I like many of us love and spend a lot of time in the water around the north Tyneside coastline and feel it is so important that I show my support to an already stretched lifeguard service. I have the upmost respect for the members of TVLB who invest hours upon hours into keeping us that bit safer everytime we set foot onto the coastline. I am lucky enough to have never used their services (thankfully) but the work they do could make the difference for anyone who falls victim to the somewhat overlooked dangers of the coastline.

TVLB, based from our Watch House Museum in Tynemouth, operate a coastal rescue team covering the North Tyneside area, as well at the tidal reaches of the River Tyne. They rely entirely on voluntary donations to ensure the team of volunteers have access to high quality equipment and training – allowing them to provide a fast and efficient response to a wide range of incidents. Their free-to-visit museum chronicles the areas rich history of maritime rescue, and acts as their basis for their outreach work focused on water and sea safety awareness.