2nd June 2019. Today NCI Calshot are proud to announce that they have been awarded the Queens Award for Voluntary Service.

“We are all so proud and excited to have been honoured with the Queens Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK" This was the response by Calshot National Coastwatch Station Manager Diana Roblett when she heard the news of the award and then shared it with the Watchkeepers who have helped to make this one of the National Coastwatch Institution's most active stations.

 Ten years ago the idea of opening the old 100 foot Coastguard Tower at Calshot (which had been unused for 15 years) was proposed. We opened as a new National Coastwatch  Station in July 2010 and since then have been working as volunteers reporting to Her Majesty’s Coast Guard in helping to protect users of the coast around the Solent and Southampton Water. Working 364 days a year we have almost 100 dedicated highly trained volunteers who give their time freely to help others in need. As part of the national Search and Rescue organisation (SAR) we have been involved in over 50 local incidents each year since our start. With a new sub-station just opened at Lepe Country Park covering an area of the Solent not previously viewed by the Tower, we are now looking forward to contributing to even more successful outcomes in the future." Past Station Manager Colin Lewis emphasised the dedication and professionalism of the officers who have helped to bring this all about.

 Station Manager Diana Roblett and Training Officer Peter Brown attended a garden party at Buckingham Palace in May, along with other recipients of this year’s Award,  and Representatives of NCI Calshot Tower will receive the award from the Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire later this summer.

The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service aims to recognise outstanding work by volunteer groups to benefit their local communities. It was created in 2002 to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee.  Winners are announced each year on 2 June – the anniversary of the Queen’s Coronation.