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To coincide with the BBC's Coast series,
one of North Yorkshire's coastguards has made time to record a diary
of the kinds of challenges he and his workmates face on a daily
basis.
To listen to these audio diaries, you need to have RealPlayer installed,
this is a free piece of software.
BBC
download guide | Free
Real player
Diary
One
In the first installment, Richard tells us a little bit about himself
and why he joined the Coastguard.
"My main job is to be a link between disaster and rescue...
I was first drawn to this because I thought it would help my ex-colleagues
in the Merchant Navy."
Diary
Two
Ever wondered what it would be like to stare out to sea day after
day? That's what coastguards used to do… These days, like many
of us, their job involves staring at computer screens. In his second
diary entry, we join Richard at home after a night shift.
"It really is not an enjoyable thing for me, walking down
by the sea. I much prefer to go inland and walk amongst the trees.
Having spent 20 years at sea, as you can imagine you don't see many
trees."
Diary
Three
In his third diary entry, Richard's in the office, safe from the
bad weather. However the bad weather means it's an extremely busy
time.
"We've got a yacht off Holy Island who's having problems
with the bad weather and we're launching a lifeboat to assist him.
Also we've got a sick crew-member on one of the gas rigs off Flamborough
Head."
Diary
Four
For coastguards, summer weekends can seem non-stop. In his fourth
installment Richard works his way through a very busy Saturday.
"The incident in Filey has finished, it turned out to be
a couple of people in an inflatable canoe who had misjudged the
weather and had to be bailed out by the lifeboat and escorted back
into Filey."
Diary
Five
Richard reflects on the both the wonders and the dangers of being
by the sea.
"It's been fun doing this audio diary, For 35 years the
sea has had something to do with my life. I've always wanted to
go there, ever since I got lost on Cleethorpes Beach at the age
of five."
| More
on Coast |
| If
Richard's diary has whet your appetite for North Yorkshire's
coast, take a look at our guided
walk around Whitby. |
|
