Jessie Shaw, 8 Wilson, has become the youngest person in the Country to hold The Royal Life Saving Society Bronze Medallion, the qualification which is recognised to be the flagship award for lifesaving. Jessie passed her award on 30th November 2007 after completing the course at The Westgate Centre in Chichester. She was the youngest person in Sussex to train for and pass the award during 2007 and was the youngest person in the country to receive the Bronze Medallion in November.

Jessie started swimming at the tender age of 2 ½ and continued with lessons until the age of 11. She really enjoyed swimming but wanted a new challenge and took up Lifeguarding in September 2006. Jessie spent the next 10 months completing her Rookie Lifeguard which enabled her to start her Bronze Medallion training in September 2007, just 2 weeks after she turned 12 and a year ahead of normal entry on to the course !

Jessie enjoyed the experience so much that she has decided to continue attending the Bronze Medallion course just to ensure that her skills continue to improve and to give her plenty of practice before she starts her Silver Cross Award when she turns 14. The Silver Cross Award includes “open sea” skills which she is really looking forward to, though she is hoping when she does it in August 2009, the sea won’t be too cold !

We wish Jessie every success as she starts practising for her Silver Cross Award.

A full-size version of the picture above can be seen here.

This photo is posted in the Picture Gallery PhotoGallery.