Volunteer watch-keepers from Bass Point Coastwatch Station on the Lizard Peninsula and their partners gathered at Mullion Golf Club on Friday for a presentation of long service awards.

Station manager Peter Clements from Perranarworthal welcomed Lieutenant Commander Andy Watts of 771 Naval Air Squadron (Air Sea Rescue) as guest of honour and he presented ten year awards to Joan Kearsley of Coverack and John Symons of Crowntown. Robert Beeman of Constantine received a five year award.

Two other watch-keepers, Peter Martin and Tony Flynn, were also due to receive awards, but were away on holiday. Mr Watts was presented with a picture of a Sea King Helicopter passing over Bass Point Lookout drawn by watch-keeper Tony Phillips-Smith of Ashton, who creates the annual Christmas cards for the station.

Watch-keeper Robbie Wilson from Ruan Minor was asked to cut a 21st birthday cake. Mr Wilson is the only original volunteer watch-keeper left from those who re-opened the old HM Coastguard building at Bass Point in 1994.

This year is not only the 21st anniversary of the Coastwatch Station at Bass Point but also for the National Coastwatch Institution (NCI) as a whole - Bass Point being the first lookout to be opened to establish the NCI. There are now 50 NCI Stations open around the coast of England and Wales.

A special presentation of a bouquet of flowers was made by senior watch-keeper Christopher Trerise from Camborne to Di Newall of Perranarworthal. He said that Di calls the station lookout at 8am every morning of each day of the year without fail to make sure that the watch-keeper has reached the Lookout safely.