Wearing the right gear is important for marshals. On many events you won't need any special equipment, but on others with the wrong sort of clothing there is the danger of hypothermia in winter and sunburn or even heat stroke in summer.

Be prepared for the worst and remember you can always take off an extra layer of clothing if you get too hot, so maybe have several jumpers and one or more pairs of thick socks. For very cold days consider thermal underwear.

Marshals should never get too near a fire, that's why we have extinguishers, but nevertheless as a precaution wear natural fibres (cotton and wool), particularly next to the skin, because man-made fibres can melt even under protective overalls and cause nasty burns. Always cover your arms and legs - even when its hot.

Hats are important as we lose a high proportion of body heat through our heads in cold weather while a hat protects you from the sun in hot conditions.

Stout boots are strongly recommended. Don't wear trainers - they don't provide protection or support the ankles, and are rarely waterproof.

And that's all you'll need for many marshalling jobs.

On other events, overalls protect your clothes and give additional protection against fire if they're the fire retardant Proban treated variety worn by many marshals. 

Always take waterproof tops and trousers with you, and avoid thin nylon. Rubberised cloth and fire resistant waterproofs are the best option.

Choose colours which don't clash with flags - orange is ideal.

You'll need gloves to keep your hands warm on some events, for protection on others. Wear thick ones which are reasonably lose fitting and consider carrying a spare, or waterproof pair. Incidentally, even if you're wearing gloves, it's still quicker and safer to kick debris off a track than pick it up.

Ear plugs or ear defenders are essential if you're going to be close to sources of concentrated noise.

Safety glasses, while not a must, can be useful when marshalling close to gravel traps.

Carry sun cream - you'll be surprised how easy it is to get burnt when you're standing out all day.

Scissors will be handy - the sort that will cut everything from seat belts to brake pipes - as will a screwdriver with a reversible blade, flat and Phillips if possible and, on some events, a hammer for knocking in stakes or putting up signs.

Finally always take ample food and drink although not alcohol. Don't rely on catering being available.

Incidentally it's not a bad idea to have a checklist to remind you of things