Photo courtesy of SASH. Photo shows Hilda Williams (left) with Angela Stevenson

An NHS worker from East Surrey Hospital’s workforce team is celebrating 50 years of NHS Service and has been commended for her dedication. 

Hilda Williams – or H as she is affectionately known – has worked in a variety of roles over her NHS career which began in 1972 at Cane Hill Hospital.  She is currently the registration authority co-ordinator at Surrey and Sussex Healthcare NHS Trust. 

Hilda was presented with a special long service certificate by Angela Stevenson, Chief Executive and Elizabeth Nyawade, Chief of People and Culture at the Trust. 

Photo courtesy of SASH.  

Photo credit: Crawley Town Life Saving Club.

Sam Lawman, who is currently Crawley Town’s top Open male competitor, will captain the six strong Open (20+) men’s team. Sam holds four British pool teams records, two with the GBR relay team and two with Crawley Town, plus a European Gold for GBR in 2019 for the beach sprint relay team (the last occasion GBR competed prior to COVID-19). Sam also trains with, and represents, the East Leeds Swimming Club and Race Pace Finswimming Club. Life most competitive lifesavers he is also a competitive swimmer of some note, who last year became an Olympic Backstroke trialist.

Jack Sadberry, Crawley Town’s top Youth male competitor, has been appointed vice captain of the six strong Youth men’s team, in his very first selection for GBR. Jack, a relative newcomer to top competitive lifesaving, took everyone by surprise when he recorded one of the world’s fastest 100m Manikin Carry with fins times at a recent trial. Jack also represents, and coaches, the Brighton Surf Lifesaving Club, where he lives, and trains with the Hove-based Shiverers competitive swimming club.

Another first time selection for the GBR Youth men’s team is Thomas Leggett, who just like his teammate Jack, caught the eye of the selectors when recording one of the world’s fastest youth times for the 200m Obstacles swim. Thomas also swims for his local team Belfast Olympians who have a long and successful relationship with Crawley Town and so follows in the footsteps of David Butler, World Championships gold medallist and Odhran Mallen, GBR top Youth pool swim at the 2019 European Championships. Thomas is also a member of the All-Ireland Competitive squad.

Another first time selection is Amaia Lopez, who at 16 is one of the youngest members and represents the GBR Youth women’s team. Amaia’s potential was first brought to the attention of the selectors in 2020 when she broke a 10-year-old British record by 5 seconds. The Lopez family, who moved to Crawley from Spain in 2015, immediately joined Crawley Town LSC, as in Spain competitive lifesaving has a higher profile than it does here in UK, before joining Crawley Swimming Club to help develop her competitive swimming potential. In terms of sport and lifesaving, Amaia is most certainly an all-Crawley girl.

The National Teams Championships runs over six days, three in the Pool and three in the Ocean environment with heats in the morning and finals in the afternoon. The Pool events feature six individual, one paired and four team relays, which involve towing a 43kg manikin, swimming in fins, swimming under obstacles, and line throws. For the Ocean events the competitors again face six individual, one paired and four team relays, which involve surf swimming, rescue boards, racing skis, tube rescues, beach sprints, flags and the Iron Man.

The Lifesaving World Championships is one of the biggest sporting events to be held outside of the Olympics and not only covers National teams but also Club, Youth, Open and Masters, along with a full programme for both Surf boats and IRBs (Inflatable motor driven Rescue Boats).

To find out more about the Sport of Lifesaving and Crawley Town Life Saving Club visit www.crawleytownlsc.com and/or www.lifesaving2022.com.

If you have news for Sussex and Surrey, contact us on news@susyradio.com

Photo credit: Surrey County Council

Around 700 species of wildflower grow on roadsides, and with many native wildflowers at their colourful best in July, now is the time to enjoy yellow rattle, knapweed, cornflowers, oxeye daisies and foxgloves.

These areas are great for nature, provide a colourful boost for commuters and are helping threatened wildflowers and pollinators survive. With native plants and animals under more pressure than ever from human activity, they also provide essential corridors for wildlife of all kinds, from frogs to foxes, to travel between more permanent habitats.

Matt Furniss, Cabinet Member for Transport, Infrastructure and Economy, said, “We’re keen to ensure that we are playing our part to boost biodiversity and want to make residents aware why verges are being left alone.

“These areas are bursting with vegetation which has fantastic benefits for both Surrey’s wildflowers and wildlife. Supporting and increasing biodiversity is also a key focus of our Climate Change Delivery Plan which sets out how we will work with others to become a carbon free county by 2050.

“Highway safety remains paramount, and sightlines will be kept clear.
Any issues with vegetation impairing visibility can be reported via our website.”

Andrew Jamieson, Projects Director at Surrey Wildlife Trusts said, “It’s time to redefine our ideas about what well-managed public spaces look like. Letting roadside verges grow long isn’t laziness on the part of local authorities; it’s an essential part of our joint plan to restore and support Surrey’s plants and wildlife. Let’s not forget that over 90 per cent of the UK’s natural meadowland has been lost since the 1930s, with much of its biodiversity and ability to store carbon replaced with empty monocultures.

“It’s great that more public bodies are signing up to support nature – but everyone can help. The verges outside your house – not to mention your lawn – can be vital habitats and corridors that enable wildlife to move safely from place to place, including the pollinators we all depend on to keep our crops growing. If you simply rest your lawnmower or put away the shears for a few weeks this Summer, you are taking the first step towards a greener future for your neighbourhood.”

If you have news for Sussex and Surrey, contact us on news@susyradio.com

Photo courtesy of Tracey Franklin

Warnings have been issued about the hidden dangers of going to open water to cool down during the heatwave. 

Surrey Police and the RNLI have advised about the dangers of cold water shock. They have issued a safety message for inland environments with many old quarries, lakes and rivers in the East Surrey and North Sussex area. 

The RNLI says people should only go to areas deemed safe for bathing; 80 percent of drowning incidents happen within 3 metres of safety.  Although the air temperature is warm, water temperature lags behind and is cold enough to induce cold water shock. 

Guy Addington is the Regional Water Safety Lead with the RNLI: