Helstonbury very proud to support NCI NARE POINT

Beryl, Amanda (Station Fund Raising Chair) and I were delighted to attend the Blue Anchor on Sunday 15th to receive the cheque for £500 from Helstonbury. On behalf of NCI Nare Point and our 66 volunteer watchkeepers may I thank Helstonbury for this very generous donation. This valued contribution will help to meet the running costs of the station during 2019/20 and may contribute to two projects we are planning – the installation of a defibrillator for the benefit of those using the coastal path and improvement of our very basic toilet facilities.

Each of the 56 stations in England and Wales is required to raise their own running costs each year and a good proportion of any capital costs. At Nare Point we seek to raise approximately £5000 per year. Our remote land location means we do not have a hinterland with a significant population to support the station, however we are one of the busiest stations in Cornwall and indeed England and Wales with 22,000 vessel movements logged per year and an average of 15 incidents per year. Our watchkeepers keep a look out on the Helford entrance and Falmouth Bay 365 days per year during the hours of daylight. The dedicated VHF Channel 65 is being used increasingly for radio checks, weather and sea conditions and other information. We also keep an eye on those traversing our section of the coastal path and provide Cornwall Wildlife Trust with sightings of birds and sea life.

The donation will, I can assure you, be put to very good use. Walkers on the coast path are always welcome to call in providing we are not managing an incident.

Very kind regards,

Don Garman, Station and Training Manager, NCI Nare Point