Surf Life Saving Clubs

From 1950 these clubs provided safety cover on much of the coast and helped encourage a beach culture in Britain.

Surfers

Surf spots

Alex Conrad

Alex Conrad was brought up in Cornwall. He learnt to surf in the 1980s and has competed both on traditional wooden bellyboards and on more traditional ‘longboards’.  

Charlie Hunt

Charlie Hunt  joined Mullion Surf Life Saving Club on Polurrian beach as a youngster and says that’s what inspired him to take up surfing.

Nick Radcliffe

Nick Radcliffe started surfing aged 12 in St Agnes and got his first surfboard in 1973 for £15.

Ian Morcom

Ian Morcom AKA 'Porky' started surfing in Newquay in the early 60s. Also a surfboard builder and shaper he worked for Bilbo in Newquay and Tiki in Wales and North Devon.

Russell O'Connor

Russell O'Connor grew up in Watford but travelled to Cornwall and Brighton to surf during the 1960s before eventually moving to Cornwall. His dad was a carpenter and built him his first board based on images found in magazines.

Paul Benney

Paul Benney has been instrumental to the development of Surf Life Saving in Cornwall and has been a professional lifeguard for years. He still works on Crantock beach through the club.

Roger Mansfield

Roger Mansfield was born in Newquay. He learned to surf aged 6 and was British Surfing Champion in 1970. He curated the 'Surf's Up' exhibition in 2004 and wrote 'The Surfing Tribe - A History of British Surfing' in 2009. He is Research Consultant for 'The First Wave'.

Richard Trewella

Richard Trewella spent his childhood on Great Western Beach in Newquay. He and his friends started with 'chicken run boards' until the late 50s when his friend saw a demonstration at Porthtowan Surf Life Saving Club. At first he and a friend built 14 ft longboards from plywood but in '62 he built his first lightweight board.

Tassy Swallow

Tassy Swallow began surfing in St Ives aged 7. She is now a professional surfer competing in competitions around the world.

Jayce Robinson

Jayce Robinson started surf lifesaving at a young age and started surfing aged 8. He won the UK pro tour in 2012 and the English Championships in 2010. He is based in St Ives.

Norman Frost

Norman Frost joined Porthtowan SLSC in the late 1950s. He founded Swell Surf Products, building surfboards that were easy to learn on. He is now a Director of Sustainable Composites, creating surfboards made of more eco-materials. He is married to Pip Frost.

Norman Frost

Norman Frost joined Porthtowan SLSC in the late 1950s. He founded Swell Surf Products, building surfboards that were easy to learn on. He is now a Director of Sustainable Composites, creating surfboards made of more eco-materials. He is married to Pip Frost.

Norman Frost

Norman Frost joined Porthtowan SLSC in the late 1950s. He founded Swell Surf Products, building surfboards that were easy to learn on. He is now a Director of Sustainable Composites, creating surfboards made of more eco-materials. He is married to Pip Frost.

Norman Frost

Norman Frost joined Porthtowan SLSC in the late 1950s. He founded Swell Surf Products, building surfboards that were easy to learn on. He is now a Director of Sustainable Composites, creating surfboards made of more eco-materials. He is married to Pip Frost.

Norman Frost

Norman Frost joined Porthtowan SLSC in the late 1950s. He founded Swell Surf Products, building surfboards that were easy to learn on. He is now a Director of Sustainable Composites, creating surfboards made of more eco-materials. He is married to Pip Frost.

Mark Bailey

A Poldu lifeguard in the 70s, Mark Bailey grew up in Sennen as a teenager and surfed Porthleven Reef early on.

Minnow Green

Robert Green joined Hayle SLSC in 1966 and got his first board in 1967. Called Minnow because he was competent in the water and was small, he was 3 times British Double Ski Champion. Now based in St Agnes, Minnow set up the British Longboarding Union in 1996.

Minnow Green

Robert Green joined Hayle SLSC in 1966 and got his first board in 1967. Called Minnow because he was competent in the water and was small, he was 3 times British Double Ski Champion. Now based in St Agnes, Minnow set up the British Longboarding Union in 1996.

James Williams

James Williams moved to St Ives in the late 1950s. He and his brothers soon joined the Surf Life Saving club and were using club equipment to ride waves on Porthtmeor beach before the end of the 50s.

James Williams

James Williams moved to St Ives in the late 1950s. He and his brothers soon joined the Surf Life Saving club and were using club equipment to ride waves on Porthtmeor beach before the end of the 50s.

Gerald Simmons

Gerald Simmons was one of the first Surf Life Savers in Britain when he passed his bronze medallion in 1955. A member of St Agnes Surf Life Saving Club he rode a British made hollow wooden surfboard in the late 1950s.

Gerald Simmons

Gerald Simmons was one of the first Surf Life Savers in Britain when he passed his bronze medallion in 1955. A member of St Agnes Surf Life Saving Club he rode a British made hollow wooden surfboard in the late 1950s.

Gerald Simmons

Gerald Simmons was one of the first Surf Life Savers in Britain when he passed his bronze medallion in 1955. A member of St Agnes Surf Life Saving Club he rode a British made hollow wooden surfboard in the late 1950s.

Gerald Simmons

Gerald Simmons was one of the first Surf Life Savers in Britain when he passed his bronze medallion in 1955. A member of St Agnes Surf Life Saving Club he rode a British made hollow wooden surfboard in the late 1950s.

Tris Cokes

Tris Cokes was brought up in Porthtowan, Cornwall. He opened Tris Surf shop in 1971 and shaped many boards. He now runs Homeblown, manufacturing more environmentally friendly surfboard blanks.

Tris Cokes

Tris Cokes was brought up in Porthtowan, Cornwall. He opened Tris Surf shop in 1971 and shaped many boards. He now runs Homeblown, manufacturing more environmentally friendly surfboard blanks.

Johnny Manetta

Johnny Manetta moved to Cornwall from London in 1969/70. He has been shaping boards and part of Tris Surf Shop in Porthtowan since 1974 and organised the Cornish and Open through the 70s and 80s.

Alan Kift

Alan Kift was an early member and volunteer for North Devon (now Woolacombe) Surf Lifesaving Club. He discovered surfing through surf life saving and bought a surfboard from Bob Head to help his lifesaving. Alan was an early surfer at the break of Lynmouth in the mid 60s.

Alan Kift

Alan Kift was an early member and volunteer for North Devon (now Woolacombe) Surf Lifesaving Club. He discovered surfing through surf life saving and bought a surfboard from Bob Head to help his lifesaving. Alan was an early surfer at the break of Lynmouth in the mid 60s.

Pete Ash

Pete Ash moved to Cornwall in the late 1960s aged 12. He got into surfing through his father who had been posted to Australia during the war and brought boards and surfing ideas back to postwar Britain.

Dave Griffin

Dave Griffin and his friends were some of the first people to regularly surf in St Ives. They began in the early 60s as teenagers, partly inspired by the st Ives Surf Life Saving Club.