Princess Anne was all smiles this morning as she visited Shoreham, West Sussex, to honor long-serving volunteers who play an important position in maintaining folks protected at sea.
The 74-year-old Princess Royal, who’s patron of the National Coastwatch Institution (NCI), spent the day on the National Coastwatch Station, a volunteer-run charity that has been safeguarding the coast for years.
Upon arrival within the coastal city, Princess Anne—wearing a tartan skirt, matching coat, and vibrant purple scarf—was warmly greeted by members of the general public.
She made her approach to the NCI station, which has a wealthy historical past relationship again to the Second World War when it was initially constructed as a part of the emergency coastal battery at Shoreham Fort.
Today, it serves as a significant lookout station protecting the shoreline between Brighton and Worthing.
The Princess Royal acquired a heat welcome from His Majesty’s Lord Lieutenant of West Sussex, Lady Emma Barnard, and was then launched to the charity’s chair, Stephen Hand, and NCI Shoreham Station Manager, Colin Clay.
During her go to, the Princess Royal discovered concerning the important work carried out by these volunteers, together with their use of visible and radio surveillance to maintain watch over the shoreline.
Anne even had the chance to speak with a few of the responsibility watchkeepers on responsibility.
Following the station tour, Princess Anne attended a reception on the close by Shoreham Sailing Club, the place she offered lengthy service awards to a few deserving volunteers: Mike Hobbs, who has devoted 15 years to the charity, and Tim Tuson and Craig Searle, who’ve each volunteered for 5 years.
Mike Hobbs, 85, expressed his gratitude, calling it a “nice honour” to obtain the award from the Princess Royal.
Before leaving, she made a comment concerning the wet climate, joking that the weekend forecast “may very well be a little bit of a problem.”
Stephen Hand, chair of the National Coastwatch Institution, praised the Princess Royal’s go to, saying, “Without exception, these visits at all times raise our spirits and create the right alternative to have fun lifesaving work and convey collectively our volunteers, pals, and supporters from native communities.
She was completely sensible. It is our absolute delight to have her as our patron.”
