7 June 2023 For David, the value of volunteering is priceless. And he should know.

A volunteer with NCI for 13 years, he’s a man with many hats. Besides his passion for guitars, he’s CEO of National Coastwatch, a Trustee, DFS Assessor (checking that stations meet the exacting standards as an asset for HM Coastguard) as well as being a member of the NCI and HM Coastguard liaison team.  

“I first heard of NCI through a local TV news item on a new NCI station. I was immediately struck by how useful and necessary the service is. I volunteered the very next day and became a Watchkeeper Under Training and it's all gone on from there,” he said.

A commitment cemented

It was soon after qualifying that his commitment was cemented as two serious Mayday emergencies took place while he was on watch.

“I’ll never forget that dramatic day when we had two Mayday calls. Thankfully both had a good outcome, but it underlined the seriousness and importance of what we do,” he explained.  

Since then, David has served in a number of roles including local and national training, national operations and management, plus station management at his home station, NCI Newhaven.  

First love - watchkeeping

But his first love remains the same – as a volunteer watchkeeper.  

“The most important thing of all for me continues to be serving as a watchkeeper. It’s why I volunteered,” he said.

“I am very proud to be part of the growing organisation that is NCI. Our family of over 2,600 trained volunteers doing the same thing for the same reason is a superb achievement. My colleagues come from all walks of life but being an NCI volunteer watchkeeper is what bonds us. NCI is a truly remarkable organisation which succeeds in combining volunteering with a professional manner to contribute to public safety as an asset of HM Coastguard.

Volunteering is priceless  

“Volunteers’ Week has given us the opportunity to bring awareness of our role to a wider audience which will enhance our usefulness as we move into prevention as well as protection. For me it’s easy to explain the value of volunteering. It’s priceless,” he said.

If you’re interested in volunteering with us, we have 59 stations around the coast of England and Wales. Find out more here: Information for Potential Watchkeepers | National Coastwatch Institution (nci.org.uk)