1st January 2016. NCI Boscastle’s last watch of 2015 came to a sudden and unexpected end when the building was struck by lightning just after 3pm on Thursday 31st December. 

Fortunately, the two Watchkeepers on duty escaped unharmed, apart from some minor abrasions caused by flying fittings and some serious ringing in their ears. Unfortunately, the building and equipment didn’t escape so lightly. The lightning had struck the flagpole, ripping it off the wall completely, seriously damaging the doorframe and blasting a hole through the stonework. 

However it was the electrical items that took the brunt of the damage. Radar, AIS, Windspeed indicator, CCTV and the telephone landline have all been damaged beyond repair, as has one of Boscastles three VHF radios. Although the weather has prevented anyone from safely inspecting the roof, it is highly likely that the Wind Generator and Solar Panels have also been destroyed leaving the station without power. 

But you can’t keep a good station down and the members of NCI Boscastle will continue manning all their scheduled watches with a visual watch backed up by VHF radio and mobile phone links to HM Coastguard.