THE FOREST of Dean Camera Club enjoyed a spectacular day out with the Severn Area Rescue Association during a special training event at Beachley that gave members a front-row seat to the charity’s life-saving work.

The photo shoot, held on Saturday, saw members swap their usual studio or countryside settings for the roar of engines, spray of water and fast-paced drama of rescue boats in action.

The experience was made possible thanks to the association, whose volunteers dedicate countless hours to training and responding to emergencies along the Severn and Wye.

The day began with the launch of two lifeboats from the Beachley station.The crews then headed upstream into the River Wye, just downstream from the railway bridge, where they treated onlookers to sharp turns and high-speed manoeuvres.

Photographers were given another opportunity for dramatic shots at the old Wye Bridge, where the team staged a man overboard scenario.

The crew executed a slick rescue as the tide began to race out, adding an extra challenge to the operation. With the tide dropping quickly, the boats powered back to Beachley to be recovered up the slipway.

The event was also an opportunity to celebrate one of the club’s own. During the day, chairman Huw Jones presented Steve Young with the Forest of Dean Camera Club’s Photographer of the Year plaque in recognition of his outstanding work.

Many of the pictures taken during the session came from the lens of club member Steve Mosley, who was among those on site capturing the action.

The club made a donation to SARA in thanks for the opportunity, although members acknowledged it was only a small contribution compared to the considerable cost of running the vital rescue service.

The charity provides lifeboat and land-based search and rescue services, operating in a challenging environment where tides, currents and weather can change rapidly.