BSACLIFE
The Haynes Manual
Simon Rogerson catches up with BSAC ’ s latest Chair , Edward Haynes , to ask him for his thoughts on leadership , legacy and e-learning
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have traditionally interviewed BSAC ’ s leaders in person over the past 23 years , but my meeting with the latest Chair , Edward Haynes , takes place on Microsoft Teams . It ’ s convenient , because Edward lives close to Loch Lomond in Scotland , while I ’ m based 400 miles away . It ’ s also fitting because the club ’ s recent history has been defined by the revolution in digital communication thrust on us all by the pandemic .
An Advanced Diver and Instructor , Edward comes from a military background and is now a Chartered Internal Auditor by profession ; it was his knowledge of this field that first got him involved in volunteering for BSAC at a national level . He is a serial volunteer ; I ’ ve been aware of his involvement with the club for more than a decade . He initially comes across as very serious , but has an underlying warmth and an undeniable devotion to club life in its various guises .
When it comes to his own diving , Edward is modest , but I know he is a prolific diver and instructor . Today , he wants to convey the message that you don ’ t necessarily have to be a highly qualified diver to serve BSAC Council . “ What we need are people who have some area of expertise , who can think outside the box and who can present and make their ideas known .” So , let ’ s get to know Edward Haynes , BSAC ’ s 21st Chair .
Q Let ’ s start with some detail about your own diving background . How did you get involved and who were the people who motivated you when you first started ?
A When I was younger , I used to watch all the Cousteau things on television . But it really started when I joined the Army and got posted to Belize with the Royal Corps of Transport . On the flight out I sat next to a guy reading a copy of [ then club magazine ] Triton . He said to me that if I didn ’ t at least have a go while in Belize , then I ’ d never do it . I went on to learn informally how to dive and organise trips while stationed there .
I recall the first time I went diving on the reef and we saw an enormous grouper . I couldn ’ t talk about anything else when I was back at work . I started training properly with BSAC in February 1977 , when I had a chance to join adventure training for the sum of £ 7.50 , or 30 Belizean dollars ! I spent two weeks out on St George ’ s Caye with two instructors from Fort Bovisand . We ran through what would have been snorkel training and Third-Class training , but I never got the courses signed off .
After Belize I was posted to Cyprus and then I joined the BSAC branch at Akrotiri , and I started going through all the training again and started getting things signed off properly .
Edward prepares for a club dive on a Scottish shore
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