Flare amnesties

10/04/2023

We are thrilled to announce the success of the Pains Wessex Amnesty Events. These events, held earlier this year in Cardiff, Penryn, and Southampton, allowed us to collect and responsibly dispose of over 4,000 expired flares.

In Cardiff, our first event, we gathered a remarkable 2,170 expired flares weighing a total of 371kg. The event raised £477.97 for Sailors’ Society, RNLI, and Sail2help. Among the items received, the oldest flare was a Pains Wessex Lifechute Red Rocket from May 1976.

Moving on to Penryn, our second event saw us collect 1,190 expired flares, weighing 245kg. We were able to raise £241.70 in support of Cornwall Air Ambulance, RNLI, and Sail2help. Notably, we received a flare kit consisting of two Schermuly Red Parachute Rockets and two Schermuly Jupiter Red Handflares, dating back to 1972.

Finally, in Southampton, our third event, we gathered 750 expired flares, weighing 152kg. Through the generosity of attendees, we raised £281.16, benefiting the Sailors’ Society, Hamble Lifeboat, Sail2help, and Warsash Sea Cadets. Additionally, we received six Pains Wessex/Sowester 18,000 candle power Yachtflares, all dated from 1976.

Allyson Ogg, the organiser of these events, expressed her satisfaction, stating, “These amnesty days are a great opportunity to engage with boaters, informing them about the advantages of pyrotechnic flares. By making informed safety equipment decisions and purchasing new kits on the day, we can enhance their boating experience.”

We are immensely proud of the outcome of these amnesty events. Not only were we able to safely dispose of thousands of expired flares, but we also contributed £1,000.38 to charities that are making a significant impact in their respective communities.

It’s not only us that receives back extremely old, out-of-date flares, recently we received an email from our partner in Canada, DSS Protection, they recently had a customer return a Pains Wessex 2 Star Red MK4 Rocket for disposal, which we suspect was manufactured in the early 1970s.

If you come across any such pyrotechnics, we invite you to send us the details and a photo to info@wescom-group.com as we always appreciate glimpses of vintage flares.