Volunteers from Swanage Coastwatch have played their part in taking a flag on a 2,000 mile journey around England’s coastline as part of the lifesaving charity’s 30th anniversary celebrations.
The relay set off from Fleetwood in Lancashire in June 2024 and a specially commissioned flag bearing the names of all 60 Coastwatch stations arrived in Swanage by inflatable boat from St Alban’s Head on Wednesday 17th July 2024.
Swanage town mayor Tina Foster and consort Leslie Parkinson waved the NCI flag off on its journey from Swanage station
Starting the journey by steam train
The following day, Swanage town mayor Tina Foster waved the flag off from Swanage station as it travelled by steam train with Coastwatch volunteers to Norden, where senior watchkeeper Mike Revans and watchkeeper Andy Colbourn switched to bikes and cycled it to Studland.
After they arrived at Studland Trekking Centre, Alexandra Yudina and Maddy Harvey-Atkins hacked across Studland Heath on their horses Merle and Tansy before delivering the flag to Swanage Coastwatch volunteer Nick Greenwood in his 1929 Austin 7 Chummy.
The 96-year-old, seven horsepower convertible car then took the chain ferry across to Sandbanks before carrying on the journey to Hengistbury Head Coastwatch, where it was due to be taken on the next leg of its journey to Stone Point on a traction engine built in 1910.
Eventually, the flag is due to reach the most northerly coastal watch station at Filey, North Yorkshire, in September and will be presented to the National Coastwatch Institution’s royal patron Princess Anne.
Senior watchkeeper at Swanage Mike Revans and watchkeeper Andy Colbourn continued the journey by bike
Being passed all around the coastline
Swanage National Coastwatch Institution (NCI) station manager Martin Jones said:
“As part of our 30th anniversary, the NCI’s flag is being passed all the way around the coastline of England and Wales, more than 2,000 miles, and we are trying to do it in a fun and innovative way.
“We wanted to use as many versions of transport as we could to get it from Swanage to Hengistbury Head so we are using the steam train, cycles, horseback and a 1929 Austin 7.
“We will also take the chain ferry from Studland to Sandbanks before driving on to the next NCI station where the flag will carry on its journey aboard a traction engine which is even older than our vintage car.
“In 1994, the government of the day decided to close coastguard stations around the UK as a means of cost saving by relying on technology. It was done over a period of time, and Swanage was one of the last to close.
“But there was an incident at Bass Point in Cornwall shortly afterwards when a fishing boat sank, allegedly within sight of the closed coastguard office and the two fishermen on board drowned.”
At Studland Trekking Centre, Alexandra Yudina and Maddy Harvey-Atkins carried the flag on its way
Eyes and ears of the Coastguard
Martin Jones continued:
“The locals were very upset because they thought that the lives could have been saved and petitioned the coastguard to reopen the station and staff it with volunteers.
“That was the start of Coastwatch and six months later Swanage followed the lead of Bass Point. We were the second place in the country to reopen a station – and St Alban’s Head followed shortly afterwards.
“We now report directly to the coastguard and act as their eyes and ears along the coast, it’s as simple as that. I am really proud to be part of the organisation, which makes a real difference to safety along the Purbeck Coast.
“We have just over 60 volunteer staff at Swanage Coastwatch, with more than a quarter of them ladies – we find that people retire to Swanage and then want to find a way to put something back into the community.
“It is open to everyone and we are really lucky with our diverse volunteers – 10 percent of our members are retired teachers or head teachers, we have retired RAF pilots, we had two nuclear scientists at one point, there are people from all walks of life.”
From two horsepower to seven horsepower – a vintage 1929 Austin 7 Chummy was waiting at Shell Bay for the next leg
Trained to a national standard
But even though Martin himself was formerly a commercial skipper and other Swanage Coastwatch volunteers also include a master mariner who drove 20,000 tonne ships around the world, there is no requirement to have even stepped on a boat.
Coastwatch monitors all shipping, leisure and commercial craft using the waters around Swanage, and also watches out for walkers, climbers, horse riders – in fact anyone using land and sea areas around the coastline who may be in danger.
Watchkeepers report any coastal safety-related incidents to HM Coastguard so that expert help can be sent, including the coastguard rescue teams and helicopters, the RNLI, independent lifeboats and all emergency services.
All volunteers are trained to a national standard which is tailored to local conditions, acknowledging that there are specific challenges which are unique to the Purbeck Coast.
Swanage NCI station manager Martin Jones joined Coastwatch volunteer Nick Greenwood and his grandson Oliver to admire Nick’s vintage car
Tech company sponsorship
Sirius Insight, a technology company using artificial intelligence to improve safety and security at sea, is sponsoring the flag relay and providing support for NCI’s 30th anniversary.
Sirius staff are joining the volunteer watchkeepers from each station who have been passing the flag on to the waiting crews at their neighbouring station.
The flag has been electronically tagged so it can be tracked as it makes its journey around the coast using boats and ferries, tractor and trailer, horse and cart, classic cars as well as being carried by people walking and running.
Using the Sandbanks chain ferry on their journey to Hengistbury Head chalked up another mode of transport
Raising awareness and having fun
Chair of the NCI Stephen Hand said:
“This year’s 30th anniversary is the ideal opportunity to put each station on the map and encourage even more people to join in and support us.
“We are very grateful to Sirius Insight for their sponsorship and support of our anniversary event. It’s part of a growing relationship and a shared philosophy and approach to improving public safety along our coastline.
“The relay is about having some fun, raising awareness of our work, raising some vital funds as well and helping to shine a spotlight on our volunteers and our lifesaving work as a part of the UK’s maritime search and rescue community.”
The Swanage Coastwatch centre at Peveril Point, keeping Swanage safe and providing amazing tea and cakes!
Further information
- Find out more about Swanage Coastwatch and the NCI
