NCI Filey

01/06/2026

This week, we’re putting the spotlight on some of our wonderful volunteers who are part of our ‘family’ of over 2,800 kind-hearted people who keep a daily watch for safety along the coast

Dedicated volunteer Neil French is National Coastwatch Institution - St Donat's Bay Station Manager & Coastal Water Safety Officer who also volunteers with the RNLI. He also plays wheelchair rugby, and has a passion for the theatre and aviation.

Neil is a busy man but he kindly took time out to answer a few of our questions:

1. How did you first become aware of NCI?
I first became aware of the NCI after I was linked with Porthcawl RNLI Lifeboat water safety team as a water safety advisor (education) volunteer, and members of that team were also watch keepers at NCI Porthcawl .

2. Have you any previous maritime experience?
I had no real maritime experience, but before I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS), I was recreational diver and formerly worked as a theatre technician, setting up lights and sound for concerts.

3. What made you decide to volunteer?
I have volunteered for things throughout my life and due to the loss of mobility due to my MS, took me into a deep depression where I felt due to my age I should be working. Then I saw advert for a volunteer role with the RNLI that helped pull me out of my depression. I still had spare time I needed to fill and through those links, I found National Coastwatch and it was something that I felt I could do to help others.

4. What do you like most about volunteering with NCI?
It’s the way it brings people from all walks of life bringing them together giving them the training that is then passed on to members of the public that are using our coastline, and helping protect them and in some cases save lives alongside the rest of the SAR community.

I see an incredible group of people that have come together for that common purpose to help others, in hot summers days to dreary wet winter days for no pay, for a charity that unlike our close neighbours the RNLI, most of the public might never know they are in the care of our watchkeepers.

Thank you Neil!

https://www.nci.org.uk/what-we-do/volunteering/

30/05/2026

28/05/2026

Here are the tide times for the next 7 days..
Please stay safe and enjoy our beaches and coastline.
️📌Please note: There is no standard accuracy when comparing the astronomical tide predictions and observed water levels.
📌If you see anybody in difficulty call 999 and ask for the coastguard.

18/05/2026

We’re celebrating all our women watchkeepers and volunteers

They come from all walks of life but they share one aim – to keep a daily watch to help protect and preserve life at sea and along the coasts of England and Wales as part of the UK’s search and rescue family, reporting to HM Coastguard.

The International Maritime Organization’s International Day for Women in Maritime takes place on 18 May every year. It’s a day to celebrate women in the industry and is intended to promote the recruitment, retention and sustained employment of women in the maritime sector.

Thank you all. We have so many women at our 61 stations, it’s only possible to show just a flavour of what they do in a social media post. We'd love to see more, why not add your pics in the comments? 💙

Want to join us? https://www.nci.org.uk/what-we-do/volunteering/

15/05/2026

SOS Radio Week is one month of fun, an opportunity for amateur radio operators to celebrate the work of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), the National Coastwatch Institution…

01/05/2026