Platinum Jubilee MEDALLION Platinum Jubilee MEDALLION

In June last year we launched the Platinum Jubilee Medallion and in the last issue of Lifesavers we shared some of the fantastic stories of those who had completed the medallion.

We have since had lots more of you get in touch to tell us about those at your club who have completed the medallion in honour of Queen Elizabeth II in 2022.

John Charles Centre for Sport

The centre hosted a Platinum Jubilee Medallion presentation in later 2022, which was a culmination of the work of the lifesaving programmes across the pools in Leeds.

Grantham Life Saving Club

Lifeguards Natasha Bradley, Fiona Hewerdine, Evie Atkinson, Riley Quinn, Cormac Stanley, and Tom Fulcher all received their awards in October 2022.

Dawlish Warren Life Saving Club

18 of the Dawlish Warren Life Saving Club (DWLSC) members were presented with their Platinum Jubilee Medallion by District Councillors Linda and John Petherick from Teignbridge District Council, who provide support and funding for charities and community groups such as DWLSC.

Junior members Charlie Turner, Larissa Bloor and Tom Wyon-Brown, were three of the youngest members to be presented with their medals.

Charlie, who has been a member of the club for just over a year, said, “I feel happy and proud getting this award. It was challenging at times, but also lots of fun. I love being part of DWLSC. I have made great friends and now feel really confident in the sea, learning new skills all the time.”

Larissa is really happy to be a member of DWLSC and participate in awards like this as she feels “everyone is kind, funny and nice and we learn to save lives.”

Proud recipients of the award are Ed Thorne (Club Captain), Rob Turner, Dave Lang, Dave Bloor, Matt Wyon-Brown, Joe Turner (12), Charlie Turner (9), Ben Wyon-Brown (12), Tom Wyon Brown (10), Larissa Bloor (9), James Bloor (12), Oli Herdman (15), Jess Herdman (12), Kesia Buckley (13), Esme Bowers (14), Amy Everett (13), Rose Byrne (12) and Jayden Lang (12).

Three Generations of Lifesavers

Club member Sophie completed her award at her swimming pool, but when her mum, Carolyn, began to undertake the award at Marine Lake, Clevedon, grandmother Marilyn decided to give it a go too!

Carolyn and Marilyn are former Trainer Assessors and they maintain an interest in the RLSS UK’s work and keep their life support skills going.

65 Years On

Val Hardy and Olive Bowes from Essex branch and former RLSS trustees proudly showing off their Platinum Jubilee Bronze at Colchester Life Saving Club. Sixty five years since they took their first Bronze Medallion.

It was fantastic to see competitors, clubs and volunteers from across our society coming together for this prestigious event.

The event kickstarted on Saturday 11 March with the 50m manikin carry, and saw other events such as obstacles and the line throw before moving on to the Sunday session. Sunday saw events such as the 100m manikin tow, along with the various relays.

There were some fantastic performances throughout the weekend from our Master’s competitors and there were also a number of RLSS UK Speeds Records broken over the weekend. Highlights included:

- Anya Hocking, Gyllyngvase Surf Life Saving club, 100m Manikin Carry with Fins (15-18 years)

- Evie Hickman, Rest Bay Surf Life Saving Club, 200m Obstacles (15-18 years)

- Luke Waterfall, RASCALS, 100m Manikin Carry with Fins & 200m Super Lifesaver (15-18 years)

- David Leggett, Belfast Olympia ISC, took his brothers existing 200m Obstacles (15-18 years) record as Thomas Leggett, also Belfast ISC, moved up age groups to secure the 200m Obstacles (open) record.

Thank you to all of the parents, supporters, coaches, team managers, officials and volunteers who attended the weekend; without you all, this fantastic event would not be possible.

Thank you to those who supported the event, providing discounts to attendees including The Beatles Story, Breakout Liverpool, British Music Experience, Liverpool City Sights, Tate Liverpool, and Quirky Quarter.

Looking ahead we now eagerly await the RLSS Commonwealth Lifesaving Championships in Canada and the European Lifesaving Championships in Belgium, both in September, as well as the National Lifesaving Championships in Leeds on 4 November.

To view National and Speed records, visit www.rlss.org.uk/ lifesaving-sport-records.