Team Members Trevor Allsobrook, Ian Hulse, Doug Tyrie, Arch Stevenson, Dr Graham Williams and Mike Pheby were the inital group to sit the two day course over two weekends, held at The Boat Shed in Mablethorpe. The resulting 100% pass rate was outstanding and the team membes will be obtaining their Radio badges from Tony when they arrive from the Quartermaster Store. Two more groups are in the pipeline to take the course , Pauline being the admistrator. The target is to get as many Watchkeepers trained in Radio proceedure; with the onset of the Summer season it will be an aid to the the Team

Friday 8th May was an auspicious day for the Team – The Vicar of Mablethorpe and Trusthorpe blessed the station and National Chairman Jon Gifford set the Station to work.

Supported by the team members the Group consisting of Local Dignataries, HM Coastguard in full number one dress, The Mayor of Mablethorpe and a representation of local Councillors along with the Salvation Army band sang the hymn Eternal Father, and the station was blessed and the NCI Mablethorpe’s  Station Manager Tony Mee said a few words prior to Jon Giffords’ launching of the Service.

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Mr Jon Gifford National Chairman and Chief Operations Officer for the NCI will declare the station operational,in front of local mayor and councillors, there will be a short blessing by the Vicar of Mablethorpe (the Reverend A. Harvey) followed by a light lunch for invited guests at the Montalt Arms,George Street, Mablethorpe.

The new station will we hope enhance the good local reputation held by their colleagues along the coast at Winthorpe/Skegness who since their opening 5 years ago have assisted in the saving of over 20 souls from a watery end.

The team will also be on the alert for the Toys of Death or the cheap inflatable which children will insist every year in purchasing and venturing onto the sea. These items can seriously damage a young life and NCI encourage the withdrawal of these items from sale locally (- £1.99 is a very cheap way to not only hurt a child but to cause grief for close relatives). The off shore wind which as in Skegness is the main cause of the unsuspecting child to be blown out to sea and into danger. Since the NCI became operational in the Skegness area these incidents have dropped significantly – NCI Mablethorpe hope to carry on this welcoming trend.

Just a few statistics for the readers who like to know about such things, 

By the end of 2008, the NCI had 38 stations fully operational. 70% of them have achieved professional Declared Facility Status, duly agreed by the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

Volunteers completed a total of over 170,000 hours watch keeping during the year identifying and logging over 341,000 vessels.

68 Watch keeper have so far been awarded 10 years service medals.

Over 10% of NCI Watch keepers are women.

During 2008, NCI stations reported, or were asked for assistance in, over 700 incidents.

VESSELS IDENTIFIED AND LOGGED

HOURS MANNED

PERSONNEL NUMBERS

INCIDENTS REPORTED

An outstanding effort by this National Charity (Registered No: 1045645), but how much does this all cost? You may ask!

The Institution gets from Local And National Government for this service  - £00:00

All the above is given to the people of Great Britain by the People of Great Britain who volunteer to man the NCI stations around our coast line and to whom the members of the Mablethorpe team will be joining on May 8th.

All we ask is that members of the public add a little donation whenever they see us collecting, as all funds collected go toward the maintaining and upkeep of the local unit and we also thank everybody who have so generously given items, materials to enable us to open our Chalet at Mablethorpe, which we rent from the Local Authority, We also thank the team who have volunteered to help make Mablethorpe Beach a safer haven, for all the support given by many holiday makers and marine professionals who make their living from the sea and who will be monitored in passing by the eagle eyes of the NCI team.  

Local Mariners can always contact either Mablethorpe  01507 479419 or Skegness 01754 610900 for up to date weather information yet another service we give freely to the local community, 

Should you be interested in sponsorship, or gifting aid to NCI then please contact Mike Newbold, National Trustee of the Charity and local Lincolnshire resident on 01754 880960 or if you wish to assist NCI by volunteering then contact Arch Stevenson on 01507 478406. Members of the public are welcome at our Chalet and team members will explain what we do.