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![[Severn Area Rescue Association (SARA)]](../images/g/gb~sara.jpg)
by
Jan Mertens, 6 December 2006
See also:
SARA or Severn Area Rescue Association is a voluntary body (no paid staff)
active in the River Severn estuary and its upper reaches and is, according to
its homepage is:
�the largest independent lifeboat service in the UK, second only to the
RNLI, with 8 operational boats and approximately
150 personnel. SARA currently operates from three stations. These are located
at Beachley, near Chepstow in Monmouthshire, Sharpness in Gloucestershire and
Wyre Forest.� (The RNLI is not active there.)
SARA was founded in 1973, became a registered charity three years later and
launched its firs boat in 1977. (See �The Fleet� for details on those.)
Also present on the site is the �SARA Shop� showing, among other things, a
blue pennant bearing the
association�s logo. The said logo � at least as shown on the pennant �
consists of yellow stylized initials �SARA� with a short blue wave standing in
for the last letter�s horizontal bar. Round this emblem the full name is
written in yellow letters. Perhaps SARA uses a rectangular flag as well?
Jan Mertens, 5 December 2006
The SARA rapid deployment craft (RDC) does not appear to have the facility to
fly any flag:
http://www.sara-rescue.org.uk/news54-sbf.htm and SARA 2 seems to fly the
United Kingdom red ensign, plus a blue pennant, probably the one described.
Colin Dobson, 7 December 2006
I wonder whether the pennant isn't just a way for e.g. yachtsmen and other
small boat owners in the area to show their support for SARA by spending money
with them and displaying a decorative pennant. Compare the burgees and "hoist
flags" which the RNLI sell - see
www.rnlishop.org.uk/products/rnli_exclusive/1. That doesn't stop them being
real flags, of course.
Andr� Coutanche, 7 December 2006
Andrea Stanley, Executive Secretary of the Severn Area Rescue Association
(SARA), wrote to me on 10 December 2006: "SARA only use the small pennant on
boats and a large version of same at stations on open days, no rectangular ones
at all."
Colin Dobson, 11 December 2006