28th March 2017. The Isle of Wight’s High Sheriff, Robin Courage MBE, visited the NCI Needles lookout at West Highdown to mark the stations busiest year in maintaining their watch over the Solent.

Over the past year the NCI Needles has been involved in over 25 incidents and logged over 8,500 vessel movements –  and that’s not counting the 1,600 entrants in the annual Round The Island race. The 70 volunteer watchkeepers kept lookout for a total of 6,710 hours and kept the station open for 365 days in all weathers. The team at The Needles also keep a friendly eye on the 300,000 walkers that visit the area each year.

In one of his final acts as High Sheriff, Mr Courage presented Peter Dent with his Senior Watchkeepers epaulettes in recognition of his contribution to the success of The Needles NCI station.

The photograph (courtesy of the Island Echo) shows (L-R): Station Manager Tony Stables, Robin Courage MBE and Peter Dent