KING Charles has praised the work of the thousands of Beach Buddies’ volunteers during his visit to the Isle of Man.
The King met Beach Buddies’ founder Bill Dale and founding trustee/treasurer Mike Brew on Port Soderick beach-side during his quick visit to the Isle of Man today (July 14th) and was keen to hear about the creation of Beach Buddies and its success.
When informed that more than 22,000 different Manx volunteers – more than 60% being schoolchildren – had been involved with beach cleaning events with Beach Buddies over 20 years, he showed genuine surprise and asked for the figure to be repeated.
The King said, “I am full of admiration for what you do,” and wished Beach Buddies every success for the future.
The King had clearly been well briefed on the activities of Beach Buddies, not just on the Isle of Man but also in winning international awards in recent years and the expansion of the Beach Buddies’ methodology in other parts of Britain and across the world.
Well known for his passionate concerns for the environment and wildlife, the King has frequently made news headlines with his outspoken opinions about nature and needless damage to the environment. He was also widely criticised for holding such strong opinions. Beach Buddies had very similar criticism in its early days.
King Charles also founded The King’s Foundation in 1990, as the Prince of Wales. The charity is inspired by his ‘Philosophy of Harmony’. Its 2023/2024 impact report states that the charity “builds and supports communities where people, places and the planet can co-exist in harmony.”
In his previous role as the Prince of Wales, King Charles has been involved in the Conference of the Parties (COP) climate summit since its creation in 1995, making keynote speeches.
King Charles was accompanied throughout his Isle of Man visit by Lieutenant Governor Sir John Lorimer and Lady Lorimer as he was introduced to many Island residents and numerous charity officers. Sir John and Lady Lorimer are patrons of a number of Isle of Man charities, including Beach Buddies.
In his first visit to the Isle of Man as ‘Lord of Mann’ since his coronation, the King also said he had noticed how clean the Island is generally and acknowledged that everyone around the world has to address this issue, and he wished Beach Buddies every success for the future.
The King’s visit also included a tram ride on the unique double-decker tram, recently refurbished thanks to sponsorship by Bushy’s – a long-term supporter of Beach Buddies.
Reflecting on the visit, Sir John and Lady Lorimer said on behalf of Government House, “To the many volunteers, community groups, performers, emergency services, organisers and members of the public who gave His Majesty such a warm Manx welcome, your enthusiasm, professionalism and generosity of spirit showcased the very best of our Island.”
