The longest-serving watchkeeper at a Norfolk Coastwatch station is stepping down after 25 years’ service.
Arthur Adcock has been with Mundesley Coastwatch since it started in 1995.
The National Coastwatch Institution (NCI) was established after two fishermen lost their lives outside a redundant Coastguard lookout. Bass Point in Cornwall was the first Coastwatch station to open at the site of that tragedy.
Mundesley Coastwatch was the second station in the country to open on May 19, 1995. Founder Richard May placed an advert for volunteers, and Mr Adcock took up his duties on June 1, 1995.
There are now around 50 Coastwatch stations and Mundesley has over 50 volunteers.
Mr Adcock said: “There have been many changes over the years. In the early days meetings took place at Richard’s house and there were only around eight watchkeepers.
“Equipment was sparse, just a compass rose, desk, pointer, telephone and an old valve radio that we listened to the weather forecast on.
“With so few volunteers, shifts lasted as long as the next person turned up, if they did. Typically shifts lasted all morning or all afternoon and were single shifts. A far cry from today’s two watchkeeper, two-hour shift pattern.”
One of his proudest moments was when Mundesley was the first station to receive the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service.
Mr Adcock had joined the RAF aged 15 and served for 40 years. He then worked on the MacMillan cancer ward at Peterborough Hospital, before his Coastwtach service.
He said: “It has been a privilege working with such a diverse and interesting group of people. I thank Richard May for setting the station up. I would also like to thank the station managers Ray Amo, John Carpenter, Bob White and, currently, Duncan Mackenzie.”
Mr Mackenzie said: “Arthur has been a well-respected and active watchkeeper, always willing to offer his views based on his wealth of experience.
“The service is only what it is thanks to our early pioneers and our active volunteers, and Arthur is both.”
Mundesley Coastwatch is temporarily closed for the first time in its history due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here