May 16th 2017 Speaker Meeting on Behalf of HM Coastguard
We made everything shipshape at Rosegarth ready for Pip Hall’s arrival. He looked impressive in his uniform and deserved to be piped aboard! Pip is the highly respected Senior Coastal Operation Officer at HM Coastguard. Over the years he has been involved in land, sea and air rescues and experienced most of the incidents you can imagine and some you can’t!
He was keen to show how the organisation has developed and improved beyond recognition since he first joined. Now everything is state of the art and is influenced by technology. The coast and the sea are divided into areas and members are deployed exactly where they are needed. Communication is excellent and now involves satellites. These extend the capability to cooperate with international organisations. Their modern helicopters are large and equipped with everything they need on a call-out. Most important of all are the crews. They put their lives on the line to save others.
Pip showed dramatic pictures on the screen of incidents and rescues away from our area. As he was speaking we were shocked to hear ‘Mayday, Mayday, Mayday!’ It was only a blip on his laptop!
The talk was educational and informative, grim at times but also humorous. Members and guests thoroughly enjoyed the evening. With our new-found knowledge we’d get top marks in any Coastguard quiz.
Linda Churchward
