Annual Report 2009

This page was updated on: Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Last year I highlighted the 47 rescues carried out by our 17 year old Coxswain, this year at time of writing it is 77.

However, on reflection, like the Centre Forward who scores the goals and gets all the glory, it is the teamwork of his fellow players which make this possible.

Be it Arthur our ancient Mariner pensioner who teaches knots and spins tales of the sea, or Dodge, an ex-guards officer who being semi-retired enjoys manning the communications centre, to the crew who’s experience in throwing lines, fixing any side tow or deploying a drogue, or keen eyes spot a yacht in trouble, when other boats have just waved back, that makes a slick professional rescue.

Which has drawn letters of admiration from the boat owners whose lives may have been risk. We remember the cadets who devote hours of training, and "Gunga Dinn" our youngest cadet who is always willing to collect the food orders from the local cafe, and without being asked keeps the kitchen clean and tidy.

To the cadets on Holiday who ring me up to ask if I need any help servicing our Ambulance and Landrovers, or just clean up the mess I have made in the workshop. That Venturers have welded into "Band of Brothers and Sisters".

My Operational Committee have been looking at the problem that older members do not want to leave, and we would lose valuable experience gained over many years as teenage cadets.

A solution has been to form an "Alpha Team" which also resolves a problem of cadets not being subject to the trauma of a dead body or serious injury.

Something which I think has always commanded the Coast Guard, and who are now happy to request an Alpha Crew, although the Cadets still take an active role in most conventional rescues such as engine failure, capsized dinghy or tow of the putty.

Referring to them as being in the Venturers Academy with the prospect of advancement to Alpha Crew at 18. This has required the purchase of a second Rib for training, and we were lucky enough to obtain the Ex-Cowes Voluntary Lifeboat, when they become a RNLI unit.

That as it is twin outboard, we can now train on both Water and Outboards.

On the rescue side, early in the year we were out helping motorists trapped in the floods or snow and ice, which being so rare in the Forest caught many motorists out. We were pleased to be asked to provide First Aid and Rescue for the National Orienteering.

Where we met an Ambulance Technician who was impressed enough to join us and provide training in the use of Medical Gases and advanced First Aid.

Haven Ambulance also provided a First Aid Course for all new recruits and refreshers. 2 Paramedics who have just moved in locally have also joined our team giving Paramedics afloat.

While Exxon Mobil have presented yet another defibrillator giving one in each boat, and one in the Ambulance and Fast Responder Quad. 2 senior Venturers are also training to be First Responders.

At sea, our most notable rescue was a young lady hit in the face with a flying block tackle, our Alpha Crew having the medical experience to deal with possible neck and back injuries. The power of our water jet was seen when we towed a very large fishing trawler with engine failure to a safe haven some 20 miles away.

The other 75 rescues varied from run aground, engine failure, broken rudder, sail wrapped around the keel, windsurfer out of his experience in rough seas. We were pleased to supply our beach rescue Rib, Range Rover, Ambulance plus First Aid to Newfoundland Dog Rescue fundraiser for the Blind.

Financially it has been a difficult year as we can never raise sufficient funds with jumble sales, while the hype and publicity of Children in Need, Red Nose absorbs much of the local charitable purse, making it difficult to find sponsors like our 24 hours on a life raft, and our applications for lottery funding seems to get the same reply "Do not meet our target group".

Hampshire County have also formed a single committee to distribute all the various Youth Grants, and being a somewhat unconventional youth organisation helping others rather than ourselves, we did not meet their strict criteria.

Our main source of funding has been Charitable Trust them who I think like the fact of teenagers doing something for the Community; but their income has been hit by the fall of income from stocks and shares with low returns on cash investments, and this year's income from their sources has been greatly reduced.

From a personal point of view after 48 years as founder of the Venturers, and age 76 it is getting too much for me, especially all the legislation and paperwork required.

That if the Venturers are to continue we need a full time Executive Officer.

Although I do not think we could find any source of regular funding to pay the salary.

That to employ a person in mind and most suitable, he would have to leave a very good job and we would need to offer the security of a three-year contract.

We do have a business plan, having formed a not for profit limited company, Venturers Marine Training Ltd. Which would use our boats and facilities to provide internationally recognised IYT training from Ribmaster, to Mate and Skipper up to 300 Tons. Already we have an initial course for a local Tug Company which will bring in about £11000, and interest from a Launch Company and the Maritime Volunteer Service.

As the days when experience was sufficient you also need a bit of paper to prove it. That any profits after salaries would go into the Venturers funds.

On the sad side we still suffer from jealousy and resentment from some adults who do not think teenagers should be allowed to take command of rescue Ribs.

Our new Outboard had the keys and battery switches stolen, and then somebody poured dirty fresh water in all three fuel tanks.

This not only damaged the engines, but the entire floor had to come up and tanks drained and cleaned, which as you can imagine was very expensive, and left us off service for several weeks. On a happier note we were mentioned in a House of Commons Early Day Notice signed by 5 MPs including Doctor Julian Lewis MP.

Living in the New Forest I was not sure why I was invited to the London Palace Garden Party, where Prince Charles got all the London Uniformed Youth Organisations to meet and display what they do and hopefully work and share facilities with each other. I am now hoping to get Hampshire County interested in holding a similar event.

This annual report goes out to a large number of Charitable Trusts, businesses and many old Friends who although no longer in a position to make any financial contribution due to loss of Pensions and almost nil interest on savings have already shown an interest and enjoy reading of our Cadets adventures, and who I feel have a duty to send a copy of our report, and not just to sources we are hoping for funding.

As you will note I may hint, but never ask for recipients to feel obliged to send a donation in return.

Yours sincerely,

"Commodore" Philip G Pearce-Smith MBE, VSC

PS note this is a courtesy title as a reward for 46 years service and venerable old age.