasks since she joined.

Her enthusiasm is infectious and a ray of light. She has assisted with helping at many events as well as organising the 50th anniversary celebration.

Clare has also increased her own development by gaining her RYA PB L2 and RYA First Aid Certificates.

SERVICES TO LIFESAVING

Brian Pemberton

Brian continues to throw himself into supporting many club events.

He also takes on much behind the scenes to ensure the smooth running of the club, and always the first to arrive with a smile and a chat.

The club would not be the same without Brian’s continued service.

PRESIDENT’S AWARD

Amanda Wise-Hall

This prestigious award was presented to Amanda in recognition of her exceptional commitment to the club. Amanda consistently exceeds expectations, playing a vital role in the Club’s success and culture, always willing to support members and the wider lifesaving community, and often stepping in to help where needed with a positive attitude. Her reliability and passion for lifesaving is an inspiration to both junior and senior members, creating an inclusive environment.

CERTIFICATE OF HONORARY LIFE MEMBERSHIP

David Cooper and Mike Darkin

For extraordinary dedication and commitment to the aims and objectives of RLSS Poole Lifeguard Club for many years.

CERTIFICATE OF APPRECIATION

Awarded for dedication to the club with involvement in Safety Cover throughout 2025

As well as the above recipients who were present to recieve their certificates – the following members all . recieved a certificte of appreciation as well, Felix Morton, Lara Moore, and Tom Nally

CERTIFICATE OF THANKS

Brodie Wyatt

Brodie has been a dedicated member for over 11 years. She has completed her Rookie Instructor and is always
willing to continue to help the club with training as well as continuing to train herself as and when her health allows. She is an extremely valued member of the club.

CERTIFICATE OF THANKS

Mike Darkin

Mike has played a pivotal role in guiding and developing our coxswain group and
heading up our club RYA Centre as Principal. His commitment to keeping policies up to date, ensuring safety measures are in place, and organising regular refresher training, has strengthened the professionalism and confidence of everyone involved.We offer Mike our heartfelt thanks and deep gratitude for everything he has done.

Other Recipients of Awards who were unable to attend the Award Evening, are shown below.

Celebrating Our Incredible Trainers!

A few fun awards were given out to our amazing team of trainers to recognise the huge commitment they continually give to the club and to every one of our members. Without these dedicated volunteers, the club simply wouldn’t exist. Their passion, patience, and professionalism are the backbone of everything we do.

Our trainers don’t just teach Life Saving, First Aid, and Resuscitation Skills — they pass on invaluable life skills that stay with our younger members for the rest of their lives. Confidence, teamwork, resilience, leadership, responsibility… these are the qualities they nurture every single week.

The wealth of knowledge they share, the hours they give, and the care they show to every member is immense. Today’s awards were a small but heartfelt way to say thank you for everything they do to keep our club thriving, safe, and full of opportunity.

DATE: WEDNESDAY 11 MARCH 2026
TIME: 18:45hrs
VENUE: The Cornerstone Academy, Blandford Close, Hamworthy, Poole BH15 4BQ

Agenda Items
• Chair to welcome members to the meeting
• Apologies
• Approval of minutes – AGM (5 March 2025)
• Presentation and approval of the 2025 Annual Trustee Report
• Presentation and approval of the 2025 Annual Accounts
• Appointment of Auditors/Independent Examiners
• Appointment of Trustees
• Ratification of appointment of President and Hon Treasurer
• Election of Executive Committee Officers in accordance with the Club’s Constitution

Nomination Forms
The Executive Committee will accept nominations through the clubs website by the due date, providing the proposer submits this form by 00:01hrs on the day of the AGM, confirming the nomination.
The Club cannot operate successfully without the roles being filled as this puts too much work on the few who do offer themselves to assist. We welcome and encourage anyone who can offer even just a little time; a little is better than nothing.

