22nd December 2018 ’Twas the last watch before Christmas and all was calm, all was quiet at the Lookout on Hengistbury Head. The Watch were being as vigilant as ever whilst devouring mince pies like they were going out of fashion and discussing their festive plans when something caught their attention far out over the horizon. But what was it?  A flare from a vessel in distress?  The glint from a SAR helicopter?

Mince pies hurriedly discarded, binoculars were trained in the direction of interest. Could it be?  Could it really be? Yes!  The cry went up.  “It’s Santa!”  Swiftly followed by “Have you been at the sherry again?”

But there was definitely something unusual heading north towards the Lookout.  At speed. And Lo, in the bleak mid-winter sky appeared eight reindeer, Santa on his sleigh and a huge amount of presents. At the same time, on CH65, came the words “Hengistbury NCI, Hengistbury NCI, Hengistbury NCI this is Santa Clause, Santa Clause, Santa Clause requesting a radio check Ho Ho Ho-ver”. Now, as we are all aware, the Log is a legal record and the camera never lies and so it came to pass that Hengistbury Head became the first NCI Station to officially record a sighting of Santa Clause.

Merry Christmas everyone.