Venturers Search and Rescue

The League of Venturers Search and Rescue were established in August 1961.

The League of Venturers Search and Rescue were established in August 1961 to show that teenagers, if given the training, equipment, opportunity and trust could provide a valuable service to the adult community.

They provide a sea rescue service for the Coastguard and a land rescue service for the Police. The service was started by Mr Philip-Gordon Pierce Smith who still (at the time of writing - July 2008) still runs the service he started nearly 47 years ago. Venturers started on limited funds and equipment, patrolling Poole Harbour in an pedalo. Since then the service has developed, seeing many different rescue boats and hundreds of crew. At the time of writing the Venturers have moved their services to the Solent, the busiest recreational waterway in the world where the serve as an additional facility to H.M Coastguard MRSC Solent and have a memorandum with Hampshire Police to provide 4x4 rescue vehciles available 24/7. The Sea rescue operations are undertaken from a purpose built Control room next to the Old Coastguard Cottages at Lepe Beach, overlooking the Western Solent and The Beaulieu River. The control room is fully equiped with charts, radio, Direction Finding Equipment and Radar. The land rescue operations are undertaken from Gangwarily HQ a few miles in land. The premises are also home to the vehicle fleet and reserve boats All manual work is undertaken in the workshop at Gangwarily, complete with pit and full set of tools / parts. Venturers are manned by volunteer’s aged 12-21.