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Marine Radio Presentation to St. Dunstans

On Wednesday 17th September, St Dunstans, the charity for blind ex-Service men and women, was presented with a Rigid Inflatable Boat (RIB), at Ocean Village Marina, Southampton. The 6.2m Humber RIB was acquired thanks to a generous donation from RAF Uxbridge. On hand to donate a radio communication system to go with the RIB was Icom UK’s Marketing Manager, Ian Lockyer and Marine Dealer Manager, Jon Brooks. A trumpet fanfare from the Central Band of the Royal Air Force accompanied the unveiling of the newly named RIB ‘Ad Astra’ – meaning ‘to the Stars’ from the RAF moto ‘per ardua ad astra’. Mark Threadgold, who is totally blind, received the RIB on behalf of St. Dunstans. It was Mark Threadgold who set a new world record last year for the blind, by driving the RIB around a single lap of the Isle of Wight – a total distance of 57.74 nautical miles. In doing so, Mark set the World Endurance Record for the Blind Unlimited Class.

Icom UK supplied Ad Astra with a fixed waterproof radio communication system featuring the IC-M503 VHF transceiver together with its optional ‘Class D’ DSC controller, DS-100. Ideal for the harsh demands of the RIB market, both units feature large, flush-mountable front panels, together with large backlit function buttons and LCD for confident operation under all lighting conditions.

Rebecca Shadwell, Events Co-ordinator, thanking Icom UK for the donation said, ‘On behalf of St. Dunstan’ I would like to express my thanks to Icom UK for the donation of this equipment. I am conscious that this radio equipment will provide us with the knowledge that we will have an extra level of safety when we are out in the RIB. ‘

Ian Lockyer, Marketing Manager at Icom UK said, ’We are extremely pleased to support St. Dunstans. It is important that a boat like this has dependable equipment that is easy to use …that is why Icom is the natural choice for any boat.’

The RIB will be used as part of St Dunstan’s activities program at the national training centre in Ovingdean, Brighton. This includes fishing, diving and a range of watersports and training courses. 'It is also envisaged that in time St. Dunstaners will be instructed on taking the helm themselves with sighted assistance,' said Nick Ward, Director of Fundraising & Communications.

Icom UK Marketing - marketing@icomuk.co.uk