3 June 2023 Only a few weeks ago, the value of volunteering was brought to life for NCI Fleetwood’s Secretary, Gill Cooper.
On watch during a sunny weekend in May, she spotted three boys in a very scary situation. The tide was coming in fast and the youngsters were trapped and at risk of drowning in the chilly water. She quickly alerted HM Coastguard who sent the Fleetwood Coastguard Rescue Team and Fleetwood RNLI to the rescue – it was a textbook team effort that got the three boys out of danger.
For Volunteers Week, we asked Gill, a former Senior Probation Officer, about her volunteering life and involvement with National Coastwatch.
“I’ve been involved in volunteering for around 30 years, fitting it in around a busy work and family life. Doing something that helps others is really satisfying and keeps me on my toes.
“As a lover of all things nautical, I used to sail with the Ocean Youth Club and became part of Haverigg Inshore Rescue when I lived in Cumbria. I also worked with volunteers in a psychiatric hospital, recruiting and training them to work with people with mental health problems,” she said.
On moving to Fleetwood in 2018, she and her husband Colin noticed the watch station had an open day and called in to find out more.
“We spoke to the publicity officer and discovered the work was right up our street as well as being something we could do together.
“For me it’s a way of keeping in touch with my nautical side as well as being a useful thing to do alongside some really friendly people. Plus I really like the challenge of looking out for risky situations, using charts, radar and AIS (vessel tracker), and powerful scopes to look out across the beach,” she explained.
Every day as a watchkeeper is different but some days have been especially memorable for Gill.
“I’ll never forget my first incident. It was a scorching hot day and a group of young men were adrift in an inflatable, towing another inflatable loaded with beers. They seemed blissfully unaware of the dangers as they floated out on an ebbing tide...next stop the Isle of Man. The Coastguard Rescue Team were sent to help before the situation became even more dangerous and their faces were a picture of shock and surprise that I’ll never forget!” she 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)