Thank you
Tom
Chair
RLSS Poole Lifeguard

Links:

Executive Committee Member Nomination forms
https://www.rlss-poole.org.uk/club-officer-nomination-form/

Constitution
https://www.rlss-poole.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/PLG-Constitution-2019-v.1.pdf

Executive Roles
https://www.rlss-poole.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2013/10/ExecutiveRoles.pdf

Our Purpose

As a volunteer lifeguard club, our primary mission is to provide waterborne safety cover at a wide range of open water events each year—including swimming races, canoe competitions, triathlons, rowing regattas, and safety patrols along our foreshores. To achieve this, it is vital that our members are trained and qualified to operate our safety boats safely and professionally.

Instructor Development

Earlier this year, two of our experienced coxswains, David Perch and Tom McMahon, completed a four‑day RYA course to qualify as full RYA Powerboat Handling Instructors. Alongside Christopher Grant from RLSS Boscombe Lifeguards, they form part of our RYA Centre Trainer team, ensuring we can continue the long‑standing tradition of delivering high‑quality training.

Training Achievements

Between August and November, the team delivered six two‑day courses, enabling 12 members (8 from RLSS Poole Lifeguard and 4 from RLSS Boscombe Lifeguard) to achieve the coveted RYA Level 2 Powerboat Handling Certificate.

Despite some challenging weather conditions, every candidate rose to the occasion—making their success even more impressive. While official RYA certificates were awarded at the end of each course, the Training Centre also presented each graduate with a commemorative A4 certificate poolside to mark their achievement.

Gratitude

A huge thank you goes to David Perch, Tom McMahon, and Christopher Grant for generously giving up their weekends to run these courses. Their dedication ensures our club remains strong, skilled, and ready to serve the community.

Also a massive thanks also goes to Mike Darkin who has been the custodian of the Club’s RYA Training Centre on behalf of the club, acting as our RYA Centre Principle for a good number of years keeping everything in tip top shape, ensuring we pass our annual RYA inspections, which in turn enables us to maintain our our RYC Training Centre status. Mike has decided to step aside to concentrate on other activities and family but will still be involved with the training centre. Thank you Mike for all that you have done for us.

Congratulations to Our Graduates

What an incredible day at the RLSS Southern Regional Lifesaving Competition on 27th September in Salisbury! 13 amazing members proudly represented RLSS Poole Lifeguard Club, taking on four challenging events:

• Unknown Life Support Initiative Test
• Unknown Aquatic Initiative Test
• Line Throw
• Swim & Tow
  For many, it was their first time competing—and they smashed it! You all did the club proud!

A huge thank you to our fantastic volunteers: Tim Harris, Mark Shakles, Ali Morton, Angela Edwards, Nicky Marchant, Nick Palmer, and Amanda Wise-Hall. We couldn’t do it without you!

Our incredible competitors:

• Girls 12–14:
  Sadie Morton, Emily Staples – result -3rd Overall
  
• Open 12–14:
  Alex Palmer, Fletcher Pickering – result -3rd Overall
  
• Girls 15–17:
  Pippa Marchant, Megan Sinden – result -3rd Overall
  Ellen Shakles, Lola-Mae Pilley, – result -4th Overall
  Lola Edwards, Betsy O’Brien, – result – 5th Overall
  
• Open 15–17:
  Felix Morton, Daniel Buckland – result -5th Overall
  
• Open Individual 16+:
  Riley Hayes – result -1st Overall

Despite the weather forecast predicting worsening conditions in the afternoon, the race organisers, after carefully considering all factors, made the decision to proceed with the event.

The morning kicked off with ideal conditions—sunshine, calm waters, and excellent visibility, allowing the paddlers to make great progress. However, as anticipated, the weather took a dramatic turn in the afternoon. Visibility decreased, the rain intensified to a horizontal downpour, and the wind picked up, making conditions tough and painful for participants and the safety team. Yet, despite these challenging circumstances, all kayakers, outrigger canoers, and SUP paddlers persevered and completed their respective courses.

A huge congratulations to everyone who took part in the race! Special thanks to Poole Harbour Canoe Club for hosting the event and providing fantastic refreshments. And of course, a big shout-out to the entire safety team whose efforts ensured everyone’s safety throughout the day.

