Welcome to National Coastwatch as it celebrates its 30th year keeping Eyes along the Coast.
What an incredible year!
We’ve taken a breath and a look back at 2024. It’s been a 30th anniversary year of celebrations. And it’s shone a ‘dazzling’ spotlight on the quiet daily work of our charity’s amazing volunteer watchkeepers as an integral part of the UK’s world class maritime safety community,
Our Chair, Stephen Hand, said:
“It’s been an exceptional year for us as we’ve celebrated our 30th anniversary of helping to keep people safe on the coast and save lives at sea.
The highlight was of course this summer’s 30th anniversary flag relay which marked the first time all 60 of our stations took part in a single national event. All 60 NCI stations celebrated our anniversary by relaying the flag around the coast of England and Wales. It was a journey of over 2,100 miles taking just over three months. The methods of every station passing the flag to the next were wonderfully creative and varied. We witnessed journeys by foot, cycle, horse, vintage car and motorcycle, tractor, steam train, yacht, lifeboat, kayak, rowing gig, paddleboard, hovercraft, cable car and private aeroplane. With the arrival of the flag at every station a celebratory event took place supported by local organisations and our Search and Rescue partners and sponsors. All events were highly creative but, perhaps, the most extraordinary was the circus highwire act with the flag arranged by NCI Mablethorpe.
The epic journey ended at Trinity House - a fitting expression of the special relationship we enjoy with them. My thanks to all the organisations who helped with sponsorship and support in particular Trinity House and Sirius Insight and most importantly congratulations to everyone who took part in the planning and execution of the event especially to our 2,800 volunteer watchkeepers who made the memorable anniversary journey possible and visibly demonstrating the strength of our message that we are one charity – one crew.
Our work has been on national TV and widely featured in the media as well as being seen at events including an excellent showing at the Southampton Boat Show and Seawork thanks to Ian Whalley, Tom Scrimgeour and the watchkeepers who staffed our stands. We had the honour of welcoming our Royal Patron, HRH The Princess Royal, to no fewer than six of our stations. NCI watchkeepers at Cromer, Fleetwood, Worms Head, Hengistbury Head, Bembridge, and Shoreham received a huge boost to motivation and morale and significant publicity, and raised profile, in their communities. We also held a highly successful reception at Trinity House, in the presence of our Royal Patron, for 100 of our sponsors and donors, search and rescue partners and corporate supporters
We are incredibly grateful to all our generous supporters and partners from the corporate, maritime and within our local communities and I’d like to say a big thank you to you all. Without question, the dedication of our 2,800 highly trained watchkeepers is always our shining star and this year especially it’s been a dazzling source of great pride. Thank you all for your exceptional commitment and I’d like to wish everyone a safe and Happy New Year as we step in to 2025.”
CELEBRATIONS AS HER ROYAL HIGHNESS THE PRINCESS ROYAL VISITS NCI SHOREHAM
Sussex volunteers had an extra reason to celebrate International Volunteers Day on Thursday 5 December 2024 when Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal visited the National Coastwatch station at Shoreham.
Her Royal Highness, The Princess Royal is Royal Patron of the National Coastwatch Institution (NCI), a charity run entirely by volunteers. This year it celebrates its 30th anniversary of helping to save lives around the coast.
It is the Princess Royal’s seventh visit this year to an NCI station and NCI Shoreham is one of 60 around the coast. The historic station was originally built as part of the emergency coastal battery at Shoreham Fort during the Second World War. It housed a powerful searchlight designed to spot enemy vessels approaching the coastline. After the war it appeared in the film ‘Battle of the V1’, before being used to house the fuses for the harbour lights for the reconstructed harbour entrance in the 1950s. The building was then largely left untouched until 2008 when the volunteers of NCI completely rebuilt and equipped it as a new lookout along the busy stretch of the coast between Brighton and Worthing.
The Princess Royal was received at the station by His Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of West Sussex, Lady Emma Barnard. She presented NCI Chair Stephen Hand who then presented NCI Shoreham Station Manager Colin Clay.
Stephen Hand and Colin Clay escorted Her Royal Highness into the station for a briefing about the work of the highly trained volunteer watchkeepers and their part in helping to save lives around the coast. Mr Clay presented the duty watchkeepers Dennis Holden (Deputy Station Manager for training and NCI Shoreham founding member) and Paul Cornford.
