In This Months Issue Tribute to Bob Tucker July 2010 Diving the Red Sea Remembered Issue 139 Calendar / Programme Free Flow Sue and Friend The magazine for LSAC 1 / 19 Photo by Dave Goddard CONTENTS Free Page 1 It should be Buddies Cover This was going to be a Red Sea special Page 2 but had so much copy there wasn’t Editors Bit space for my article, so will slip it to Page 3 the next edition. Don’t let that prevent you from sending in dive trip DO’s Bit reports as they are always welcome Page 4 and will make an edition sooner or Chairmans Bit later. Page 7 Yes I have been supplied with a Tribute to Bob Tucker sequence of photos running up to the one on the left and also a sequence Page 10 that follows. These will appear next Awards Dinner edition unless I’m well lubricated by Page 13 our beloved Chairman. Although there Diving the Red Sea is rumour that Borat could make an Remembered appearance at Stoney Cove in Page 15 exchange for sponsor money for RNLI. Not sure how Stoney will react Statistics to this X-rated event but I for one Page 17 would sponsor Borat for such a cause. Yes Borat made an impromptu visit to the boat. Training Schedule Unfortunately be left his favourite attire behind which My last word is “Keep on Diving” Page 19 unfortunately was commandeered by our chairman who for some reason made an exhibition of himself. Respect. Trip Schedule 2 / 19 PeteB DO’s bit Learn to Dive for £129 The committee has approved a new training package which was recently launched at the Broughton Astley carnival. Aimed at those going on holiday this summer and priced at £129 it offers exceptional value for money. It would also make a different and exciting present. Our complete ‘ learn to scuba dive’ package includes: • Annual BSAC membership • 2 months membership of Lutterworth Sub Aqua Club • All training materials • Use of all SCUBA equipment needed during training* • All theory lessons • 5 pool diving skills lessons • 5 open water qualifying dives* The package does however exclude exposure suit hire; air fills for open water dives and entrance/boat fees. The package will be offered throughout the summer on demand with the idea to offer a condensed training package. Whilst in no way trying to compete with the professional schools like Stoney, the course is very competitively priced. Through offering the course on a trial basis it is hoped we can encourage newly qualified divers to join the club and continue diving. The package would make ideal birthday or Christmas presents and if purchased as such will come with a presentation certificate. Rich Hall 07968 399536 3 / 19 Chairman’s Bit Another edition, but one that I made the deadline on this time! This time last month a large number of the club where preparing for the Red Sea trip. A big thank you to Mike Flatt for organising the foray into warmer waters. Personally I had some fantastic dives whilst there. The highlights being the night dive on the Thistlegorm, the engine room of the Rosie, the Carnatic and Shark & Jolanda reef. The latter being special for reasons my dive buddy will understand. Some members of the trip saw a side of me (ED – feel free to pass comment here!) that they may not have seen before. There are also pictures to prove it. For a generous donation to be split between the RNLI and the club coffers I would be more then willing to recreate the scene at a future date in Stoney Cove. Flattie has already booked next years jaunt, although places are going fast with 6 places already secured. The trip was for me made by the people on it and it was great to be able to share a week engaging in great diving and company. Sadly on the week of our return we said our final good byes to our departed friend Bob Tucker. It was a privilege to have been able to pay my personal respects to Bob at his funeral service. I for one have realised that life is for living and I intend to honour Bob the best way I can be living life more than I currently am. The tribute I made on behalf of the club at his funeral service can be found in the later pages of this edition. Mandy has asked me to thank all the club members that were able to attend. Mandy and the family are bearing up well although are still deeply affected by his untimely passing. The year is progressing along quickly and the weather recently has been exceptionally warm. There have been a number of good UK trips already this year and the summer calendar looks busy with destinations such as Plymouth, Swanage, Farne Islands and St Abbs. There are still plenty of spaces available on most trips (well done to Nigel and Neil B for filling both their trips). Later in the year there will also be boat handling and VHF radio licence courses. The end of the club year is starting to quickly appear on the horizon and the AGM has been set for Tuesday 28 th September. A number of the committee are completing their respective tours of duty and will therefore be stepping down. 4 / 19 Committee members generally serve for no longer than three years in any one role. The three year rule helps to ensure the person does not get “burnt out” and also allows other club members a chance to serve in committee roles to bring their ideas to a position. The term of election is however for one year. All position are indeed available for election again as per club constitution. If you fancy a crack at any committee role then get in touch with our current Secretary Rich Sykes for details on how to obtain the required nominations and cut off dates for this. The committee structure, along with current incumbents, can be found below but as a reminder the following people will be stepping down this September: Secretary – Rich Sykes Training Officer – Fran Duinker Boat Officer- Mike Flatt The AGM is a chance for the committee to present a report on its activities over the preceding twelve months. It’s also a chance to present a club health check report, warts and all. Any motions put forward by the members of commit are also heard at this meeting and I encourage all members to be in attendance this year. Similarly if you have any motions to be considered before the membership at the AGM please feed these into Rich Sykes. The club recently exhibited at the Broughton Astley carnival. The day was very successful with over 300 leaflets distributed, around 100 people visiting the stand and many worth wile conversations taking place. I am certain the day will attract new members and try divers. Indeed we have already had a number of follow up phone calls from people we spoke to at the carnival. We also launched the new “Learn to dive for £129” package. This package is designed to appeal to those wanting to learn to dive before a holiday. It will also make a fantastic birthday or Christmas present. The club website has been updated with this package. To aid those budding underwater photographers there are two guest speakers giving presentations over the next two months. The first is Tim Moran on 27 th July and the second is Maria Munn on the 24 th August. Both speakers are well respected and indeed award winning in their field. Finally can I wish all members a good summer and if you are going away safe travelling. Chris. 5 / 19 6 / 19 Tribute to Bob Tucker delivered by Chris Taylor at his funeral service on July 7 th 2010. Good afternoon ladies and gentleman. Mandy has asked me to say a few words regarding Bob’s scuba diving. I believe Bob first learnt to dive in a very cold Stoney Cove in February 2007. I met Bob shortly afterwards in April 2007 on another course in Stoney Cove. As we lived so close to each other we naturally gravitated together as buddies. We went diving together on a regular basis throughout 2007 onwards. In fact the majority of both our early diving experiences were carried out together. Checking my log book I can see Bob’s signature on some 50 or so pages. We would get up at some unearthly hour on a Saturday morning and take it in turns to collect each other. This would usually be around 6 am and we would then head the short distance across to the Leicestershire village of Stoney Stanton to join the queue to get into Stoney Cove. Being novice divers we would bounce ideas about kit off each other and we would spend hours discussing the merits of this BCD or the other or this set of regulators over the other. Each time we went diving one of us would usually have a new bit of shiny kit to play with and inspect. Bob was not known for packing light when it came to dive gear. He had a couple of big roller boxes that all his gear lived in. I used to call him the Imelda Marcos of dive kilt as he insisted on bring every bit of kit he owned just in case. Spending literally all of a Saturday together once a month we developed a strong friendship.