It is with great sadness that we find ourselves writing about the passing of Janet Taylor. Janet had such an impact on all within the PBCLSA and if we could siphon off some of her energy and enthusiasm we would all be the better for it.
Janet was primarily a member of of RLSS Boscombe Lifeguards but she also had strong ties with our club (RLSS Poole) and Bournemouth (BLGC) as well as the rest of the PBCLSA group and RLSS Wessex Branch.
She has been Hon Sec for the PBCLSA group for as long as I can remember and will most definitely be missed by a great many people.
Janet, simply lived for life saving, and every spare moment she had, was given towards organising, patrolling and volunteering in some capacity, to ensure / assist in making the area a safer and a better place. You can see from the photos below, that Janet always volunteered to assist as a marshal on the annual Brownsea Island swim, she even won a trophy when she entered the half island swim back in 2012. She was always willing to jump in a safety boat or a paddle craft to assist with safety cover at a large number of the open water events that RLSS Poole organised and provided safety cover at. Even when she was unable to get afloat she would volunteer to carry out foot patrols, the Seahorse Swim for example.
To sum Janet up, she was just truly energetic about everything she did, including, during her 80th birthday year, she jumped out of an aeroplane, bungy jumped off a bridge over a canyon and abseiled down the spinnaker tower in Portsmouth, all to raise money for charities and promote the world of lifesaving.
She loved to swim in the open water all year round and had only just been swimming with friends at Durley Chine in the sea in January, without a wetsuit, 4 days before she passed away.
Janet was a true friend to many people and a true inspiration, she will be missed more than she could have known.
RIP Janet your will be missed.
It was a pleasure knowing you and working with you!
Mark Shakles