Maritime safety charity National Coastwatch Institution (NCI) has celebrated its 30th anniversary with a coastal station-to-station relay with a specially commissioned anniversary flag travelling over 2,000 miles, visiting each of the NCI’s 60 stations.
Volunteer watchkeepers, their families and local communities celebrated together in a series of events at each station before using innovative ways to transport the flag to the next destination; by foot, kayak, bicycle, cable car, horseback, light aircraft, steam trains, RNLI lifeboats, Police RHIBs and convoys of classic vehicles.
Stephen Hand, NCI Chair said, “I would like to say a huge thank you to all our volunteers. They have all surpassed themselves and organised extraordinary things that have really helped to put the spotlight on our work to help save lives as part of the UK’s maritime search and rescue community.
“The events have also provided opportunities for raising vital funds as we rely totally on the generosity of supporters. It’s been a great pleasure to see so many flag relay events that have brought our emergency services partners and local communities together.”
The flag relay was sponsored by Sirius Insight which is also providing support for NCI’s 30th anniversary. The flag is now at Trinity House in London where it will be installed for the duration of the NCI’s 30th anniversary year.
A special reception will be held at Trinity House on 17 September attended by HRH The Princess Royal who is Royal patron of NCI.
