by Janie Waterman
Sunday 28th July 2024 saw Knucker take on a very special journey, to carry the National
Coastwatch Institution (NCI) flag into Seaford Bay.
NCI is a charity staffed and managed by volunteers whose mission is to help save lives at
sea and around the UK coastline. If you, a family member or friend uses the coastal waters
or the shoreline – maybe canoeing, fishing, boating or even walking on our beautiful but
sometimes treacherous coastline – we are watching and keeping you safe. NCI is a critical
part of UK Search and Rescue. We work alongside His Majesty’s Coastguard, the RNLI and
the ‘blue-light’ emergency services to assist in the protection and saving of life at sea and
along the coastline of England and Wales.
This summer has seen a 2,000+ mile journey of a specially commissioned flag celebrating
30 years of NCI. The flag is being transported between NCI stations. The 1.5m x 1m flag
bears the names of all NCI stations in order of longevity.
The flag arrived at Newhaven, from Shoreham by a convoy of 6 WWII vehicles, on 28 th July
and continued its journey to Folkestone via bicycle, and on foot to Eastbourne on Monday
29 th , via car to Dungeness on Tuesday 30 th and finally via the Romney, Hythe and Dymchurch Railway on Wednesday 31 st July.
While in Newhaven, Sue Hudson and Jane Waterman, both Affinity Rowing Club (ARC)
members and NCI watchkeepers were invited to fly the flag out to sea to represent all
seafaring vessels.
Accompanying Sue and Jane were Kelly (cox), Rosie, Jane M, Tray, Karen S and Ian W.
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