Surfers Against Sewage ride the wave of the 'Harry and Meghan effect'

In nearly 30 years, a bunch of surfers concerned about pollution have become a serious marine conservation force. An unexpected royal patronage has given them more funding and greater reach than ever to fight plastic pollution

Despite its eye-catching name, Surfers Against Sewage probably owes its existence to plastic. "The advent of panty-liners meant you could really see sewage slicks. Condoms, panty-liners and other plastic refuse made for a visceral, and visual, reminder of pollution," Chris Hines, surfer and co-founder of this small charity in Cornwall, recalled in Alex Wade's book, Surf Nation.

Sick of ear, throat and gastric infections, he and others called a meeting in St Agnes village hall. A who's who of the most committed, passionate surfers in Cornwall - and just about the whole village - turned out. It was 1990 and Surfers Against Sewage (SAS) was born.