Isle of Wight (Matt Harwood)

Matt Harwood

Isle of Wight

matharwood@hotmail.com

Profession: Geography and PE Teacher

Key Beaches Covered: Freshwater, Compton, Grange and other Ilse of Wight Beaches

SAS Background:Had been a member of SAS and am Chairman of the IOW Surf Club, helped organise some beach cleans with Rapa Nui Clothing on the Island and saw SAS as a key part of the Surf Club.

Quiver: Firewire Sweet Potato for ankle biters and beautiful quiver of Luke Young Sleds.

Personal Mission Statement: To use my role as a Teacher and SAS Rep to help educate young and local people that clean oceans are essential to our planet and that what we do locally can collectively help our global situation.

Alongside this to make a stand to protect beaches and waves on the Island that are under threat from so-called development.

Tel: 07792579559

I grew up on the Isle of Wight and have surfed for about twenty years. I simply love my Island and I love living by and playing in the sea nearly everyday in all conditions. I studied Environmental Science at Plymouth University and am now a PE and Geography teacher on the Island. I have seen a noticeable impact on the southern and western Beaches of marine debris and especially plastics. It’s pretty sickening both in visual appearance and also knowing the damage it does to marine ecosystems. Also, along with Oliver Harvery, I run the IOW Surf Club and I hope that as a SAS Rep I can help make a measurable and noticeable difference to our beaches and water quality.

Recently too, Freshwater Bay which holds the most beautiful right-hand point has come under threat from a proposed harbour threat. The response to this has seen a real coming together of surfers, sailors, kayakers, swimmers and locals in defiance against this proposal. I hope my role as SAS Rep can can help focus the fight against this threat.

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