Who are Surf Action? |
 Rich EmersonNow living in Cornwall, UK, my journey here finds me rooted deep within the surfing community. A community that has brought me friendship, support and guidance. Like many, I joined the Military and served with the Queens Royal Irish Hussars, the 7th Amoured Brigade with 'D' Squadron as part of Operation Granby (known to the US as 'Desert Storm') in 1991 whilst liberating Kuwait in the Persian Gulf. Whilst proud to serve my country I now find myself having to break down barriers in everyday of my life. The help I have received, the friendships developed and the knowledge I have gained through my experiences both here and in california is helping me move forward and this blog is here to help. There is help for others in need and by following the carefully selected links I hope that Surf Action and Combat Surfers will help you.  Russ PierreRuss Pierre came to Cornwall 22 years ago and like thousands each year began surfing at Newquay. Once hooked, Russ devoted his life to surfing moving to Cornwall 7 years ago from Brighton. Russ has never served in the armed forces but has a military family history including a Great Uncle who fell at the Somme and a Father who served with Air Sea Rescue during WW2 and the Police Force for 31 years seeing action in Cyprus during the EOKA guerilla campaign. Russ has a huge respect for the armed forces and working with Surf Action allows him to promote his passion for surfing and use this to help others who have given so much in their own lives so that he can have the freedom to go surfing. After studying Business and Leisure Studies at Canterbury Christchurch College he used his education wisely and traveled the world surfing and teaching surfing. The past 13 years have been spent as a teacher of further education to 16-19 year olds and during this time has developed a range of skills that allow me to help move Surf Action forward, support the veterans in a variety of ways and keep the organisation in the public eye that will ultimately help fulfil the overal mission of a recovery centre in Cornwall built by veterans for veterans.  Chris Hines MBE Hon. D.ScChris is the core of A Grain of Sand an organisation dedicated to delivering positive change with a proven track record in the environment, sustainability, campaigning, communications and the set up and running of Small and Medium Enterprises. He was founder and Director of Surfers Against Sewage for 10 years. With a strong focus on "solution to problems", he helped deliver £5 billion spend on UK coastline. Chris has given evidence to Commons and Lords Select Committees, Monopolies and Mergers Commission and the European Parliament and Commission and was called as a special advisor to the Rt.Hon Michael Meacher MP Minister for the Environment. Chris sees effective communication as a key driver to change and has appeared on everything from Panorama to BBC Newsnight live, BBC Children’s TV and the BBC World Service and CNN Skewed View. From 2001-2007 Chris was Sustainability Director at the Eden Project. In 2006 Chris was joint-winner of the first international Surfers Path Green Wave Awards for his contributions to the surfing and environmental world and was featured as one of the Daily Telegraph's Eco Heroes. In June 2008 Chris received an MBE in the Queens Birthday Honours list for "services to the environment." And an Honorary Doctorate of Science from the University of Plymouth in 2011. |
