A TOTAL of 24 members of Crediton Probus Club gathered at Downes Crediton Golf Club on a very muggy September day. President, Richard Adams declared the meeting open and invited Barry Shears to say grace after which we settled down to our meal.

The month’s quote was given by Eric Rodd and the draw won by Robin Langhorne.The speaker, Gordon Betteridge, was introduced by Keith Beetlestone.

Gordon spoke on behalf of the Exmouth Coastwatch Institute, part of the National Coastwatch Institute (NCI) of which he has been involved with for five years both as speaker and fundraiser.

The NCI is an entirely voluntary organisation that keeps a visual watch along UK shores. Twenty-five years ago there were more than 30 lightships, 45 coastgurd stations and160 lighthouses and all of these were manned.

Now most of these facilities have been automated. It was as a result of two drownings off The Lizard in 1994 where there had been a manned coastguard station, that the National Coastguard Institute was established to replace at least some of the “eyes” lost.

Currently 50 NCI stations are operational and manned by more than 2,000 volunteers keeping watch around the British Isles from Rossall Point in the North West, through Wales, to Wearside in the North East. There is a large number of stations along the Channel coast, many of them being in the South-West.

Whilst high technology and sophisticated systems are aids to improved safety, a computer cannot spot a distress flare, an overturned boat or a yachtsman or fisherman in trouble. Other vulnerable activities like diving, wind surfing and canoeing are made safer with visual surveillance.

NCI watchkeepers provide the eyes and ears along the coast, monitoring radio channels and providing a listening watch in poor visibility. They are trained to deal with emergencies, offering a variety of skills and experience and full training by the NCI ensures that high standards are met.

The NCI works closely with the RNLI and the coastguards. Exmouth’s NCI station covers the whole of the Exe Estuary and with the volunteers working on a shift basis, it operates seven-days-a-week in summer and at weekends in winter.

From its headquarters, the tower (above the Harbour View Café on Queen’s Drive) the station has the best view of the lower Exe estuary.

Judy Spiers is one of Exmouth Coastwatch Institute’s patrons, the other is Admiral Sir Mark Stanhope, former Head of the Royal Navy.

After questions, David Moss thanked Gordon for his talk and the meeting closed with the usual toast “Til the next time!”.

Keith Barker