There are now many Surf Life Saving Clubs (SLSCs) around the UK Coast, but Bude was the very first, established in 1953 with a donation of training equipment from Australia. Mark Wade, Bude SLSC’s Chief Instructor, brought a range of their equipment to illustrate his lively talk about the club to Bude and Stratton U3A’s November meeting.

The aim of Bude SLSC is saving lives and preventing drowning. Visitors to the coast can be unaware of the possible dangers presented by the waves that attract them to Bude. Club members with their distinctive red and yellow caps volunteer in beach patrols during the holiday season, advising the public and sometimes becoming involved in rescues. Members also provide safety cover for swimming events, for example lifeguards on rescue boards accompany participants in the annual Northcott Mouth to Crooklets swim. Lifeguard cover at Crooklets is provided for a short time on Christmas Day, with lifeguards on rescue boards surrounding the hundreds of people who briefly enter the water. Mark stressed that Bude SLSC does not organise this traditional dip, but their insurance covers them to provide lifeguard cover on the beach.

Back in the fifties women were deemed unfit to become lifeguards but Cornish women quickly ensured that lifeguarding qualifications became open to women as well. Training starts young with Nippers aged 7 – 11 with awareness of water safety, what can be dangerous, how to look after yourself, and how to float. At the junior stage, ages 12-18, children begin to learn how to look after others. Seniors are aged over 18.

The first equipment used by Bude SLSC was a line on a large reel. A lifeguard would swim out with the line, hook himself and the casualty to it, then be pulled slowly back to shore. Helpful bystanders trying to join in were a major hazard – pull too quickly and the people on the end of the line would disappear under the water. This equipment is now obsolete! Lifeguards now swim out with a long buoyancy aid, known as a big yellow banana, and make sure the casualty clings onto it rather than the lifeguard themself.

Current equipment also includes rescue boards, long thick surfboards with grips on the front that can take two people. Bude SLSC also has an Inshore Rescue Boat (IRB) which is designed for surf and can spin within its own length. It would be used no more than 500 metres from the shore.

Surf Lifesaving is a professional level international sport based on lifeguarding skills. Events include a one kilometer run on sand, beach sprints, a swim race starting from the beach, and races with racing rescue boards. Lifeguards may have to run some distance across dry, firm, or waterlogged sand with their equipment before entering the water, and the shortest route is not necessarily the quickest. A porpoising technique involving hands as well as feet is quicker than wading into the water. Such sports develop judgement and skills! This summer the Bude Seniors won the National Championships for the third time running, with the Nipper and Junior sections also doing well.

Mark finished with some safety advice. Dangerous rip currents can sweep swimmers out to sea at around five mph. Calm safe-looking areas without waves are deceptive, as this indicates deeper water where rip currents can form. Waves appear where the beach is raised and the sea shallow, and will be the safest area. Sands can move between tides and therefore rip currents may form in different places from day to day. If caught in such a current, relax, float on your back and don’t let go of your board or flotation aid. Don’t try to swim against the current, when the current lessens swim out to the side towards shallower water.

Cold water swimming is becoming popular but has its hazards – cold water shock, cardiac arrest, becoming unable to swim, and hypothermia. Gasping is a reflex action when entering cold water and causes drowning if the person is submerged when they gasp. Wear a wetsuit, go in slowly – don’t jump, allow a couple of minutes for breathing to settle before swimming.

Mark’s talk was followed by questions and enthusiastic applause.

The next open meeting will take place on January 15 at the Parkhouse Centre, when Prof Karl Ritz will talk about ‘Plant Roots – the Hidden Half’.

Dr Sean Sweeney gave an excellent organ recital at St Mary Magdalene recently with a theme of remembrance.

He opened his programme with a fanfare by Percy Whitlock which was written in 1940 for the band of the Bournemouth Home Guard followed by three movements of music by William Walton for the film of Richard 3rd with Laurence Olivier including the beautiful Elegy and the well known Scherzetto.

He then played a Prelude and Fugue in D major by Dietrich Buxtehude whom J S Bach is reputed to have walked from Lower Saxony to Hamburg to hear play the organ and then Handel’s Bourrée from his Music for the Royal Fireworks.

A lighter note was then struck with a Popular Song from Façade by William Walton before J S Bach’s St Anne Fugue in Eb major which includes variations on the hymn tune usually sung to “O God, our help in ages past”.

The Elegy by Sir George-Thalben-Ball started as an improvisation by Sir George to fill time on a live 3rd Programme concert which he later wrote down and expanded to satisfy listeners who wanted to know what the lovely piece was.

Dr Sweeney finished his programme with Noel Rawsthorne’s Hornpipe Humoresque which had always brought the house down when he was organist at the Royal Naval College, Dartmouth, containing not only the Sailors’ Hornpipe but also snatches of a Brandenburg Concerto, Rule Britannia and the Widor Toccata.

The choir is now looking forward to singing carols at 7pm on Friday, November 28, after the official opening of the Christmas Tree Festival organised by choir members Sharron Wormald and Sue Tierney and then the Advent Carol Service on Sunday, November 30, at 5.30pm after a combined benefice Eucharist at St Mary’s with the Tamar group of churches in the morning.

Then on Sunday, December 7, the last choral evensong for the year will take place followed by the traditional service of nine lessons and carols on Christmas Eve at the earlier time than usual of 5.30pm.

Launceston Choral Society’s recent performance of Mozart’s wonderful “Requiem” at Central Methodist Church was reckoned to be one of its best ever according to members of the audience, choir members who sang and even the soloists who complimented the choir’s singing.

The composer died before he was able to finish the work though he left one completed movement and sketches of the others. The choir performed the completion by composer and Mozart scholar, Duncan Druce, who has changed no note of Mozart’s but included the best of the various musicians who composed completions of their own.

Soloists Kate Walker, soprano, Louise Mott, alto, Matthew Skaria, tenor and Toby Hawkins, bass all sang superbly and were sponsored generously by Launceston Rotary Club. David Green worked his magic on the organ to accompany.

In his introduction, musical director, Jonathan Mann remembered choir members Avril Colwill and Jennifer Blockley and long time accompanist David Crocker, all of whom passed away in the last year.

The choir was delighted to see in the audience the whole family behind local business, JL Podiatry Clinic who kindly sponsored the concert.

As usual, at this time of year, a retiring collection was taken and over £360 was raised for the RBL Poppy Appeal.

The choir is now rehearsing for its annual “Christmas in Words & Music” concert to be given on Saturday, December 13.

Morning prayer on Mondays weekly at 10am.

Sunday, November 30, choral evensong at 6.30pm.

Sunday, November 30, Cluster Messy Church for Advent at Stoke Climsland church at 10am.

Ali and Ursula report that there have been two good days at community events in the parish - Apple Day and Linkinhorne 25 regarding the history group, both held at Sterts Art Centre. They met many recyclers, old and new friends and neighbours.

At the moment they are collecting a group of items called Beauty Empties which include old make-up, mascara wands, Lipsyl, face cream jars and tubes of handcream.

Also collecting plastic sweet tubs, for example Heroes and Quality Street, and plastic containers marked PP5 which are shredded and made into park and garden furniture. There is an example in the Jubilee Field.

Plastic bread wrappers (including rolls, tortilla, crumpets, and pitta) have raised £105 for charity. The bin for cans (flattened if possible) are still in the car park with another two behind the hall.

To date £18,000 have been raised for charity thanks to all your recycling.

Please note that the cheese packaging programme has now closed, so no more packets thank you.