About Saunton SLSC

Welcome to Saunton Sands Surf Life Saving Club, we were founded in 1963.

We are a Surf Life Saving club that teaches a wide variety of people of all age’s lifesaving skills, water safety and environmental awareness, first aid training and skills using craft in the water safely - local coastal protection and educational courses and practical skills from all ages.

We provide voluntary beach patrols during summer season in absence of RNLI Lifeguards. From the age of below seven years to 60+ the club provides a great venue to participate and enjoy the Surf Life Saving Sport. Our members join to compete at local and National Competitions, to become Lifeguards and to have fun!

Our History

Saunton Sands Surf Life Saving Club started from the police life savers who had been patrolling the beaches at Woolacombe and Croyde on Thursdays and Sundays in the summers of 1960 to 1962.

They formed originally as the Devon Police Surf Life Saving Club in 1963 and later it became Devon and Cornwall Police Surf Life Saving Club when the two forces joined. They passed on the Croyde and Woolacombe patrols to North Devon Surf Life Saving club in 1963 and began regular patrols on Putsborough.

During the 1980’s they transferred to Saunton Beach where Princess Diana opened the newly built clubhouse. In the mid 1990’s the Chief Constable decided, as there were now mainly civilians in the Club that the name should drop the word “Police” so the current name was chosen to carry the Club forward.