A dedicated scuba diver from Llanelli has scooped a top award in recognition of his unstinting support to his local club.
Alun Newsome, 26, Training Officer for Llanelli Sub Aqua Club, was presented with the British Sub-Aqua Club’s (BSAC) Jonathan Crusher Award after a flood of nominations from young divers he has trained.
The Jonathan Crusher Award, named in memory of a BSAC diver and volunteer, was created to recognise an outstanding individual who, in the spirit of BSAC, has performed as a volunteer beyond the normal call of duty for the benefit of their branch.
BSAC is the national governing body for the sport of scuba diving and represents more than 35,000 snorkellers and scuba divers. It has a network of more than 1,000 family friendly and sociable branches across the UK and abroad. It provides extensive diver training from beginner to expert and welcomes membership of divers trained by all other agencies.
Alun from Pwll, was chosen out of 30 finalists in BSAC’s annual Volunteer of the Year awards, sponsored by dive computer manufacturer, Suunto.
But he not only volunteers as Training Officer for his Llanelli diving club, he is also a Dyfed-Powys Special Constable when time allows and a volunteer Red Cross Ambulance Driver as well as a public event First Aider.
And he’s trying to squeeze in research and study to complete his Medical Bio-Chemistry Phd and is currently on placement with the Royal Society in London.
Alun said: “It’s a bit full on at the moment I have to admit. It’s a bit like living out of a suitcase. I get home to South Wales most weekends to go diving and to work with our young divers and then it’s back to London.
“I have recently been doing some work in Switzerland too so that made it even worse. Still, I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
Alun said he is thrilled to have been presented with the award in front of a big crowd at the London International Dive Show.
He said: “It really is nice to be acknowledged by your fellow divers especially as I understand it was young divers who took the trouble to nominate me.
“Jonathan Crusher really did represent excellence and dedication while volunteering with the British Sub-Aqua Club and it’s an honour to be awarded such a prestigious compliment by appreciative fellow divers.”
Mary Tetley, chief executive of BSAC, said Alun was an inspiration and deserved to be recognised for his enduring passion for his sport and his willingness to give up his time to share this with others.
She said: “BSAC relies very heavily on its passionate and dedicated volunteers who can be quite selfless in their support of their own dive club. Alun is one of the best examples of this and it is very important to show our appreciation.
“Alun and BSAC volunteers like him embody the very best of our organisation and they make us very proud indeed.”
Alun says he got the diving bug after his dad, Robert Newsome OBE, who is head teacher of Ysgol Dyffryn Taf in Whitland, Carmarthenshire, bought him a diving course for his 12th birthday.
He said: “I just loved it. I had always been a keen swimmer but really took to diving and couldn’t wait to do more. Six years later I arrived at the Imperial College of Medicine in London and the first thing I did was join the college’s sub aqua club.
“I wouldn’t advise it, but as soon as I got my first student loan I blew the lot on dive equipment, a bit irresponsible I suppose but I just needed to dive. Since then I haven’t looked back and sort of live for the sport of diving.
“On my return to Llanelli I joined the local BSAC club and decided to become an instructor in 2010.”
Alun says he gets a real kick out of training young divers at the Llanelli Club.
He said: “I’m a firm believer that anyone can learn to dive whether they are 12 or 92, male or female. I simply relish the opportunity to be able to teach young people.
“I think back to my first dive aged 12 and how much I enjoyed it. For me it has to be fun but safe. I really enjoy seeing a young diver develop and grow in confidence.
“I have enjoyed diving in Tenerife, Malta and plenty of other exotic places. However, I have to say there is something special about the waters around the UK. You simply can’t beat diving on a wreck off the coast of Cornwall or Wales.
“But the thing that gives me most pleasure in diving is teaching our young divers to dive safely and with a smile on their faces.”
Jacob Layfield, 15, is a member of Llanelli Sub Aqua Club and was one of those who nominated Alun Newsome for the award.
He wrote on his nomination form: “Alun is a very committed member of our club who manages to fit a lot of diving and the organisation of diving trips into a very busy life.
“The future of the club might have been in jeopardy without new members being recruited. There were about eight of us who signed up for the Ocean Diver Course after taster sessions.
“Alun got us through it, the pool training, open water dives, lecturers and test and that was no mean feat as some of the group would have tried the patience of a saint!
“For the first time in the pool with the kit on I was smitten mainly through Alun’s enthusiasm which is contagious. The man is a true inspiration with a real passion for diving.
“The time and effort he has devoted to our group is amazing and I know he has done the same for others too.”
Would you like to learn to dive or improve on some existing skills? Contact the Llanelli Sub-Aqua Club by going to www.llanellisubaquaclub.com
To find out more about BSAC go to www.bsac.com