All 2,800 National Coastwatch volunteer watchkeepers help to keep people safe and save lives at sea by maintaining a daily visual and radio watch of the coast, looking out for anyone in potential danger. They report any coastal safety-related incidents to HM Coastguard so that expert help can be sent, including the Coastguard Rescue Teams and helicopters, the RNLI, independent lifeboats and all emergency services.
Her Royal Highness was briefed on the coastal risks at Shoreham and the work of the volunteers, who have been involved in over 40 incidents in which 12 people were rescued in the past 12 months.
Situated on the western side of Shoreham Harbour entrance and mouth of the River Adur, NCI Shoreham oversees the busy coastline between Brighton and Worthing. The wide variety of marine users keeps the volunteer watchkeepers at Shoreham on their toes throughout the year. From commercial vessels to fishing kayakers, large dredgers carrying aggregate for the construction industry to small sailing dinghies, kite surfers, rowing boats, jet skis, swimmers, and more, all come within sight of the station.
After visiting the station, The Princess Royal attended a reception at Shoreham Sailing Club. His Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant presented David Taylor, NCI Sector Manager; Councillor Joe Panell, Chairman of Adur District Council; Tom Rutland, Member of Parliament for East Worthing and Shoreham; and Tyler Harmsworth, Rear Commodore of Shoreham Sailing Club.
The reception was attended by around 45 NCI watchkeepers and guests from the local community including Shoreham RNLI, HM Coastguard Shoreham and Shoreham Port Authority. Also present were Richard Durrant, Patron of NCI Shoreham; Jo Shiner, Chief Constable of Sussex Police; Joss Loader, Local Councillor; and Gary Baines, Friends of Shoreham Fort.
The Princess Royal presented long service awards to Mike Hobbs (15 years), Tim Tuson (5 years), and Craig Searle (5 years).
Stephen Hand, NCI chair, formally welcomed Her Royal Highness to NCI Shoreham and thanked her for her visit. Her Royal Highness unveiled a plaque to commemorate the visit which will be placed in the Shoreham station.
Mr Hand said:
“It’s been an incredibly special year for us as we’ve celebrated our 30th anniversary of helping to keep people safe on the coast and save lives at sea. The year has been punctuated by the very special highlights of HRH The Princess Royal’s visits and we’re both honoured and fortunate to have her patronage.
“Without exception, these visits always lift our spirits and create the perfect opportunity to celebrate lifesaving work and bring together our volunteers, friends and supporters from local communities.”
Colin Clay, Shoreham Station Manager added:
“As one of the busiest Coastwatch stations in the NCI, I’m very pleased that all the hard work that we do has been recognised by a visit by Her Royal Highness.
“We have been working extremely hard in preparation of the arrival of Her Royal Highness, and I’m delighted that the effort has paid off.”
Double celebrations as two stations receive King’s Award for Voluntary Service
National Coastwatch Institution (NCI) volunteers at two of the charity’s 60 stations are celebrating this week after receiving King’s Award for Voluntary Service (KAVS). It is the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK and is the equivalent to an MBE.
NCI Nell’s Point in Barry, South Wales and NCI Lee-on-the-Solent in Hampshire have both received the prestigious award. The work of NCI volunteers is to keep a daily visual and VHF radio watch for anyone in difficulties as part of the charity’s mission to help save lives around the coast.
National Coastwatch has celebrated its 30th anniversary this year. Run entirely by its 2,800 volunteers, the highly trained watchkeepers report coastal and local land-based safety-related incidents to HM Coastguard so expert help can be sent including Coastguard Rescue Teams and helicopters, RNLI and independent lifeboats and all emergency services.
Jaye Isherwood, Lee-on-the-Solent Station Manager said:
“Our crew of over 60 watchkeepers do wonderful work to enhance public safety and local community relationships. We are proud and honoured to receive the award and to have this formal recognition of our work.”
“We are delighted to receive this award. Our crew of over 50 watchkeepers do a remarkable job and make a significant contribution to public safety on a popular and busy part of the coast,” added Nell’s Point Station Manager, Trevor Saunders.
Stephen Hand, NCI’s Chair said:
“It’s a source of great pride and a double celebration for us all that NCI Nell’s Point and NCI Lee-on-the-Solent have both joined an ever-growing number of our stations to be selected to receive the King’s Award and before that, the Queen’s Award. It reflects not only on the dedication of our watchkeepers but also on the lifesaving work we do as an organisation. Many congratulations to everyone at Lee-on-the-Solent and Nell’s Point and to their local communities for their support.”
