The Mablethorpe and Sutton on Sea Lions have donated to us, Two lovely new Marine Radios. On these we shall be able to Monitor all the Marine Radio frequencies including Channel Zero the HMCG channel  so we will be aware of what is occuring in and around our patch. Station Manager Tony Mee accepted the radios on our behalf. We thank theMablethorpe and Sutton on Sea  Lions for their continued support, especially after the very successful Race Night held at the Montalt Arms Mablethorpe and that raised a substancial amount, so we thank you and look forward to putting our new pieces of kit through their paces.

Vandals have struck again on the new local National Coastwatch Station at Mablethorpe, in a copy cat attack on the halyards of their flagpole;  similar to the attack of three years ago on the NCI station at Ingoldmells when flag lines and pulley’s were also slashed and stolen.

Last Monday dawned bright and early for 4 Intrepid Trainee’s –  it was their day!

First to go under through the test was Tony our leader and he aced the appraisal and so did the the others – So Pauline and Bill need a a pat on the back for a job well done. Our new Watch keepers’ success must act a a catalyst for the the rest of the team to aspire to Watch keeper because without you we can only shut up shop and that is not an option. So get out the training manuals and brush up on Flags ands Phonetics and a tip look at the wall when you are in the station!

WELL DONE THE NEW WATCH KEEPERS!

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.

Click on thumbnails for larger image

Mablethorpe, the 42nd station of the National Charity will begin its life of surveillance over the beaches of the well known Lincolnshire resort – (humorously known as Nottingham by sea) on Friday 8th May 2009.

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.