A voluntary organisation keeping a visual watch along UK shores

HRH THE PRINCESS ROYAL VISITS NCI BASS POINT ON ITS 25TH ANNIVERSARY.

29th April 2019. The National Coastwatch Institution station at Bass Point in Cornwall was honoured to welcome our patron, HRH The Princess Royal, during our 25th anniversary year.

NCI was formed twenty-five years ago when two Cornish fishermen lost their lives in an accident near the closed down Coastguard Station at Bass Point on the Lizard peninsula. A few local people determined to re-open the station and NCI Bass Point and the NCI was born, opening in 1994.

HRH The Princess Royal became patron of the charity in 2018 and has already visited several NCI stations. On Monday 29th April 2019 she visited the inaugural lookout station at Bass Point. HRH was welcomed at the station by Lesley Suddes (Chairman of the National Coastwatch Institution), Peter Clements (Station Manager NCI Bass Point, and the Lord Lieutenant, Edward Bolitho, before being given a tour of the station. HRH also unveiled a commemorative plaque at the station and signed the visitors book.

HRH The Princess Royal then travelled to the nearby RNAS Culdrose (HMS Seahawk), where she was entertained at a reception to celebrate the start of the National Coastwatch Institution’s 25th Anniversary celebrations. During this reception Her Royal Highness met many of the volunteer watchkeepers from Bass Point, along with volunteers from several other Cornish stations along with the Trustees.  Also present was the NCI’s Honorary President, Jon Gifford and another of NCI’s patrons Sir Christopher Coville KCB. Her Royal Highness presented several long service awards, including the first award for 25years service to one of the founding members of NCI Bass Point who is still a watchkeeper today. Finally, Her Royal Highness cut a specially made cake. The entertainment was provided by the Culdrose Military Wives Choir.

This is the first of many 25th Anniversary celebrations being held both nationally and locally at stations throughout 2019. Members of the public are invited to visit any of our NCI stations to see what we do and will be especially welcomed during this 25th Anniversary year.

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About

Currently almost 60 National Coastwatch stations are operational and manned by over 2600 volunteer watchkeepers around the British Isles from Fleetwood in the North West, through Wales, to the South and East of England to Filey in North Yorkshire. 

National Coastwatch watchkeepers provide the eyes and ears along the coast, monitoring radio channels and providing a listening watch in poor visibility. They are trained to deal with emergencies offering a variety of skills and experience, and full training by the National Coastwatch ensures that high standards are met.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The words National Coastwatch Institution and Eyes Along the Coast and the NCI logos are Registered Trademarks of NCI.

Contact


General enquiries
0300 111 1202

Media enquiries
0845 460 1202


[email protected]


17 Dean Street, Liskeard,
Cornwall, PL14 4AB