BBC Cornwall's Sea Sense campaign picked up a Silver in the BBC's prestigious Frank Gillard Awards in September 2006. The Gillard is awarded for on and off-air excellence, and is named after the founding father of BBC local radio. Now, BBC Cornwall's been nominated for another accolade. This time it's one of five nominees in the Community section for the Sony Radio Awards. James Churchfield, who came up with the idea for Sea Sense is delighted with the Gillard award. Click on the link below to hear his thoughts: Throughout 2006 BBC Radio Cornwall and the BBC Cornwall website looked at the work of the RNLI. Sea Sense is a campaign to promote safety on rivers, and on the beaches of Cornwall. As part of the project a series of films have been produced by BBC reporters in Truro. It's the first time that Hannah Stacey and Issy Taylor have made television reports. The two journalists have been working with Sea Sense co-ordinator Donna Birrell, who has produced television reports in the past. "It's been a challenge but really rewarding," says Donna. "I hope it will be the first of many television and radio projects for us."  | | Sea Sense co-ordinator Donna Birrell |
The team had to venture out in all weathers to produce the Sea Sense films for BBC Spotlight. "We were doing a film about beach rescue equipment in Perranporth," says Donna. "We got caught up in a Sandstorm. We felt like Laurence of Arabia battling through the sand with all our film equipment." They may have had their share of sand in their shoes and hair but the enthusiastic team have enjoyed producing their television series. There are four films which look at tombstoning, the latest rescue figures for Cornwall, beach rescue equipment and recruitment within the RNLI. The films were shown on BBC Spotlight on the week beginning Monday 25 September. Monday's film For the first in the series the Sea Sense team look at the dangers of tombstoning. They speak to an RNLI lifeguard who rescued an injured tombstoner, and look at the growing number of people taking up the highly risky activity. To watch the film click on the link below, re-visit this page during the week to watch more of the films produced by our new film-makers. Hannah Stacey also produced a radio report about tombstoning, click on the link below to listen to the audio: Tuesday's film RNLI stations across Cornwall were called out a record number of times this summer.
Falmouth was the county's busiest - its lifeboat put to sea 37 times in June, July and August according to Maritime and Coastguard Agency figures. The RNLI say part of the reason for the increase in 'shouts' is because sailors are ignoring basic safety messages. BBC Cornwall's Donna Birrell produced a Spotlight television report about the figures. Click on the link below to watch the film: Wednesday's film Tests carried out by the RNLI in Cornwall reveal the majority of rescue equipment at unattended beaches is unlikely to help in an emergency. Rescue workers at Perranporth have been taking part in the nationwide trial, testing life rings, buoyancy aids and inflatable frisbees. They say the results are shocking. Watch Issy Taylor's film on the link below: Thursday's film As the summer season draws to an end and lifeguards begin to finish their postings, the RNLI says it's recruiting for 2007. Watch our final film in the series, from Issy Taylor by clicking on the link below: | 
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