It is with great sadness Severn Area Rescue Association (SARA) has to announce the loss of crew member Derek Olley.

Derek, who lived near Westbury-on-Severn, passed peacefully away in his sleep at 5:30 on Wednesday March 21, following a difficult battle with prostate cancer.

Derek had played many vital roles within the organisation over the past eight years. He will be sorely missed by all those who have worked with him.

Over the years Derek has been a crew member with our Beachley station, taking on the responsibilities as helmsman and RYA powerboat instructor. For a period he was on our executive committee as deputy chairman.

His drive and foresight enhanced the training facilities at Beachley station as well as the inaugural Cross Border Inter-agency Emergency Services Forum.

His funeral will take place at The Forest of Dean Crematorium on Tuesday April 3 at 2.30pm.

Derek was much loved and will be sadly missed.

Our thoughts are with his wife Gill and daughters Hannah and Chloe, along with the rest of his family and friends.

– Elspeth Hardie, SARA?executive secretary.