A Monthly Publication

For peace of mind, use the plastic

A small piece of plastic can save you a lot of worry this summer — and I don’t mean the one where you keep your overdraft, writes Mick Wing, Station Officer with Hunstanton Coastguard. No, I’m referring to the wristbands that can help you find your children if they should be unfortunate enough to get lost on the beach or in the holiday crowds.

Much as you might like a few minutes’ respite from the kids, taking your eye off them is really not a good idea. Every summer we see dozens of distraught parents whose children have gone walkabout. In almost every case the missing ones soon turn up safe and sound, often before the Coastguard vehicle arrives on the prom with siren blaring. But just occasionally things go badly wrong, as on 8 July when a 15-year-old boy drowned at Wells-next-the-Sea.

You can find wristbands at the Beach Patrol office near the Oasis leisure centre, at the tourist information office in the Town Hall, and at some of the seafront kiosks. Write your mobile phone number on the band — no need for a name if you don’t want to — and gain a little peace of mind. But keep a close eye on the kids just the same, and if you must use an inflatable boat or raft, make sure it’s attached to a rope.

The wet weather in June has meant a quiet summer for us so far. On 10 June a military phosphorus flare on the beach brought a visit from the RAF bomb disposal team, with the clifftop closed for a short period. On 24 June, with help from Hunstanton lifeboat, the police and the fire service, we rescued a woman from a steep and muddy sluice in King’s Lynn.

On a lighter note, we were very pleased to win first place in the commercial class at Hunstanton Carnival. Our thanks to Buxton and Cawthorne Ltd. of Heacham for supplying the lorry, and congratulations to all who helped with the float.