Dozens of emergency services from across the West Country will be gathering on Burnham-On-Sea’s seafront today (Sunday, August 27th) 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 Search and Rescue, Burnham Coastguards, Burnham RNLI, St John Ambulance, Devo and Somerset Fire Service, Police, Police Cadets, British Red Cross, Freewheeler Blood Bikes, NHS Ambulance Service, NHS and SCC Road Safety.
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, Coastguards, RNLI, lifeguards, and there is scheduled to be a fly-past of microlights from Skywatch at around 3pm.
Others taking part are Skywatch MicroLights, Somerset 4×4 Response, The Environment Agency, Marine Life Rescue, Classic Police Cars, Avon and Somerset Search and Rescue, Exmoor Search and Rescue, Moose Lodge Stall, Brean Splash swimming safety, SAVES Doctors Organisation, Burnham Sea Cadets, Friends of Burnham Hospital, The Maritime Volunteer Service, Dorset and Somerset Air Ambulance, RNLI Lifeguards, Taunton Samaritans, Burnham Rotary, Burnham Lions, Vintage Ambulances, Vintage Fire Engine, Vintage Police Cars, BIARS, RSPCA, Burnham Amateur Radio Club, a jewellery stall, Somerset Bikers, Burnham Boating and Sailing Club and Sedgemoor FM.
BARB, the charity that operates Burnham’s rescue hovercrafts, has organised the popular event since it started in 2004.
Event organiser Roger Flower from BARB said: “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.”
Provisional schedule (subject to change for operational reasons):
10.00 Opening Ceremony – Mayor and other guests
10.20 Gig Race begins
11.15 Lifeguards Demo ( High Water )
11.30 – 11.45 RNLI Demo
12.30 BBQ demo on the beach begins
13.00 Sand Collapse Exercise – Multi agency
13.30 – 16.00 Kite Flying Demo on the beach with Mo the Bubble Man
14.00 – 15.00 Coastguard Helicopter visit
16.00 Skywatch Flypast
Also see:
What’s on in Burnham-On-Sea and Highbridge
