Severn Area Rescue Association

08/10/2026

We were contacted by Gloucestershire Constabulary at around 0430 this morning, to support them with the search for a vulnerable missing person in the Dursley area. Accordingly, land search team members from our stations at Tewkesbury, Cotswolds, Beachley and Wyre Forest assembled from first light and commenced a search.

Thankfully, during the morning the missing person was located safe by police officers, and was assessed by a SARA medic (one of our RRMTs) before being returned home safely.

We would like to thank the Leaf & Ground, Dursley for their hospitality during this search activity. We are grateful for the use of their site.

Severn Area Rescue Association - Tewkesbury
Severn Area Rescue Association - Beachley
Severn Area Rescue Association - Wyre Forest Station
SARA Cotswolds

08/10/2026

We are selling the pair of Mercury 150hp DFI Pro XS Optimax Outboard Engines, formerly on SARA Lifeboat 1, see:
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/377552255751

These engines have been professionally maintained throughout their service life and were removed from an operational lifeboat in February 2025. They have not been run since removal and are offered complete with documentation, propellers and ancillary items, including oil tanks. Prior to removal from the boat, they were in good working order and are stored in an indoor, dry environment.

If you have questions, please use the 'Message Seller' option on ebay.

Thank you!

07/10/2026

Many thanks to BBC Crimewatch Live for having us on this morning, with SARA Lifeboat 14 ‘The Maureen Easton’ in the studio. We think this interview sums up pretty well what we do to help people at SARA, and why we enjoy doing it!

We depend on donations to keep our service operational, so please support us if you can. Please consider setting up a small monthly donation, they make a huge difference to an organisation like ours.
Please visit http://sara.enthuse.com

Thank you.

National Independent Lifeboat Association
Mountain Rescue England and Wales

07/10/2026

We are delighted that our Deputy CEO Shaun Egan has been elected as the new Chair of NILA, the National Independent Lifeboat Association.

SARA has been a strong supporter of NILA since it’s inception. We look forward to supporting Shaun and his team as they continue to represent and raise the profile of the country’s many independent lifeboat organisations.

At our AGM in September we saw Neil Dalton stand down as chairman, Neil has been involved with NILA since the start and has made NILA in to what it is today.
Neil is remaining as a trustee

We would like to introduce Shaun Egan our new Chair and give you some information about him:
Operational Helm RYA Advanced power boat and COC holder

Deputy Chief Executive and Trustee of SARA

Chair of NILA

I have been involved in the retail motor industry all my working life which has taught me a lot about people and process.

Teamwork has been one of the standout learnings for me as well. A great team can achieve far more than great individuals.

I joined SARA nearly 9 years ago and am consistently humbled and delighted in equal measure at the bonds of friendship, support and professionalism that all the members of SARA display.

As the organisation is now in its 50th year of operation, I am grateful to have been given the chance by the members to help navigate our fantastic charity into the next half century.

I joined the trustee board of NILA a little over 2 years ago and have enjoyed being part of the APPG and helping to inform discussion around the new RBCOP.

When not involved in lifeboat activities, I am now semi-retired from work but still help train new staff with a number of large companies within the motor trade. I enjoy my time on the water on my own boat trying to get out as often as possible. I play golf badly and cook fairly well (I am told).

I have been married to Karen for 32 years, and I could not achieve anything without her help and support.

24/09/2026

Many thanks to Gloucestershire fire and rescue service for involving SARA in this big exercise on Saturday. Team members from several SARA stations participated, and we found it very valuable.

22/09/2026

Many thanks to TrustFord at Cribbs Causeway for their help and the use of their facilities with vital maintenance for our Incident Control Unit (ICU) South on Saturday. This proved especially timely, as it was used that evening and the next day as the base for the large search at Horsley!

Thanks to Sam Singleton for the photos.

20/09/2026

Hot on the heels of attending the Major Incident Exercise in Tewkesbury yesterday (more on that to follow) we were called out for a search at Horsley, near Stroud, ultimately with a very good outcome.

We were called by Gloucestershire Constabulary at about 1930 on Saturday and conducted a small number of land searches between around 2100 and midnight.

We recommenced the search again this morning, with a water search team and a specialist rope team for an area of very steep ground, as well as land search teams. We also requested colleagues from Wiltshire Search and Rescue to join us. Whilst the first set of searches were ongoing, the missing person was found by members of the public in an area we had yet to look at. A small team, including the SARA MO, was despatched to the site to assess and extract the person.

SWAST HART met the team during the extraction and the patient was handed over to NHS care. Great to see the multi-discipline working in action.

Many thanks to the The Hog at Horsley and Horsley Community Shop, and the Horsley community as a whole, for their support, and team members from SARA Tewkesbury, Cotswolds and Beachley for responding.

Severn Area Rescue Association - Beachley
Severn Area Rescue Association - Tewkesbury
SARA Cotswolds

19/09/2026

🚨 Today we’re taking part in a multi-agency training exercise with GFRS 🚨

Details below 👇

🚒 A planned multi-agency training exercise is due to take place tomorrow at Tewkesbury Marina.

If you see emergency service vehicles, personnel or activity in the area, please don't be alarmed as this is part of a planned training exercise.

Operations will continue as normal. Thankyou for your patience and understanding ❤️

Tewkesbury Borough

17/09/2026

This fantastic concert in Berkeley is a week tomorrow, Friday 25th!

Book your ticket at https://www.zeffy.com/en-GB/ticketing/sara-charity-concert

🎶 Have you got your tickets yet? 🎶

We’re getting closer to our special SARA Charity Concert, and we’d love your help to make it a fantastic evening — and fill St Mary’s Church! 💙

On Friday 25 September, the brilliant Dursley Male Voice Choir and Berkeley Vale Community Choir will come together for an evening of live music, all in support of SARA – Severn Area Rescue Association.

📅 Friday 25 September 2026
🕖 7:00pm
📍 St Mary’s Church, Berkeley, GL13 9BN
🎟️ Tickets: £15

Every penny raised will go directly to supporting SARA’s volunteer search and rescue work, helping our crews continue to respond when people need us most.

🎟️ Please book your tickets here:
https://www.zeffy.com/en-GB/ticketing/sara-charity-concert

You can also help us enormously by sharing this post. Even if you can’t make it yourself, a share could put it in front of someone who can. 🙏

Bring your friends, family and neighbours for a great evening of music, with refreshments including drinks, freshly baked cakes and biscuits available too. 🍰☕

🚗 Free parking: Berkeley Castle, GL13 9PJ
♿ Reserved accessible parking: 2–3 spaces at Dr Jenner’s House and Museum, GL13 9BN

💙 Buy a ticket. Share the post. Help us fill the church and raise as much as possible for SARA.

We hope to see you there! 🎶🚤💙

10/09/2026

Today is National Su***de Awareness Day. Every 90 minutes, someone in the UK and Ireland loses their life to su***de.

Some of our callouts are to people who are thinking of ending their lives.

It can be stopped and they can be helped. Please heed this advice from the Samaritans and check in with the people close to you who might need it.

***deawarenessday