27th April 2016. Some months ago Alan Richards announced that he would be standing down as Chairman of the NCI at the 2016 AGM, after five years in the role where he has been highly successful in leading the organisation through some major changes. Alan has been an exemplary leader of the Charity and will be much missed.

He is succeeded in the role of Chairman by Lesley Suddes who previously occupied the post of General Secretary with NCI. Lesley joined NCI Nare Point as a Watchkeeper in 2010, becoming involved in training, fundraising and events organising. In 2013 Lesley was elected to the NCI Board of Trustees where she served as General Secretary. At the first Board of Trustees meeting following the 2016 Annual General Meeting, Lesley was elected as the new Chairman of the NCI charity. In accepting her appointment as Chairman of the National Coastwatch Institution, Lesley said “I am delighted and privileged to take the helm at this stage of the Charity’s development and will do my utmost to ensure that NCI continues to thrive and grow as a successful and highly respected part of the Search and Rescue organisation.”

Also at the Annual General Meeting, Mike Byrne (NCI Rossall Point) and Tim Colquhoun (NCI St Albans Head) were appointed as new members of the Board of Trustees along with David Littlemore (NCI  Porthdinllaen) who was reappointed as a Trustee.