Why was Sheringham Coastwatch set up?
Sheringham Coastwatch was started in 1997, sometime after HM Coastguard stopped using the Skelding Hill Lookout to maintain a visual watch.
The Coastguard closed its last local station, used to keep visual watch, in 1994.
Now on the East Coast there are only three manned Coast Guard Rescue
Co-ordination Centres- Great Yarmouth, Humber and
Walton-on-Naze. These stations do not keep a visual watch.
These are supported by teams of volunteer part time Coast Guards who work
locally and are called out by pager . Each team consists of between 5 and 10
persons ready to be called out 24/7. Each team has a sector manager
overseeing their district.
Groups of men and women along our coast decided that keeping a visual lookout is important and could save lives.
This is why Sheringham Coastwatch was formed-to provide HMCG with additional ears and eyes.