Ian ’ s wife and daughter holding the memorial plaque , current and past members behind
Each month we feature a selection of your letters
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Remembering Ian Hill agreed
AS COVID STRUCK AND SO MANY restrictions were put onto all our lives , Grimsby & Cleethorpes BSAC ( Branch 37 ) lost its longest serving member , Ian Hill . Born in 1943 , he joined our club in February 1959 , two years after the branch was formed . He remained a member until his sad loss in April 2020 - a member for 61 years with unbroken service to our club and BSAC .
Due to Covid restrictions only family were permitted to attend his funeral and that itself was restricted . During this time , the branch looked at ways a fitting memorial could be done to remember Ian ; so it was decided to place a memorial plaque in his memory in our local sheltered water training site at Covenham Reservoir .
After some time , a suitable plaque design was
Ian Hill and made , a mount was fabricated in stainless by a club member and a social evening was organised inviting members and former members that we could still contact . A gathering was organised on the 19th July , where Ian ’ s family were the guests of honour , and the event was supported by members past and present . Our treasurer organised a splendid ‘ pie & pea ’ supper that was well received . The plaque was placed on our scaffolding training tower at the six metre level , for all diving members to view while in the water .
Afterwards a few words were said about Ian ’ s life in the club by our Chair and members who knew him . A heartfelt , spontaneous round of applause broke out after someone shouted “ Well done Ian !” – something I found very moving . The evening took place on the hottest UK day in UK history , so those who managed to dive that day managed to find sanctuary from the blistering heat . PHIL THURTLE , Grimsby & Cleethorpes BSAC
A journey begins
I WAS WONDERING IF YOU WOULD BE WILLING TO SHARE some words of encouragement to my 11-year-old grandson , Jayden Oakes , who has qualified as a BSAC Discovery Diver .
Jayden started the course eight months ago , aged 10 ; he had the same instructor – Ernie Fisher – from start to finish , and just recently Ernie announced that Jayden had made the grade , qualifying with flying colours .
As a diver myself , I know how important a good instructor and mentorship is , and so I want as many people as possible to get behind Jayden on the journey ahead of him . He has just finished his last year at Primary School and has said that he would like to be a fantastic instructor like Ernie one day .
I ’ m not the only diver in Jayden ’ s family : his mum , uncle and auntie are also BSAC divers . PAUL WILKIE ( one proud grandad ), Westhoughton SAC
Editor ’ s response : A warm welcome to Jayden Oakes from everyone at BSAC and SCUBA magazine . You are helping carry forward a wonderful tradition . Do our readers have some sage advice for Jayden , as a new Discovery Diver ? Write in !
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