OPERATION Surf 2019 was staged in Bude between Wednesday, September 18 and Monday, September 23, inclusive as part of a jointly executed programme between Help For Heroes and the Royal Foundation Endeavour Fund for military veterans who are recovering from mental health issues and, or, physical injuries and volunteer to participate in a structured event based around surfing.

The beneficiaries are allocated an individual surf instructor who, assisted by water safety volunteers, provide outstanding instruction on a one-to-one basis, tailored to meet the specific requirements of the novice surfer who travelled from across the United Kingdom to attend.

Bude Surf Veterans (BSV) is a volunteer group based in Bude that has been established for approximately six years, providing military veterans with the same surfing provision, albeit they host a minimum of twice weekly surf ‘meets’ throughout the year as opposed to the more intensive Op Surf programme. BSV provide most of the surf instructors, water safety personnel and logistical support for what is the flagship event for the military veterans community. BSV has become the ‘go-to’ group for Help For Heroes and the Endeavour Fund in respect of all matters relating to surfing coupled with Bude gaining the accolade as the spiritual home for such a flagship event.

Following some difficulty getting an access route cleared from Summerleaze car park to the beach, despite it being Cornwall Council’s responsibility, BSV members used shovels to clear a path, which all and sundry subsequently used accordingly, with the town council utilising local assets to clear the path.

The consensus of all Op Surf attendees for consecutive years was the overwhelming friendliness and generosity of spirit from the local community. Local fitness instructor Lisa’s keep fit group, now affectionately renamed BSV’s ‘cake and cuddle crew’, produced industrial quantities of cake and savouries for the 45-strong Op Surf contingent throughout the event.

Specialist cakes were produced to meet dietary requirements — with one beneficiary described Bude as ‘cake heaven’. Fraser and Sue Proudfoot, owners of the Weir, hosted the entire Op Surf contingent without charge at a last-night meal. In addition, the town council provided a ‘meet and greet’ room in the Parkhouse Centre where refreshments could be provided for arriving beneficiaries and hosted a cream tea reception in the castle.

For the first time this year, the majority of instructors were all former Op Surf UK participants who have since gained coaching qualifications as part of their individual pathway recovery programme who have volunteered to return to teach those who are just starting their recovery journeys. Many of the water safety assistants were also former programme participants, making up the in-water support team.

Bude Lions and Bude Naval Association very generously donated a financial contribution towards the costs of Op Surf. In addition, Sainsburys in Bude contributed food items for lunch.

The ethos of veterans helping veterans forms one of the essential ingredients of this outstanding project and it can only become more successful as participants establish further surf groups like BSV throughout the United Kingdom. Many of the beneficiaries have potentially acquired a new tool, namely surfing, which if they can peruse further can be life changing in their ability to cope with their individual physical and, or, mental health issues.

Once again Op Surf will have brought together individuals that will now become lifelong friends, and they will look back on their Bude surfing experience as a very special moment in time. Some are already planning return visits to this very special community who made them so welcome.