The King and I: Not Your Average Beach Clean – a reps birds eye view from our Royal visitor
In my time as a rep for Surfers Against Sewage in Brighton, I’ve met some unforgettable characters — the kind of people you don’t cross paths with in everyday life.
I’ve shared the beach with a drag queen chanting at our Brighton paddle-out protest (@theonlyruffles),
Stood beside a local MP championing our campaign against bottom trawling.
Chatted with a university professor, Catherine Kelly, who advocates for the power of blue spaces.
Met the amazing @sussexunderwater Team at the Sussex Kelp Summit (everyone there was obsessed with seaweed!).
Bumped into a real-life mermaid (@bsl.rogue.siren — she’s literally swimming the Channel as I type this!).
But today?
Today topped them all.
Because today, I got to see the King of England — His Majesty King Charles III — up close!
A Royal Day at the Beach
I was part of a small team representing Surfers Against Sewage on Deal Beach in Kent. Alongside SAS CEO Giles Bristow, Director of Campaigns and Communities Dani Jordan, and Senior Communities Officer for Regional Reps Clare Osborn, I stood there as a Brighton Rep in my SAS tee — soaking in the sunshine and the surrealness of the day.
As I drove home, I started reflecting on what this moment really meant………
Surfers Against Sewage: From Shoreline Rebels to Ocean Guardians
Left to Right – Nicky, Giles (SAS CEO), Clare (SAS Senior Reps Officer) Dani (SAS Campaigns and Community Director)
Surfers Against Sewage and King Charles share something important:
They were both environmental outliers long before it was popular or trendy to be one.
They championed their causes long before hashtags, online influencers, and eco-trends on TikTok — back when no one had even heard of greenwashing or net zero.
SAS began in 1990, on the sands of Cornwall, when a group of surfers decided enough was enough. Raw sewage was being pumped straight into the sea. People were getting sick after swimming. No one was talking about it — not the public, not the government, not the media.
So they fought back. And they’ve been fighting ever since.
From that grassroots rebellion, SAS has grown into a powerhouse environmental charity. Today, they don’t just campaign for cleaner seas — they take on plastic pollution, sewage spills, river health, climate action, and government accountability.
The Mission?
“We are a community dedicated to the protection of the ocean, waves, beaches and wildlife. We fight plastic pollution, sewage discharge, and climate breakdown through campaigning, education, and action.”
And it’s not just surfers anymore. They represent swimmers, paddleboarders, wild dippers, kayakers — anyone who feels the pull of the sea.
A Royal Environmentalist: King Charles III
King Charles has been discussing climate change, biodiversity, and organic farming for over 50 years, long before these topics gained popularity in mainstream discourse. As early as 1970, he was warning about plastic pollution, poor air quality, and habitat destruction. In his own words, he was considered “rather dotty” at the time.
He was mocked, misunderstood, and written off.
But now? He’s been proven right – we all know about sustainability and recycling!
Today, His Majesty continues to lead by example:
– Launched the Sustainable Markets Initiative
– Created an organic garden at Highgrove
– Runs ongoing projects to reduce his domestic carbon footprint
– Supports campaigns like the Campaign for Wool and The Coronation Food Project
– And he still shows up at climate summits like COP26
His lifelong commitment to the planet is now part of his royal legacy.
The Next 50 Years of SAS
If the past 30 years have been defined by building momentum, the next 50 will require even more courage and collaboration. Because the challenges are growing:
– Rising sea temperatures
– Acidifying oceans
– Microplastics and chemical run-off
– Coastal flooding
So, where are SAS headed?
We might see SAS:
– Campaigning for legal rights for rivers and oceans
– Using AI and citizen science to monitor ocean health
– Demanding carbon-neutral marine industries
– Restoring blue carbon ecosystems like seagrass and kelp
– Leading climate education and youth ocean activism across the UK
What I know for sure: SAS will still be showing up.
Still protesting. Still holding power to account. Still making noise.
Royal Reflections
To have the King standing shoulder-to-shoulder with SAS, and joining in on a mini beach clean, sends a powerful message.
It shows public support for grassroots environmental activism. And that matters.
We all know that tackling the climate crisis needs cross-party unity, global partnerships, and industry-level change. But it also needs something more human:
Consistency.
It needs people like you and me to keep pushing, keep turning up, and keep demanding action. And sometimes, a royal spotlight can draw in new volunteers and start new conversations.
Same Fight, New Chapter
Thirty years ago, I wrote my university dissertation on how we can raise awareness of environmental issues. It was an era marked by Greenpeace, the Rainbow Warrior, and the Exxon Valdez oil spill.
The campaigns have evolved, but the core mission remains the same:
Protect the planet. Inspire action. Make noise.
And that’s exactly what SAS reps do.
We run beach cleans. We host talks and workshops. We organise paddle-outs and lobby local councils. We make a right royal rumpus — and we don’t plan on stopping anytime soon.
Did you know we now have over 200 SAS reps across the UK?
Want to join us? 👉 https://www.sas.org.uk/take-action/regions/
Brighton SAS Crew — You Rock
Massive shout-out to our brilliant Brighton crew:
🌀 Senior Communities Officer for Regional Reps and Vol Rep for Brighton Clare Osborn @wild_ocean_soul
🌀 Stu @stu_davies
🌀 Daisy @lowwastedaisyv
🌀 Natalie @miss.delamare
🌀 Atlanta @atlanta.cook
🌀 Jess @bmore_jesse
🌀 Zoe @goode_z
🌀 Anna @annruby_grant
🌀 Claire Potter @clairepotterdesign
🌀 Andrew @andrew.colemansas
I wonder who I’ll meet next…
A Prime Minister? A polar bear? Beyoncé on a paddleboard? – I have always wanted to meet James Bond!
Whatever’s next — I’ll see you on the beach.
Who is Nicky?
Nicky Chisholm aka PinkNicky
I’m a seasoned Project Manager with a passion for the adventure and outdoor industry. I specialise in:
- Fundraising strategies
- Brand Ambassador programs
- Bold marketing campaigns for expeditions and charity events
- Eye-catching PR stunts
- I have a new project starting this Autumn – keep an eye out!
I bring energy, creativity, and grit to every project. I run a blog dedicated to empowering women, empty nesters, and adventurous souls to embrace life’s next chapter with enthusiasm and spirit. I am a brand ambassador for Adventure Mind and Surfers against Sewage and have recently completed a cross-country ski expedition in Finland.
With years of hands-on adventure experience from wingwalking, searching for parrots in the Amazon, running in Greenland or living off gird in Northern Sweden.
Every year I run The Big Swim, a swimming event that celebrates International Women’s Day – this year we had 1000 swimmers! I am now planning for 2026.
My details:
Nicky Chisholm aka #PinkNicky
Mob: 07920482380
Email:nickyc@pinknicky.com