24th March 2017. NCI Skegness have celebrated the official opening of their new watch station this weekend.
It has been 3 years since NCI Skegness had to leave their old coastguard tower and in that time they have investigated a number of potential sites for a new watch station, but for a variety of reasons they fell through. However, they have been able to maintain a visual watch thanks to the use of a mobile trailer watch station supplied by the Seafarers Association. The Coal Industry Social and Welfare Organisation (CISWO), owners of the Miners Retreat at Winthorpe, generously allowed NCI Skegness to park this trailer in the gardens of the hotel.
During the winter months a bespoke watch station was designed and built In association with Container King of Scunthorpe as a demountable building and this was craned into position in the gardens of the Miners' Retreat on the 20th February, again thanks to the generosity of CISWO in giving their consent.
On 24th March the official opening of the station took place when the building was opened by the High Sheriff of Lincolnshire, Mrs JGA Hughes. NCI Chairman Lesley Suddes was also present as was Bill Skelley, the Chief Constable of Lincolnshire and the Mayor of Skegness Mr Dick Edgington. Representatives of the local SAR and emergency services were also present and even the HMCG helicopter 'Coastguard 912' put in a surprise appearance.
Raising the cost of £30,000 has involved some serious fundraising over the last 3 years and the programme of events contained an acknowledgement of the local businessmen, individuals, clubs and associations who have provided significant support.
NCI Skegness Station Manager Clive Pouncey thanked them all at the ceremony and also paid tribute to the members of NCI Skegness for their resilience and professionalism in maintaining their watches in very cramped and difficult circumstances for the last 3 years and also for their hard work and enthusiasm which enabled the new station to become operational so quickly after delivery.
The photograph shows NCI Skegness Station Manager Clive Pouncey, High Sheriff of Lincolnshire Mrs JGA Hughes, NCI Chairman Lesley Suddes, the Mayor of Skegness Mr Dick Edgington and Chief Constable Bill Skelley outside the new station.