This milestone event brought together generations of lifesavers, from the club’s founding members to the newest recruits, creating a heartwarming atmosphere of shared memories and future aspirations. RLSS Poole Lifeguard has long been more than just a training ground—it’s a family. For many, it has been a cornerstone of personal growth, community service, and lifelong friendships.

The evening was filled with joy and nostalgia. A stunning display of photographs showcased the club’s journey through the years, capturing everything from early training sessions to heroic rescues and community events. Special guests, including Jill Shepherd, one of the club’s founding members, and the Mayor of Poole, added a touch of prestige and heartfelt appreciation to the occasion.

Guests enjoyed a lively programme of beach games, a raffle with generous donations from local businesses, and a delicious hog roast that brought everyone together around the table. The highlight of the evening was the awards ceremony, where outstanding contributions were recognised, and the next generation of lifesavers were celebrated.

A huge thank you goes out to all the companies who donated raffle prizes, the volunteers who made the event possible, and the families and children who continue to support and grow with the club. Your presence and passion ensure that the RLSS Poole Lifeguard Club legacy will continue to thrive for another 50 years and beyond.

Here’s to the lifesavers of the past, the heroes of today, and the future guardians of our shores. 

Over the years, you’ve been part of that story. Whether it was early mornings on the beach, cold training nights at the pool, competitions, rescues, or simply laughing with friends, your time with the club has helped shape who we are today.

Now, as we celebrate 50 years, we’d love to bring everyone back together to remember the moments, reconnect with old faces, and make a few new memories.

Date: Thursday 28 August 2025
Time: 6.00pm til late
Venue: Sandbanks beach, Shore Road

We hope you can join us — because this celebration wouldn’t be the same without the people who made our first 50 years so special

What started as a last-minute change turned into one of the most memorable days we’ve had on the water. With the weather showing off in true British summer style, we made the spontaneous decision to move our meet-up from 10 am to a bright and early 8 am—and thank goodness we did! By 9 am the car park was packed, and the roads were gridlocked thanks to Sand Polo and Sand Fest bringing waves of visitors to the area.

Butties Before Buoys: Breakfast at Base Camp

Before the paddles even touched the water, our morning was off to a sizzling start thanks to Tim Travers, who stepped up as our impromptu breakfast chef. His bacon and egg butties were the perfect fuel for a big day ahead—thank you, Tim, for keeping the crew happy and well-fed!

Launch & Learn: Training Begins

With kayaks launched from the North Haven Yacht Club, we were greeted by calm, sheltered waters that made for ideal training conditions. Under the watchful eye of John Wheeler from RLSS Boscombe Lifeguards, participants practiced:

• Kayaking techniques and control
• Team-based rescue drills
• Solo self-rescue strategies
• Efficient paddling in varied conditions

It wasn’t just about skills—it was about confidence on the water, and everyone gave it their all.

Family Matters: Building a Community

We had 12 participants, including 4 parents who joined in wholeheartedly. Seeing families involved together made this event even more special. The laughter, encouragement, and teamwork reminded us why we do these sessions—not just to learn, but to build connections.

Thank You, Team!

Big gratitude to:

• John Wheeler for leading the training with skill and care
• Tom McMahon and Sam Travers for being right there on the water, supporting the group
• Everyone who showed up with energy, enthusiasm, and smiles

Sessions Covered:

The sessions shown below gives an indication of what was taught and practiced today

Session 1  Practical skills;

• Refresher on forward and reverse paddling
• steering strokes – sweeps, rudders,
• turning strokes – to include static and on the move
• support strokes
• moving sideways – draws

Session 2 Theory

• weather / tide effects
• positioning
• launching and landing considerations.
• what equip to consider carrying when providing safety cover

Session 3   Rescue Skills

• self rescues
• assisting another craft in a rescue
• towing
• swimmer rescues
• unconscious casualties

Overall a great day out, with lost of laughter and merriment, but above all everyone learning new skills and thoroughly enjoying them selves

#staysafe #keeppaddling #rlsspoole