12th of April Today saw NCI Southend playing host to Southend Mayor Margaret Borton, who was accompanied by Councillor Carole Mulroney and Macebearer Tanya Hill. 

Station Manager, Rodney Hyne-Jones, welcomed the visitors and showed them around the station where they were introduced to a number of Watchkeepers present. Councillor Borton then presented the newest Watchkeeper, Alan Rayner, with his epaulettes. The visitors were given demonstrations of equipment such as the AIS, VHF radios, navigation and plotting equipment. They were also shown the charts of the Thames Estuary and local landmarks and were given the opportunity to try out the new VHF training radios under the watchful eyes of John Disney, NCI Southends Station Training Officer.