Representatives of NCI Nell’s Point and NCI Lee-on-the-Solent will receive the KAVS crystal and certificate from their respective Lord Lieutenants in 2025. In addition, two volunteers from each station will be invited to attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May and June next year, along with other recipients of this year’s award.
30th Anniversary Celebrations
HRH The Princess Royal as Royal Patron of NCI was our guest of honour at London’s Trinity House this week at a reception to mark our 30th anniversary of helping to save lives around the coast.
Over 100 guests attended the event including volunteer watchkeepers, NCI Trustees, and event sponsors Sirius Insight and the Trinity House Charitable Trust.
Also present were colleagues and supporters representing organisations including HM Coastguard Maritime and Coastguard Agency, the RNLI, the Royal Navy and Merchant Navy, The Cruising Association, The Seafarers’ Charity, TheYachtMarket and Seawork . Honoured guests also included Vendee Globe yachtswoman Pip Hare Ocean Racing, Dame Katherine Grainger DBE, Patron of NCI and Air Marshall Sir Chris Coville who is stepping down as NCI patron this year.
Stephen Hand, NCI Chair, formally welcomed Her Royal Highness to Trinity House and thanked her for her visit. “We are extremely grateful to your Royal Highness for the close interest and invaluable support you give to our charity. Your visits to NCI stations, of which there have been no fewer than eight in the past 12 months, are an enormous source of encouragement and motivation to our watchkeepers.
“In 2023, we participated in over 850 search and rescue incidents, of which 365 were initiated by NCI watchkeepers. In 2024 so far, we have been involved in 614 search and rescue incidents, resulting in 293 persons rescued, 111 of whom were rescued at NCI-initiated shouts. We could not achieve these results without the invaluable support of our patrons, our sponsors and our donors,” he said.
Her Royal Highness presented NCI Certificate of Merit Awards to two of the three National Coastwatch Institution-NCI Newhaven KAVS watchkeepers – Andrew Murray and Mark Osborn - whose actions helped save the life of a yachtsman at Newhaven earlier this year. Clare Dickins was unable to attend the event.
NATIONAL COASTWATCH FLAG RELAY SUCCESS
A 2,000-plus miles, 30th anniversary coastal station-to-station relay has been hailed as an exceptional success by maritime safety charity National Coastwatch Institution (NCI).
The specially commissioned anniversary flag set off from NCI Fleetwood on 3 June during Volunteers Week and has travelled to each of its 60 stations throughout the summer, finishing at NCI Filey on 30 August. Volunteer watchkeepers, their families and local communities have joined together in a series of celebrations at each station before using innovative ways to transport the flag to the next destination.
“The flag relay has truly been a remarkable part of our 30th anniversary celebrations. In fact, it has been exceptional and exceeded all our expectations,” said David Crozier, NCI’s Chief Executive Officer.
Click here to find out more.
Southampton Boat show 2024
Look out for our stand at this year's Southampton Boat Show. We will be attending on stand J130 - join us there from 13 to 22 September 2024.
NCI Hornsea celebrates the Hornsea Open Gardens event
Local volunteers decided to celebrate the work of National Coastwatch and NCI Hornsea in particular by decorating the lookout in crocheted flowers as part of the Hornsea Open Gardens event.
The result is spectacular and a delight.
Click here for a short video of the display.
National Coastwatch flies the flag for 30 years
The National Coastwatch Institution (NCI) is flying the flag for coastal safety with the start of a 2,000-plus miles station-to-station relay as part of the charity’s 30th anniversary celebrations.
The relay set off from the NCI Fleetwood station in Lancashire on 3 June, which also marked the start of Volunteers Week. The specially-commissioned anniversary flag is travelling anti-clockwise to each of the charity’s 60 coastal watch stations during the summer. It is due to end its journey by September at the most northerly station on the east coast in Filey, North Yorkshire.
Sirius Insight, a leading technology company using AI (artificial intelligence) to transform safety and security at sea, is sponsoring the flag relay and providing support for NCI’s 30th anniversary.
At each station, the volunteer watchkeepers who help save lives around the coast have been coming up with innovative ways to pass the flag on to the waiting crews at their neighbouring station. The 5ft x 3ft flag is electronically tagged and relayed using all different types of transport including boats and ferries, tractor and trailer, horse and cart, classic cars and by walking and running.
Click here for flag’s position
Use password NCI30 if prompted.
