4th September 2016. A Portland family from Southwell has raised over a thousand pounds for NCI Portland Bill - in just four hours.

Alex Boatswain and her partner Dr Peter Hill raised £1025 for the National Coastwatch Institution station at Portland Bill at a garden party held in their Southwell home. The afternoon was a fully-fledged family affair including children's games, home-made cakes and a crab and lobster sea food buffet caught by a family fisherman just off Portland.

In May this year an intruder broke into the Coastwatch station causing £1,500 worth of damage. Station manager Geoff Peters said “Since the break-in we have incurred a great deal of expense by adding to the existing security systems. As a watch we spend a lot of time collecting money at supermarkets and coffee mornings, that sort of thing, but those events usually only raise £200 to £300”

Alex, who runs a beauty salon on the island, said: " We decided to host the party because we heard about the break-in and wanted to do something to help the situation. We are a local family and have done some fundraising for them in the past. We had a lot of support from friends and family but I never expected to make that much. Afterwards, Coastwatch invited us out to Portland Bill for the day to see exactly what they do which was really interesting, They work incredibly hard and save hundred of lives”

 Geoff, who has been the station manager since 2004, added: "I was both shocked and stunned at the result. I would like to say to Alex & Peter and all those family members and neighbours a massive 'thank you' from the Coastwatch team.". The money raised will go towards installing new cameras and upgrading the fence and lighting equipment to ensure Coastwatch are not caught out in the future.

The photograph (courtesy of the Dorset Echo) shows John Huggins, Alex Boatswain, Dr Peter Hill, Geoff Peters and Di Peters at Portland Bill watch station.