FLEETWOOD CHAPTER DONATION

On Thursday, 3rd March, Fleetwood Chapter members Eric Bridge, Robert Boal, Scribe E and Robert Thompson, Z, visited the NCI station at Fleetwood, to present a cheque for £100. This is a fantastic donation from the local organisation and it is expected to contribute to a defibrillator training dummy.
At Rossall Tower, National Coastwatch purchased a defibrillator, because of its isolated position and about 30 members are trained to use the lifesaving machine, if required. However, the ‘dummy’ is expected to contribute to the continuous training required, to ensure in an emergency, the casualty gets the best chance of survival.
By happy coincidence, the Masonic team’s presentation coincided with a visit to the tower from Radio Lancashire’s morning show, with Sally Naden. She broadcast the presentation live on air.
Steve Scholes, Operations Manager with NCI Fleetwood said, ‘’ The support from the local community means a lot to our members. This fantastic donation will help towards important lifesaving training. We can’t thank them enough for their help’’

On Friday, 15th January, local Member of Parliament for Fleetwood and Lancaster, Cat Smith, visited the Fleetwood Observation Tower, home of the National Coastwatch Institution.
After hearing of how NCI was formed and the work of the volunteers, she was shown the high level of equipment used by the Watchkeepers and informed on the training given at the Nautical College, Fleetwood. This ensures the annual assessment, the Declared Facility Status (DFS), is passed each year by the volunteer Watchkeepers.
Along with the equipment used for keeping watch over Morecambe Bay and the ever shifting sand banks near Fleetwood, Cat was also shown the defibrillator, purchased by NCI and it was explained that there were around 30 Watchkeepers trained to use it, if required.
The MP passed on her best wishes and thanks to the volunteers for the work they do at Fleetwood and hopes to return again soon.

A new book has recently been published, The Coastal Headlands of Mainland Britain by Griff J Fellows. The book is available as a paperback or an ebook from Amazon, Waterstones or through Bookfinder, and is receiving excellent reviews. The author has very generously stated that all royalties will go to NCI .

You can help NCI Fleetwood generate funds by using EASYFUNDRAISING.ORG.UK where you can access over 2,700 retailers, many of them high street names and internet shopping sites. It costs you nothing, but by purchasing through EASYFUNDRAISING.ORG.UK, we get a donation each time and you help keep the station operational.

Nominate NCI Fleetwood today. Ask your friends, family and work colleagues to join you in helping keep NCI Fleetwood open.

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Prestigious award for National Coastwatch

The National Coastwatch Institute have been given a new award- The Royal Cruising Club Medal for Services to Cruising, following their 20^th anniversary. The Royal Cruising Club is an influential organisation in the world of serious cruising and membership is limited to those whose cruising record places them amongst the most significant sailors of their generation.

In announcing the decision, the club made it clear that the award is in recognition of NCI’s first twenty years and the growing contribution NCI are making to the safety of yachts at sea.

National Coastwatch keeps watch from 50 lookouts and has over 2,000 trained volunteers. In the North West, the only station is situated at Fleetwood and the volunteers there have clocked up an impressive 4,821 volunteer hours in 2014, a record for the station.

They now have 41 members who train both in the station at Fleetwood and at Fleetwood Nautical College. The station is open 365 days a year.

Steve Martin, Station Manager at Fleetwood said, ‘’ It’s been a tremendous effort by the team and I can’t thank them enough for ensuring our commitment to the Coast Guard was met. To also be awarded the RCC medal for Services to Cruising, is national recognition for our volunteers and the work they freely give’’.