Stephen Hand, NCI Chair said:
“This year’s 30th anniversary is the ideal opportunity to put each station on the map and encourage even more people to join in and support us. We are very grateful to Sirius Insight for their sponsorship and support of our anniversary event. It’s part of a growing relationship and a shared philosophy and approach to improving public safety along our coastline.
“The relay is about having some fun, raising awareness of our work and hopefully raise some vital funds as well. Volunteers Week is the perfect time to kick it off and help shine a spotlight on our volunteers and our lifesaving work as a part of the UK’s maritime search and rescue community.”
To support NCI: National Coastwatch needs your support to continue its life saving work – JustGiving
When the flag relay has been completed, the flag will be taken to Trinity House in London for a special commemorative event at the end of September. The date will be announced shortly. The flag will be installed in Trinity House for the duration of the NCI’s 30th anniversary year. Trinity House is a charity dedicated to safeguarding shipping and seafarers, providing education, support and welfare to the seafaring community.
National Coastwatch volunteer watchkeepers help to keep people safe and save lives at sea by maintaining a daily visual and radio watch of the coast, looking out for anyone in potential danger. They report any coastal safety-related incidents to HM Coastguard so that expert help can be sent, including the Coastguard Rescue Teams and helicopters, the RNLI, independent lifeboats and all emergency services.
The Cruising Association announces National Coastwatch as their Charity Partner
Our partnership underscores the support the CA has provided to NCI over the years, and the CA is proud to formally recognise this longstanding partnership.
HRH The Princess Royal visits NCI Bembridge
It was the best of May days for NCI Bembridge volunteers when our Royal patron HRH The Princess Royal paid a visit.
On 16 May, she met some of our volunteer watchkeepers who, like our 2,700-plus volunteers at 60 stations, help keep people safe and save lives at sea by maintaining a daily visual and radio watch of the coast.
NCI Bembridge is our only station to be co-located in an operational HM Coastguard Rescue Team (CRT) station, with the teams working closely together. HRH also met some of the HM Bembridge Coastguard Rescue Team.
Many congratulations to all our RNLI colleagues on your big birthday & 200 years of lifesaving!
We have huge admiration for the courage and skill of all the crews and the entire organisation’s dedication to saving lives at sea. We’re proud to be part of the search and rescue family and to work with you as fellow volunteers.
Our Royal Patron HRH The Princess Royal transforms a dull January day
Her Royal Highness toured the National Coastwatch station at Cromer and heard about the work that goes on every day by the dedicated volunteers who keep a visual and radio watch which helps to save lives around the coast.
After the station visit, there was a reception at the nearby The Cliftonville hotel, attended by around 30 volunteer watchkeepers and station managers from our other stations in East Anglia. The guests also included RNLI Cromer, Cromer Coastguard Rescue Team, local councillors, Sheringham Shoal Offshore Wind Farm and Simon Clipsom from Morrisons Cromer Community Champion, who has helped with fundraising over the past five years.
Image courtesy of Andreas Yiasimi
Stephen Hand, NCI chair formally welcomed Her Royal Highness to NCI Cromer and thanked her for her visit. He then invited her to present three long service awards to Glenice Knight, John Wootten and Andrew Pearcey who have each volunteered for five years. He then went onto say:
"What a wonderful start to the year in which we will celebrate our 30th anniversary of helping to keep people safe on the coast and saving lives at sea by maintaining a daily visual and radio watch. It’s a huge source of pride that HRH The Princess Royal is our patron and that she takes such an active interest in our work. Her visits are always a great boost for our volunteers and all our friends and supporters in the local communities.”
National Coastwatch and the South West Coast Path Association join forces
We are delighted to share that the National Coastwatch Institution (NCI) has become an official ‘Coast Path Passport’ stamping point partner.
The new partnership means that visitors to the South West Coast Path Trail can now stop off at our stations along the 630-mile route to collect different ‘stamps’ in their Coast Path Passport and find out more about the work of both charities.
National Coastwatch has 24 of its 60 stations along the South West Coast Path and our volunteers help to keep people safe on the coast and save lives at sea by maintaining a daily visual and radio watch.
Stephen Hand Our Chair says,
“We’re delighted to partner with the South West Coast Path Association as we share the same broad aims of wanting people to share our love of the coast, enjoy themselves and take home happy memories. For us that means staying safe and all our stations along the Trail are now looking forward to giving a warm welcome to even more walkers, whether they are stopping for a passport stamp, a brief rest, or to check information about the local conditions.”
Helen Simpson, Station Manager at our NCI ST Ives station, stamps a
South West Coast Path Passport.