Thirty years of volunteering afloat around the coastline of Britain are being celebrated on the River Tyne by a national nautical charity on June 1st.
When members of the Royal Naval Auxiliary (RNXS) were told by government in 1994 that they were no longer needed, the members decided to carry on anyway and start their own charity to continue their work. Now 30 years later the Maritime Volunteer Service (MVS) is holding a national day right around the UK to celebrate their achievements in training the next generation of seafarers and providing vital support to communities on the coast.
The MVS is a well-respected charity with a focus on nautical training and community service. It has 26 units around the UK coastline and inland waterways, operating a fleet of small vessels which are used to train members in seamanship, engineering, and communications.
Training is at the very heart of the service – both afloat and ashore. The MVS trains its members (many of whom have had no previous connection with the sea) in nautical skills, following its own training pathway leading to RYA qualifications. These skills are then put into practice to serve the local and in some cases, the national community. In recent years, MVS units have assisted in organised events such as the Tall Ships Race, International Festival of the Sea, the Clipper Race and the 2012 Olympics.
To celebrate the 30th anniversary, the Northumbria Unit of the MVS based in Newcastle will be allowing the public to get close to their vessels and talking about the work of the charity.
Regional Volunteer Officer Angela Carrington is looking forward to the event: “This is a real opportunity for the public to see what we do and to learn some basic seamanship skills. When I joined around 12 years ago, I had no experience on boats other than a kayak and now myself and our members are fully trained to RYA standards in boat handling, VHF radio operation and water safety.
“All of our volunteers are uniformed, and no experience is necessary as full training is given and anyone from the age of 18 can apply to volunteer. We’ve got a founder member in the unit who was in the RNXS, and he passes on his knowledge to the newer volunteers.”
Keith Newman joined the MVS in 1994 and has gained a lot of experience working on the River Tyne.
“I love the River Tyne and helping the younger members with boat handling and navigation. The MVS is all about sharing knowledge and putting something back for the community. I’ve had some great times with the team at various Tall Ships Races and other events. It’s a worthwhile thing to do and you learn new skills too,” he said.
The MVS vessels (a 4.5 metre rigid inflatable boat and a 9-metre patrol boat) will be berthed at Newcastle City Marina on 1st June and will be open to the public between 10am and Noon.
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Photo: The MVS vessel Melita and crew in the Tyne (The Bigger Picture Agency )
Photo2 : Northumberland Freemason on patrol on the Tyne (Highlights PR)
For more information / media interviews contact: Volunteer Officer Keith Newman (PR Officer) keith@highlightspr.co.uk 07814 397951