News
Forgotten photos of UK diving pioneers found in New Zealand
Photographs that had been hidden away for decades on the other side of the world have helped scuba divers in Yorkshire remember how they pioneered the sport 60 years ago.
The pictures of members of the York branch of the British Sub Aqua-Club (BSAC) were discovered by the daughter of one of its founders at her home in Wellington in New Zealand.
Tom Allinson, who died in 2004, emigrated with his family to New Zealand in 1971. But his daughter Wendy has been able to revive his links with the club after finding a batch of photos of the divers in action. She found a contact for the club on the internet and emailed the pictures.
She said: “I was searching through old papers when I came across the old photos from the club, all with notes on the back about where they had been taken – they were fascinating. I am so pleased to be able to share them after all these years with others.”
The images have brought back happy memories for founder members Bernard Wilding and Denis Moor who helped set the club up in 1956 along with Mr Allinson. Both men, who feature in some of the photographs, had lost contact with Mr Allinson when he moved to New Zealand four decades ago with his wife Noreen and their two young children.
Mr Moor said: “It was a great surprise to hear that Tom’s daughter had been in touch and even more of a surprise when she sent the photos over. It really brought back a lot of memories for myself and the other club members. Tom was one of the first members to become a professional diver and worked on all sorts of dives.”
He added: “For me, scuba diving was an exciting thing – it was the early days of the sport, and an adventure. I’d always liked swimming and wanted to give it a go, so I joined the club. I was 30 at the time, and married with children, so it became a social club for me and my wife Jean as well. Tom’s photos really took me back to the early days when the equipment was very basic – things are so different today. Then it was just fins, a mask and a snorkel, without any weights. The breathing tanks were initially just small oxygen tanks, like the ones that pilots had on planes, which we refilled each time.”
For fellow club founder Mr Wilding, a grandfather-of-three from Dringhouses, the old photos brought back memories of the early days when the club was known as York Underwater Research Group.
He said: “We needed 10 members to become a branch of BSAC and finally we got people to put the money up – and so we officially became the 50th BSAC branch.”
Read more of this story here.
Source: www.yorkshirepost.co.uk
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Renowned anti-whaling activist Paul Watson has been released from custody in Greenland after spending five months in detention. Denmark’s Justice Ministry rejected Japan’s request for his extradition, citing insufficient guarantees that his time already served in custody would be credited against any potential sentence.
The 74-year-old Canadian-American was arrested on July 21 in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, when his ship docked to refuel. His arrest was based on a 2012 Japanese warrant related to a 2010 encounter in Antarctic waters. Japan alleged Watson obstructed operations and caused damage to a whaling research ship during efforts to disrupt illegal whaling. Watson has consistently denied these claims, maintaining his commitment to marine conservation.
Denmark, which oversees extradition matters for Greenland, concluded that while the legal conditions for extradition were met, the lack of assurances from Japan regarding time-served credit made extradition untenable.
In a video shared by his foundation, Watson expressed gratitude and relief, saying, “After five months, it’s good to be out… and good to know they’re not sending me to Japan.” He added that the most difficult part of his time in custody was being separated from his two young sons.
Watson is a pioneering figure in marine conservation, known for founding the Captain Paul Watson Foundation in 2022 after decades of activism with the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. His bold efforts to defend marine life have earned him widespread support, including from celebrities and conservationists. His work has also been featured in the acclaimed reality TV series Whale Wars.
Watson’s lawyer, Jonas Christoffersen, praised the decision, stating, “We are happy and relieved that Paul Watson is now free.” He added that Watson is eager to reunite with his family and continue his vital work.
The arrest occurred while Watson’s vessel, the M/Y John Paul DeJoria, was en route to the North Pacific with a team of 26 volunteers to intercept a Japanese whaling ship. His foundation described the arrest as politically motivated and emphasized that Watson’s actions were focused on ending illegal whaling practices.
Japan resumed commercial whaling in 2019 after leaving the International Whaling Commission, asserting that whale meat is a cultural tradition. Conservationists, however, continue to challenge these practices, highlighting their impact on marine ecosystems.
Despite the challenges, Watson remains steadfast in his mission to protect marine life and bring attention to whaling practices. His dedication to ocean conservation has made him a globally respected advocate for the environment.
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