Local surfing and single fin aficionado, Tim Tanton, is a native born North Devonian who has been on the SW surf scene for well over 30 years. Born in the ‘Shire', Tim pursued a successful career as a Mechanical Design Engineer before fast becoming a very young Chief Engineer at the tender age of only twenty nine. Then a burgeoning interest in psychology and mental health issues saw him retrain at Exeter University and enter the field of psychiatric nursing. 

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Once qualified, Tim moved to London to work with the inner city communities, specialising in alcohol and substance misuse, forensics, and dual diagnosis. In 2006 he returned to the waves of North Devon convinced of the beneficial qualities of ‘Vitamin Sea’ on mental health. Although quietly unassuming, Tim’s multiple, daily surfs through the decades have helped him to achieve the well deserved status of a longboard expert and a regular at Saunton Sands, Croyde and the secret coves of the Shire.

 

Over the years, a pattern emerged whereby Tim split his time between surfing the winter waves of North Devon before escaping to the east coast of Sri Lanka during the frenetic UK summers. The beautiful island of Sri Lanka, with its stunning breaks, and smiling, open-hearted people, fast captured Tim’s heart and quickly became his adopted second home.

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In 2004, when the devastation of the tsunami hit Sri Lankan shores, Tim was one of the first to fly out to offer his support as an independent aid worker. His passion helped re-build the community of which he held so dear, organising emergency operations, obtaining medical supplies, distributing food aid and reconnecting electricity and power supplies. Back home in North Devon, Tim founded Paddle4Relief, a charity set up with the sole purpose of raising funds to help the stricken Sri Lankan communities. Together with a group of willing UK volunteers, Tim organised a plethora of fundraising activities, paddle outs, music concerts and activities which regularly raised over £5,000 a year. This went directly out to Sri Lanka to help rebuild the lives of the forgotten victims of the tsunami whose lives had been so completely devastated.

 

Back in Sri Lanka, Tim built homes, dug wells and visited schools with provisions. It wasn’t just Sri Lanka’s infrastructure that needed help, it was, in many cases, the souls of her people. The tsunami had left many suffering from deep routed anxiety, a severe fear of the sea and life threatening post traumatic stress. Tim’s decision to retrain as a psychiat- ric nurse suddenly became startlingly fortuitous and he set about offering PTSD therapy programmes and reaching out to schools to offer aid. What’s more, through his own life experience, Tim recognised how surfing could help the physical and mental health of others so with great determination and vigour he created and developed the Arugam Bay Surf Club. He later became instrumental in the creation of the Surfing Federation Sri Lanka along with the inspirational, Peter Rob-O.

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As surfing has always been at the fore of his life, Tim is honest about the positive impact that being in the sea has on his own mental stability and emotional health. As he explains, “When you're in the sea, you have to live in the moment because the ocean is never a patient mistress. One lapse in concentration, and she could take your life. There's no room for thoughts of the past or fears for the future, there is only the now. In this way, the Ocean becomes the best therapist - your life literally depends upon it.”​​

 

In more recent years, despite a catalogue of physical injuries, and the enduring PTSD following a serious work accident, Tim continues to surf daily and to lead an active and healthy lifestyle that a man many years his junior would be proud of. When not in the water, he can routinely be seen climbing local cliff faces to remove litter, cycling the Tarka Trail or striding purposefully along the South West Coast Path inspiring others to lead a more active lifestyle out in Nature. He openly admits that the work accident brought debilitating PTSD and immobilising bouts of depression but his own medical training, surf therapy, daily walks in nature and the support of good friends, have helped him to control these episodes and added to his perspective on life.​

 

At a time when most are beginning to slow down, Tim’s passion for activity is increasing. His love of sea angling has never abated and back in the day he was extremely successful, winning numerous contests and achieving record catches. More recently, he has been asked to write articles relating to angling and its effect on the environment such is his passion to raise awareness of ecological and environmental issues.

 

Tim’s love of adventure has also seen him travel to breaks all over Europe, Asia, Africa and New Zealand, with a documentary film excursion to surf the Artic currently in negotiation.  

 

There is, however, one thing above all else that drives this man forward wherever he may be in the world, and that is his desire to gift kindness - kindness to our planet, kindness to one another and kindness to ourselves. Tim’s daily environmental efforts continue to protect the land, trees, oceans and sentient beings that we share this planet with. A courageous voice for ethical living, Tim uses his social media presence to support ethical brands who share his passion for Nature. He also strives to build connection between Mother Earth and humanity by using his social media networks as an inspiring voice that speaks on behalf of the planet. Passionate about giving back, Tim has joined The Wave Project and also mentors those who strive to regain control of their lives. It is now a very different tsunami that has hit all our shores, the tsunami of mental health issues brought about by Covid-19, but luckily, Tim Tanton is one man who has all the life skills and experience, to offer the help that is needed.