Severn Area Rescue Association
Encyclopedia
The Severn Area Rescue Association aka SARA or Severn Rescue is an Inshore Rescue boat and Land Search organisation covering the Severn Estuary
and upper reaches of the River Severn
. SARA is the largest independent lifeboat service in the UK, second only to the RNLI, with 12 operational boats and approximately 170 personnel.
SARA currently operates from four stations. These are located at Beachley
, near Chepstow
in Monmouthshire, Sharpness
in Gloucestershire, Tewkesbury
in Gloucestershire and Wyre Forest
, Worcestershire. The operational area for these stations includes large parts of the rivers Severn, Wye, Bristol Avon, Usk. SARA are the designated rescue service for these areas, being called primarily via HM Coastguard, Police or Fire Brigade. During flooding and other events SARA has often operated away from its core area to provide rescue services when requested.
SARA is not part of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and receives no funding from them. The RNLI does not operate in any of the above areas.
The membership is made up entirely from volunteers, with no paid staff. As a registered charity, all funding is raised by way of donations.
SARA was founded in 1973, with its then headquarters at Tutshill
, which is near the current Beachley station. In 1976 SARA became a registered charity and purchased its first boat in 1977.
In 1985 SARA became an official Mountain Rescue
Team in the role of Cliff rescue for the Wye valley. A year later in 1986 a second station was opened at Sharpness. This was primarily in response to a tragic loss of life in the Sharpness area. 5 boats are now stationed at Sharpness
In June 2005 a new station was opened at Upper Arley
in the Wyre Forest. SARA Wyre Forest operates in the largest geographical area of the four stations covering Shropshire
, Worcestershire
and parts of Herefordshire
and the West Midlands county
. SARA Wyre Forest operates 3 rescue boats, 1 4x4 and 1 road ambulance as well as housing and maintaining the organisations Incident Command Unit.
All SARA stations are members of Mountain Rescue England and Wales and SARA is part of SWERA the South West England Rescue Association.
SARA Beachley is a recognised Mountain Rescue Post, and operates an assistance capacity to the fire brigade for cliff rescues. SARA is also heavily involved in land searches, which are becoming a more frequent requirement.
The need for SARA is increasing with more callouts evident year on year. The variety and range of callouts is also increasing. Typical Incidents involve boats or persons in difficulty in one of the rivers SARA cover, but also the search for missing persons, animal rescue and flood relief are becoming common.
SARA has become a Royal Yachting Association
(RYA) recognised teaching establishment. With 9 SARA members now certified instructors SARA is able to teach and certify its own members to RYA Powerboat Levels 1 & 2 and RYA Safety boat. It is hoped to offer this service to the public in the near future to help bring awareness and funding to the organisation.
Timeline
Severn Estuary
The Severn Estuary is the estuary of the River Severn, the longest river in Great Britain. Its high tidal range means it has been at the centre of discussions in the UK regarding renewable energy.-Geography:...
and upper reaches of the River Severn
River Severn
The River Severn is the longest river in Great Britain, at about , but the second longest on the British Isles, behind the River Shannon. It rises at an altitude of on Plynlimon, Ceredigion near Llanidloes, Powys, in the Cambrian Mountains of mid Wales...
. SARA is the largest independent lifeboat service in the UK, second only to the RNLI, with 12 operational boats and approximately 170 personnel.
SARA currently operates from four stations. These are located at Beachley
Beachley
Beachley is a village in Gloucestershire, England, near the border with Wales. It is located on a peninsula at the junction between the Rivers Wye and Severn, where the Severn Bridge ends and the smaller secondary bridge for the River Wye begins. The tidal drop here is one of the highest in the UK...
, near Chepstow
Chepstow
Chepstow is a town in Monmouthshire, Wales, adjoining the border with Gloucestershire, England. It is located on the River Wye, close to its confluence with the River Severn, and close to the western end of the Severn Bridge on the M48 motorway...
in Monmouthshire, Sharpness
Sharpness
Sharpness is an English port in Gloucestershire, one of the most inland in Britain, and eighth largest in the South West. It is on the River Severn at , at a point where the tidal range, though less than at Avonmouth downstream , is still large .The village of Sharpness is pronounced with the...
in Gloucestershire, Tewkesbury
Tewkesbury
Tewkesbury is a town in Gloucestershire, England. It stands at the confluence of the River Severn and the River Avon, and also minor tributaries the Swilgate and Carrant Brook...
in Gloucestershire and Wyre Forest
Wyre Forest
Wyre Forest is a large, semi-natural woodland and forest which straddles the borders of Worcestershire and Shropshire, England.The Wyre Forest district of Worcestershire takes its name from the forest, despite the fact that much of the woodland does not lie within the district's boundaries, but...
