North Sea Volunteer Lifeguards

14/04/2026

❤️💛🖤 MAUREEN WELSH 🖤💛❤️

We are deeply saddened to share the news of the death of one of NSVL’s founder members, Maureen Welsh, who passed away suddenly on Saturday 11th April.

Maureen was one of a small group of people, including her husband Joe who were responsible for setting up NSVL in August 1998.

Despite not being from a lifesaving background, Maureen fully immersed herself in club life and served as a Trustee for ten years before standing down from the committee in 2008.

Maureen carried out the role of Social Secretary for the club and was responsible for organising monthly social events, presentation and awards evenings, lifeguard ‘conventions’ and other social gatherings, working hard to ensure there was a thriving social element of the club, creating an inclusive and welcoming organisation for all - something which is hugely important in the lifesaving family.

As well as her trustee position, for many years Maureen was responsible for the ‘front of house’ at pool and beach sessions, being the first point of contact for Rookies and their parents, as well as for the adult members of NSVL. In addition to this, Maureen introduced the club tuck shop - a welcome addition for the kids (and big kids!), and also played a big part in the organisation of the NSVL Boxing Day Swims.

Maureen was a well-loved and respected member of the club, and her kind, caring nature meant she was often seen as the club mother-figure to many of the younger lifeguards - especially in the earlier days of the club.

Despite standing down from the committee in 2008, Maureen maintained her membership and was still a regular face at club social and fundraising events until very recent years.

Our thoughts are very much with Joe, as well as Claire, Steven, Kev, Michaela, Owen and their respective families, the wider family and her many friends.

We will miss you Maureen - thank you for everything.

Team NSVL ❤️💛

15/03/2026

Happy Mothers Day to all the wonderful NSVL M**s - thank you for everything you do. We hope our Rookies are spoiling you today ❤️💛

11/01/2026

📢 COULD YOU BE NSVL’s NEXT FINANCE OFFICER? 📢

⭐️The NSVL AGM will be taking place in May (date to be confirmed). At this point we will be looking to appoint a volunteer Finance Officer to support with the running of the club. Could you help???

⭐️ The NSVL Finance Officer is responsible for:

✅ Overseeing all monies in relation to club business

✅ Preparing an annual club budget

✅ Preparing financial position reports for committee meetings

✅ Preparing accounts at the end of each financial year

📧 If you are interested in the role or would like a more detailed role description, please email our Administrator Dan Baker on [email protected]

03/01/2026

Our thoughts are with everyone affected by the numerous drownings in the UK over the festive period.

Please read and share this important safety message from our friends at Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade.

Anyone can drown - nobody should. Check out Royal Life Saving Society UK - RLSS UK for further safety information.

TeamNSVL

🖤 Safety Reminder from TVLB 🖤

We are deeply saddened by a number of recent drownings along the UK coastline.

Our thoughts are with the victims, their families and friends at this incredibly difficult time and with the emergency services and volunteer responders involved in these tragic incidents.

With high swells and powerful sea conditions, we urge everyone to keep well back from the sea.

Waves can be unpredictable and even from land they can easily sweep people from rocks, promenades and harbours.

This weekend the promenades from Brown’s Bay north to Whitley Bay will be inundated during the high tides and we’ve already seen several videos of near misses and risk taking behaviour when large waves have been breaking

Please also remember: do not enter the sea to try to rescue someone. Tragically, many incidents result in multiple casualties when well-intentioned onlookers enter the water to help.

If someone is in trouble:
• Call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard

• Keep visual contact if it’s safe to do so

• Use a flotation aid if available — Throw - Don’t go

These reminders are shared to help prevent further loss of life. Please take care of yourselves and each other.

— Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade —

31/12/2025

🎉 HAPPY NEW YEAR 🎉

⭐️ Happy New Year to all our friends, family, lifesaving and local community.

⭐️ Thank you once again for your continued support throughout 2025 - it’s very much appreciated.

⭐️ We hope you have a wonderful 2026!

TeamNSVL❤️💛

29/12/2025

28/12/2025

27/12/2025

🌊🎅🏻 NSVL BOXING DAY SWIM 🎅🏻🌊

⭐️ Yesterday NSVL members gathered on Tynemouth Longsands for their annual Boxing Day Dip.

⭐️ Trainers, Instructors, Lifeguards, Rookies and Committee members were joined by hundreds of dippers and even more spectators to take the plunge in the North Sea.

⭐️ A huge thank you to everyone who supported the event, both behind the scenes and on the day. Special thank you to our own team of volunteer beach lifeguards and to our friends at Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade who provided additional safety cover for the event.

⭐️ Same time next year!

⭐️ TeamNSVL ❤️💛

26/12/2025

🌊 Our members are gathering on Longsands soon to prepare for a festive dip in the North Sea.

🥶 We’ll be heading in to the water at 11:00 at the south end of the beach (opposite the lifeguard station), so if you’re out and about then come and say hi!

TeamNSVL❤️💛

24/10/2025

❌ A reminder that there is no pool session tomorrow (Saturday 25th October) and next weekend (Saturday 1st November) due to half term.

✅ Sessions resume on Saturday 8th November.

🎉 Enjoy the break!

15/06/2025

🛟 DROWNING PREVENTION WEEK 🛟

🌊 Yesterday marked the start of the Royal Life Saving Society UK - RLSS UK Drowning Prevention Week and as usual, our Rookies were out in force on Longsands.

🌧️ Less than ideal weather conditions meant that our planned, additional Drowning Prevention Week activities did not go ahead, but our Rookies still took part in their usual training session and our friends from Tynemouth Volunteer Life Brigade still came along to deliver water safety advice to members of the public.

🌫️ Unfortunately poor visibility meant that we also had to cancel our public surf-safety sessions but we hope to be able to deliver these later on in the Summer.

🛟 We have a busy week ahead…on Wednesday evening our Rookies and Lifeguards will be down on Longsands taking part in training whilst one of our Trainer Assessors, Paula is delivering water safety education to Monkseaton Brownies as part of Drowning Prevention Week.

👀 Watch this space for important RLSS Drowning Prevention Week messages throughout the campaign.

TeamNSVL❤️💛