On a recent visit to Burnham on sea, we stumbled across the BARB (Burnham on sea Area Rescue Boat) being put into action on the Burnham coastline.
The Boat (actually a Hovercraft) is run by an enthusiastic bunch of local volunteers who not only man the craft but also take care of the fund raising needed to run it. It was on one of their fund raising Events where we met Pete Emery, a key member of the hovercraft crew.
Pete explained their plight,head gasket failiures due to excessive heat. Pete went on to expain that they could only run the craft for a very limited amount of time due to the heat build up, "Its only a matter of time until this prevents us from saving someone" he said.
This is where we step in with a solution!
We swiftly manufactured a full race spec 50mm thick alloy water radiator for the craft and sent it over FOC for for their crew to fit.
After testing pete said "we fitted the your radiator to the spirit of lelaina rescue hovercraft at bunham-on-sea a few days ago, we had to make small bracket but it fitted great.I have been flying the craft for over three hours today and the temp never went above 40 degrees.
Before we fitted your radiator the craft was running at 90 degrees after just 15/20 minutes, this meant that we could not run for long without stopping. Of course, this caused us a big problem as time to us means it could cost someone there life.
The way you could just look at our craft briefly and then come up with such a professionally made radiator that works so well just shows how good you are at what you do.
From all of us at barb rescue hovercraft we say a big thank you and I know you will help us to save the lives of others now we can run for so much longer.
so again a big thanks to you all at pro alloy".
"We are very proud and pleased to be involved with such a worthy cause and we look forward very much to having a go in this machine!" said Wayne Clayden of Pro alloy.
The Pro Alloy radiator fitted to the hovercraft
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The story behind Burnham's 'Spirit Of Lelaina' hovercraft
 BARB, the group that runs the hovercraft, was formed in 1992 when it began fundraising for its first rescue craft and own boathouse. In June 1994 Anneka Rice and the BBC TV show Challenge Anneka came to the rescue, building us a boat house on Burnham seafront in just 72 hours!
With the help of a generous grant from The Foundation for Sport And The Arts, plus donations from local businesses, BARB was able to purchase the rest of the equipment it needed in order to become fully operational as a rescue boat service.
Following the tragic death of five year-old Lelaina Hall in the mud at Berrow in 2002, the Western Daily Press launched a hugely successful fundraising campaign which brought in a whopping £115,000. This funded the purchase of a fully-equipped hovercraft - called The Spirit Of Lelaina - which is now stationed in the boathouse at Burnham. During its first summer of operation in 2004 it helped and rescued up to 50 people. The Western Daily Press and its readers remain one of the biggest supporters of the service, raising many thousands of pounds towards its operation. |
you can keep you up to date with the hovercraft by logging on to www.burnham-on-sea.com
Facts and figures about the Spirit of Lelaina
Story By : pro alloy |
