Dozens of emergency services from across the West Country will be gathering on Burnham-On-Sea’s seafront today (August 7th) for the town’s annual rescue services day.
Scores of displays and demonstrations will be held on Burnham seafront and beach from 10am to 4pm with displays of hovercrafts, lifeboats, ambulances, fire engines and more.
The event, also known as the ESCAPE Day (the Emergency Services Community Awareness and Promotion Event), will see over 20 different emergency groups taking part, including BARB, the RNLI, HM Coastguard, Avon and Somerset Constabulary, Somerset Fire and Rescue, and the ambulance service.
Vehicles and teams from each service will be on hand during the day and life-saving demonstrations will take place in the sea and on the beach, giving spectators a unique chance to see their work up-close.
Demonstrations will take place from Burnham’s gig rowing club, BARB, RNLI, lifeguards, and there will be a fly-past of microlights from Skywatch at around 3pm.
This year’s event will also be held on the same day as a new fundraising run, the Rescue Rainbow Run, which begins at 1pm. Dozens of runners will take part in the beach run for BARB and the RNLI.
BARB, the charity that operates Burnham’s rescue hovercrafts, has organised the popular event since it started in 2004.
Event co-organiser Roger Flower from BARB told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “This year’s event promises to be a great one – with many displays along the seafront and things to see and do.”
“It will be a super opportunity to see the work of our local emergency services at first hand and support them.”
SCHEDULE FOR TODAY’S EVENT:
10.00am Opening ceremony
10.30am Gig racing with three separate clubs
11.15am RNLI rescue demonstration
12.00pm RNLI lifeguard demonstration
1.30pm Rainbow Rescue Run
2.00pm Naming ceremony for new hovercraft
2.30pm Arrival of Somerset Motorcycle Club after fundraising bike run
3.00pm Microlights fly-past (subject to weather)
3.30pm Hovercraft demonstration
4.00pm Closes
Also see:
What’s on in Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge
