Cleethorpes Coastwatch gets Royal Seal of Approval

In June, the daylight surveillance organisation re-purposed an NCI Exhibition trailer into a fully- equipped, mobile surveillance station, which is sited in the car park at Cleethorpes Leisure Centre, and operates as a watch station over the beach and the estuary.

Established in 1994 in Cornwall, the organisation has 61 permanent stations around the UK coastline manned by over 2,800 fully-trained volunteer watchkeepers, reporting to the Coastguard.

There are East Coast stations in Chapel-St-Leonards, Mablethorpe and Skegness, but this is the first time there has been a prolonged presence at Cleethorpes. Watchkeepers act as an extra pair of eyes and have close relationships with His Majesty’s Coastguard, the RNLI, the Border Force and the emergency services to alert them to vulnerable situations.

HRH Princess Anne, The Princess Royal, visited the surveillance station, meeting the watchkeepers who have manned Coastwatch throughout its first busy summer in the resort.

NCI Trustee Ian Whalley MBE said: “Our research told us that Cleethorpes had the potential to become a very busy station. It wasn’t wrong. The station has already proved its worth, but would have been nothing without the wonderful community spirit in the town from where we draw our amazing volunteer recruits.

“Our service will go from strength to strength as we become more established and as we train more watchkeepers. Keeping people safe is our priority and Cleethorpes can only benefit from this free National Coastwatch service.”

Afterwards, The Princess Royal, who travelled to Cleethorpes by helicopter, joined local dignitaries for a reception at Cleethorpes Golf Club, including The Mayor of North East Lincolnshire, Cllr Janet Goodwin, Cllr Philip Jackson, Leader of North East Lincolnshire Council, and Cllr Hayden Dawkins, Portfolio Holder for Culture, Heritage and the Visitor Economy.

Cllr Dawkins said: “Coastwatch is a fantastic addition to Cleethorpes and the Council will continue to work with them to provide them with a permanent base in the resort.

“This is a charity run entirely by volunteers, and  I sincerely hope people can keep the donations coming in to help and support Coastwatch in their very valuable work.”