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Severn Area Rescue Association (SARA) or Severn Rescue is an independent, marine and land based, search and rescue organisation covering the
Severn Estuary The Severn Estuary () is the estuary of the River Severn, flowing into the Bristol Channel between South West England (from North Somerset, Bristol and South Gloucestershire) and South Wales (from Cardiff, Newport to Monmouthshire). Its very h ...
and upper reaches of the
River Severn The River Severn (, ), at long, is the longest river in Great Britain. It is also the river with the most voluminous flow of water by far in all of England and Wales, with an average flow rate of at Apperley, Gloucestershire. It rises in t ...
. SARA is the largest independent lifeboat service in the UK, second only to the
RNLI The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) is the largest of the lifeboat services operating around the coasts of the United Kingdom, Ireland, the Channel Islands, and the Isle of Man, as well as on some inland waterways. Founded in 1824 ...
, with 22 operational inshore lifeboats, 20 vehicles and approximately 200 personnel. They receive no funding from the RNLI. SARA currently operates from six stations. Four are operated by the charity at Beachley, near the Welsh border at
Chepstow Chepstow () is a town and community in Monmouthshire, Wales, adjoining the border with Gloucestershire, England. It is located on the tidal River Wye, about above its confluence with the River Severn, and adjoining the western end of the ...
, Newport, Sharpness and Upton upon Severn. Two stations are based at a local fire station, one at
Tewkesbury Tewkesbury ( ) is a market town and civil parish in the north of Gloucestershire, England. The town grew following the construction of Tewkesbury Abbey in the twelfth century and played a significant role in the Wars of the Roses. It stands at ...
and the other Wyre Forest fire station near
Kidderminster Kidderminster is a market town and civil parish in Worcestershire, England, south-west of Birmingham and north of Worcester, England, Worcester. Located north of the River Stour, Worcestershire, River Stour and east of the River Severn, in th ...
.


History

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 The Wye Valley () is a valley in Wales and England. The River Wye () is the Rivers of Great Britain#Longest rivers in the United Kingdom, fourth-longest river in the United Kingdom. The upper part of the valley is in the Cambrian Mountains an ...
. 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. Five boats are now stationed at Sharpness In June 2005, a new station was opened at
Upper Arley Upper Arley () is a village and civil parish near Kidderminster in the Wyre Forest (district), Wyre Forest District of Worcestershire, England. Historically part of Staffordshire, the village had a population of 741 at the 2011 census. Amen ...
in the Wyre Forest. SARA Wyre Forest is currently based in Kidderminster and operates in the largest geographical area of the four stations covering
Shropshire Shropshire (; abbreviated SalopAlso used officially as the name of the county from 1974–1980. The demonym for inhabitants of the county "Salopian" derives from this name.) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the West M ...
,
Worcestershire Worcestershire ( , ; written abbreviation: Worcs) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the West Midlands (region), West Midlands of England. It is bordered by Shropshire, Staffordshire, and the West Midlands (county), West ...
and parts of
Herefordshire Herefordshire ( ) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the West Midlands (region), West Midlands of England, bordered by Shropshire to the north, Worcestershire to the east, Gloucestershire to the south-east, and the Welsh ...
and the
West Midlands county West Midlands is a Metropolitan county, metropolitan and Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the larger West Midlands (region), West Midlands region of England. A landlocked county, it is bordered by Staffordshire to the north ...
. SARA Wyre Forest operates three rescue boats, one 4x4 and one road ambulance, as well as housing and maintaining one of SARA's Incident Support Units.


Timeline

* 1973 Organisation was founded at Tutshill near Chepstow * 1976 Became a registered charity * 1977 Purchased its first boat * 1985 Became an official Mountain Rescue Post * 1986 Second station was opened at Sharpness * 2005 Third station was opened at Upper Arley in the Wyre Forest * 2009 Fourth station opened in Tewkesbury * 2011 Joint 'Water Rescue Centre' opened in Tewkesbury, a strategic alliance between Gloucestershire Fire and Rescue Service, SARA and
Gloucestershire County Council Gloucestershire County Council is the upper-tier local authority for the non-metropolitan county of Gloucestershire, in England. The council was created in 1889. The council's principal functions are county roads and rights of way, social servi ...
* 2011 Rescue training centre opened at Beachley, Chepstow * 2014 Flood Rescue Resource established at Newport, Gwent * 2015 Strategic alliance between South Wales Fire and Rescue Service and SARA at Malpas Fire & Rescue Station


Operations

SARA currently operates from six stations, Beachley, Newport, Sharpness,
Tewkesbury Tewkesbury ( ) is a market town and civil parish in the north of Gloucestershire, England. The town grew following the construction of Tewkesbury Abbey in the twelfth century and played a significant role in the Wars of the Roses. It stands at ...
(Gloucestershire Water Rescue Centre), Upton on Severn and Wyre Forest and the operational areas for these stations include large parts of the rivers Severn, Wye, Bristol Avon and 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. The membership is made up entirely from volunteers, with no paid staff. As a
registered charity A charitable organization or charity is an organization whose primary objectives are philanthropy and social well-being (e.g. educational, Religion, religious or other activities serving the public interest or common good). The legal definitio ...
, all funding is raised by way of donations. All SARA stations are members of Mountain Rescue England and Wales and SARA is part of the South West England Rescue Association (SWERA).Members of 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 a number of certified instructors SARA is able to teach and certify its own members to RYA Powerboat Levels 1 & 2 and RYA Safety Boat. This service is also offered to the public to help bring awareness and funding to the organisation.


References


External links

* * {{authority control River Severn Independent Lifeboat stations Sea rescue organisations of the United Kingdom Volunteer search and rescue in the United Kingdom 1973 establishments in the United Kingdom Organizations established in 1973 Tidenham