SCUBA AND SNORKELLING STALWART Marg Baldwin has been awarded BSAC Honorary Life Membership for her volunteering services to the club .
Marg , who has been a familiar face on BSAC ’ s Diver Training Programme for more than 40 years , has become the 22nd member to be given the honorary award in the club ’ s 70-year history .
Marg now joins an elite roll-call of BSAC Honorary Life Members , including Dr David Bellamy and BSAC ’ s founding member , George Brookes .
A BSAC National Instructor and Snorkel Instructor Trainer , Marg has served as BSAC ’ s Snorkelling Instructor Chief Examiner as well as national advisor for snorkelling with the Scouts . She also worked as BSAC ’ s lead instructor as well as local organiser for Instructor Training Events at Stoney Cove , until her retirement earlier this year .
On hearing she had been awarded BSAC Honorary Life Membership for her volunteering , Marg said that she was both surprised and ‘ humbled ’.
“ Throughout my time with BSAC , I have been doing something that I have loved and enjoyed ,” she explained . “ And I have always appreciated the friendship , fun and enjoyment experienced through scuba diving in a club .”
Having joined BSAC in the early 70s , Marg took a break before re-joining in the mid-1980s . This is when she says her volunteering really got started , with the formation of Leicestershire Scouts Sub Aqua Unit BSAC .
miles to RAHSAC ’ s base in Muscat . The logistics included a relay of people to get the package to Oman so that the 65-yearold trophy could take pride of place at the club ’ s award celebrations .
RAHSAC ’ s Fiona Lemaire takes up the story :
“ First , the Heinke Trophy was packed into a special case for long-haul travel . It was then driven to Heathrow airport to be handed over , James Bond style , to the spouse of one of our divers travelling home from Oman . He then took it to his home in
Honorary Life Membership for magnificent Marg
“ From 1988 to 2016 , I was diving advisor for the Society of Environmental Exploration – Frontier - for marine projects in Tanzania , Fiji , and Madagascar . Until
2014 I was regularly visiting Frontier expeditions in the dual role of diving instructor ( both BSAC and PADI ) and safety auditor of in-field diving operations . “ At the same time , I continued on my BSAC path - First Class Diver in 2009 and National Instructor in 2011 . All the while , I was getting more and more involved in snorkelling !” In 2009 , Marg became
BSAC ’ s Chief Snorkel Examiner and with former National Diving Officer Lizzie Bird , worked on the revised Snorkel Diving Training Programme .
“ I don ’ t remember ever saying to myself I am going to volunteer – it just happened ,” says Marg . “ I have often joked that I am not very good at saying ‘ no ’ when asked to do something . One thing has simply led to another . But seeing others succeed with your help is so rewarding .”
Honorary Life Membership is at the discretion of BSAC Council , and it was , says BSAC Chair Edward Haynes , a unanimous decision to make Marg the latest recipient of the award .
“ This Honorary Life Membership award is in recognition of Marg ’ s exceptional volunteering services on behalf of the club ,” said Edward . “ Marg has been instrumental in the positive scuba and snorkelling experiences of so many members and young people , and it is a privilege to be able to recognise her significant contribution to BSAC with this award .”
deepest Devon for a couple of weeks before returning with it to Oman .
“ At immigration in Oman , the case was met with great curiosity and on revealing that it contained an award for a dive club based in Muscat , the officers became very enthusiastic with a sense of pride .
“ And so , the Heinke Trophy made it to Muscat . Although there was no open-top bus through the streets of Muscat , the sense of achievement and joy was palpable and will be remembered for years to come !”
Dive with
Lisa
BSAC Council member Lisa Shafe is having a productive year
I DON ’ T KNOW ABOUT YOU , BUT this feels like the first proper diving year post-Covid . I started the year diving with Andy Hunt in Loch Craignish , searching for native oysters and completing seagrass surveys , followed by a long weekend in Mull . I had done more dives by the end of April than I had done in 2020 , 2021 or 2022 !
I recently moved to Northumberland from Hertfordshire and I ’ m looking forward to expanding my diving in the North East . I joined my new club Tyneside 114 on a Tuesday and I was diving with them by the weekend ! I am pleased to say they are a very welcoming and friendly club .
For the wider BSAC , I ’ m organising the Thames Boat Run , which should finally happen this October . It was supposed to take place in April 2020 , but the first lockdown scuppered that plan . We are now updating all our plans , getting them back in line with the new dates and tide times . It will now coincide with BSAC ’ s 70th anniversary month , and we ’ re incorporating a visit to the new Tower Lifeboat Station at the turnaround point .
Lots of BSAC clubs are currently arranging litter picks – are you one of them ? We would love to see your photos . As divers , we are often the first to be aware of the impact of rubbish on the environment , and especially on our marine life . I personally have been very saddened to see the latest marine mammal rescues in Cornwall , where seals have got ring frisbees stuck round their necks .
Finally , are your clubs doing anything to celebrate BSAC ’ s 70th ? Please share your ideas , as you may inspire some others !
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