, Worcestershire. The operational area for these stations includes large parts of the rivers Severn, Wye, Bristol Avon, Usk. SARA are the designated rescue service for these areas, being called primarily via HM Coastguard, Police or Fire Brigade. During flooding and other events SARA has often operated away from its core area to provide rescue services when requested.
SARA is not part of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and receives no funding from them. The RNLI does not operate in any of the above areas.
The membership is made up entirely from volunteers, with no paid staff. As a registered charity, all funding is raised by way of donations.
SARA was founded in 1973, with its then headquarters at Tutshill
Tutshill
Tutshill is a small village within the parish of Tidenham in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, England. It is located on the eastern bank of the River Wye, which forms the boundary with Wales at this point and which separates the village from the town of Chepstow...
, which is near the current Beachley station. In 1976 SARA became a registered charity and purchased its first boat in 1977.
In 1985 SARA became an official Mountain Rescue
Mountain rescue
Mountain rescue refers to search and rescue activities that occur in a mountainous environment, although the term is sometimes also used to apply to search and rescue in other wilderness environments. The difficult and remote nature of the terrain in which mountain rescue often occurs has resulted...
Team in the role of Cliff rescue for the Wye valley. A year later in 1986 a second station was opened at Sharpness. This was primarily in response to a tragic loss of life in the Sharpness area. 5 boats are now stationed at Sharpness
In June 2005 a new station was opened at Upper Arley
Upper Arley
Upper Arley is a village is a village and civil parish near Kidderminster in the Wyre Forest District of Worcestershire, England. At the 2001 census it had a population of 645.- Amenities :...
in the Wyre Forest. SARA Wyre Forest operates in the largest geographical area of the four stations covering Shropshire
Shropshire
Shropshire is a county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. It borders Wales to the west...
, Worcestershire
Worcestershire
Worcestershire is a non-metropolitan county, established in antiquity, located in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire" NUTS 2 region...
and parts of Herefordshire
Herefordshire
Herefordshire is a historic and ceremonial county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes it is a NUTS 3 region and is one of three counties that comprise the "Herefordshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire" NUTS 2 region. It also forms a unitary district known as the...
and the West Midlands county
West Midlands (county)
The West Midlands is a metropolitan county in western central England with a 2009 estimated population of 2,638,700. It came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972, formed from parts of Staffordshire, Worcestershire and Warwickshire. The...
. SARA Wyre Forest operates 3 rescue boats, 1 4x4 and 1 road ambulance as well as housing and maintaining the organisations Incident Command Unit.
All SARA stations are members of Mountain Rescue England and Wales and SARA is part of SWERA the South West England Rescue Association.
SARA Beachley is a recognised Mountain Rescue Post, and operates an assistance capacity to the fire brigade for cliff rescues. SARA is also heavily involved in land searches, which are becoming a more frequent requirement.
The need for SARA is increasing with more callouts evident year on year. The variety and range of callouts is also increasing. Typical Incidents involve boats or persons in difficulty in one of the rivers SARA cover, but also the search for missing persons, animal rescue and flood relief are becoming common.
SARA has become a Royal Yachting Association
Royal Yachting Association
The Royal Yachting Association is the national governing body for certain watersports in the United Kingdom. Activities it covers include:* Sailing* Windsurfing* Motor cruising* Sportsboats* Personal watercraft* Powerboat racing...
(RYA) recognised teaching establishment. With 9 SARA members now certified instructors SARA is able to teach and certify its own members to RYA Powerboat Levels 1 & 2 and RYA Safety boat. It is hoped to offer this service to the public in the near future to help bring awareness and funding to the organisation.
Timeline
- 1973 - Organisation was founded
- 1976 - Became a registered charity
- 1977 - Purchased its first boat
- 1985 - Became an official Mountain Rescue Post
- 1986 - Second station was opened at Sharpness
- 2009 - Forth station opened in Tewkesbury