Saturday 21st April 2018 saw a gathering of scuba divers meet at The Adelphi Hotel, Liverpool for the Sub-Aqua Association’s Annual General Meeting. The city centre location gave partners the opportunity towander around this amazing city whilst SAA members discussed all things diving.
Once the formal business of the Annual General Meeting was concluded, minutes of which will be provided to all club secretaries in due course, it was time for the association to honour members. Awards were presented to individuals in recognition of their amazing achievements over the last 12 months, as well as the much-desired Golden Club award.
The Kenn Tyler Award for Instruction
This award was given to an SAA instructor who gives his time to members of his club, conducting lectures and pool training, each week to develop individuals and help them on their scuba diving journey. He also attends training dives at 8 Acre and Stoney Cove to assist and assess divers. In addition, he also works with members of other local clubs to aid them in delivering their training to members. In addition to working tirelessly in training divers, he has also achieved his Regional Instructor training and helped with regional courses in both the Midlands and Yorkshire and Humberside Regions.
Chris Kean, a member of Mansfield and District Scuba Diving Club (942) was the well deserved winner of the Kenn Tyler Award. His passion, enthusiasm, energy and commitment to diving knows no bounds.
The George Arnold Trophy for Conservation
A very active member of his local club, Ilkeston and Kimberley Sub Aqua Club (945) the recipient of this award was Tony Stacey. Tony has been devoting many weekends to assist with the Community Seagrass Initiative, being undertaken on the south coast. This science project aims to raise awareness of seagrass habitats and involves regular monitoring the health and biodiversity of the south west’s seagrass beds.
In addition, Tony has written an article for the SAA’s newsletter to make other members aware of this project as well as encouraging members of his own club and clubs elsewhere in the region to become involved. Tony was selected to be the recipient of this trophy in recognition of his time, dedication, enthusiasm and commitment to this important initiative.
Tony was unable to attend the AGM, but his trophy was awarded by his club Diving Officer at a club event.
The Zanelli Charlton Award
The recipients of this award are any SAA Regional Representative or Co-ordinator. It is nominated by members of the National Executive and is given in recognition of the winner’s commitment to the association. This year the winner was Cherie Winnard, the Regional Representative for Yorkshire and Humberside.
Cherie is the Diving Officer of her club, Mansfield and District Sub Aqua Club (942), and during the last year has taken on the role of Regional Representative for a different area following a vacancy. She has organised numerous courses and dedicated many weekends to the continued development of divers. In addition, Cherie is working on the 02EDFA course and updating the course program. Cherie works tirelessly to train individuals and her enthusiasm knows no bounds.
Unfortunately, Cherie was unable to attend the AGM, but her award was received by a member of her club Anne Kean.
The SAA Medallion for Life Saving
As divers we all understand the risk involved in our sport and hope that the time we need intervention of a fellow diver will never arise. The winner of this award was Lee Poxon of Teckno Club, in recognition of his prompt action when faced with a fellow scuba diver who was suffering from a DCI.
After the incident, Lee assessed the situation, administering first aid and oxygen to the casualty. Without Lee’s quick thinkings and actions the diver could have suffered long term effects from his DCI.
We’re sure you’ll agree, Lee is a very worthy recipient of the award and it goes to show that the training procedures we all learn can help save a life when the need arises.
The Golden Club Award
Calne Divers is a very active club conducting dives and training throughout the year. Their committee is hard working and committed to developing the sport and individuals.
The club has many instructors who not only train and develop at a local level but are also very active in regional training. Members of this club are often seen undertaking regional courses as well as assisting others in their training by offering divers to play the role of trainees and surface cover in regional training.
Calne Divers also play an active role in the community, arranging projects such as regular clean-ups of a local waterway in conjunction with other organisations and providing free safety cover for a local river festival. Members of the club have also participated in research conducted by the British Diver Safety Group.
The enthusiastic team at Calne Divers ensure they have a strong social media presence and are often featured in local news articles and on local television programs. We’re sure you’ll agree, they are working wonders to raise awareness of the amazing sport of scuba diving and are well deserved winners of this award.
The award was received by John Hunt – a member of Calne Divers.
SAA Certificate
Whilst on their National Diver training, Ceri Jones and Richard Grice went above and beyond when one of their fellow candidates became ill. When the diver became ill and was unable to drive his car home, Lee and Richard offered to return the car which involved driving from Dosthill to Liverpool, before returning home to South Wales.
Their thoughtful actions were much appreciated by the ill candidate’s family and certainly gave them one less thing to think about during such a difficult time. Richy also accepted the award on behalf of Ceri Jones
Another certificate was presented to Claire Mortimer in recognition of the work she has done both for her local club and the SAA in terms of activity on Facebook and marketing in general, as well as working on the redesign of the association’s website.
National Diver
2017 – 2018 has been a record year for the association with 5 members having achieved this highest of diver grades available within the SAA. Ceri Jones,Lee Poxon, Richard Grice, Darren Slater and Keith Greenlees worked extremely hard to achieve this qualification.
National Divers have to prove their capabilities in organising, and participating in, diving expeditions and other diving activities with a particular stress on safety and emergency procedures. Where applicable, they may also choose to prove their competence in a given specialised area or in a scientific discipline. Candidates also have to pass an extensive test of their theoretical diving knowledge covering Advanced Dive Planning, Health and Safety, Risk Assessments and general diving knowledge to an advanced level.
As Keith Greenlees was on holiday, Gordon Greenan accepted the certificate on his behalf
L-R Darren Slater, Ceri Jones, Gordon Greenan, Richy Grice, Lee Poxon
Retirement Gift
Maureen Pillinger has been a member of the Executive for 21 years in the role of Secretary, and most recently Treasurer. Her knowledge of all things SAA is limitless and she will be sorely missed by her colleagues on the National Council, the Executive and of course members of the SAA. As a thank you for her years of service, Maureen was presented with a watch and she received a well deserved standing ovation at the presentation.
Leaving Gifts
Gary Asson stood down as National Diving Officer for the association after the AGM and was presented with a bronze diver and tankard in recognition of the work and commitment has given to the role during his three year tenure.
Frances Aldridge received a glass tankard as a thank you for the year she gave to the association as Representative of the Eastern region, following a move to the other end of the country.
