IT WAS a proud day for Nell’s Point National Coastwatch Institution
(NCI) when the group was awarded the King’s Award for Voluntary Service.
The award, regarded as the MBE for the Voluntary Sector, was presented by the Deputy Lord Lieutenant Bet Davies last month at the Memorial Hall, Gladstone Road, Barry.
She paid tribute to the crew, having witnessed firsthand the dedication and hard work put in by the volunteers 365 days a year.
Station manager Trevor Saunders paid tribute to his team, saying: “I never cease to be proud of my crew for their unceasing commitment in playing their part in keeping the coast around the Barry area a place to enjoy safely.”
Two members of the team will attend a Royal Garden Party in May to mark the achievement later this year.
How many locals have walked from the beach on Barry Island (Whitmore Bay) along the coastal path around the headland known as Nell’s Point to Jackson’s Bay or vice versa? How many have noticed the white tower on Nell’s Point and wondered about its purpose and what the people in the tower do?
Well, the answer is as follows. The volunteers that operate the National Coastwatch Institution’s Station on Nell’s Point, 365 days a year, are there keeping an eye on swimmers, kayakers, paddle boarders, fishing craft, fishermen on the rocks, yachts and walkers who venture on to Sully Island when the tide is out! They also keep a careful watch on pilot boats and the crews of the RNLI berthed next door at Barry Harbour when they put to sea.
The crew have an in-depth knowledge of the waters, as far as the eye can see west, east and south of the station. The crew are all trained on chart reading and plotting and also in the use of all the high-tech equipment in the station. It’s not just a case of looking through a pair of binoculars!
NCI, from its vantage point high up, can direct the Search and Rescue teams straight to anyone in difficulty. If the crew are not dealing with a major distress or life-threatening incident, members of the public are always welcome to come inside and take a look at the operations in the station, where they can be sure of a warm welcome!
By Paul Sullivan
.
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