When talking with Fanny Earle during the twentieth anniversary of NCI Prawle Point at the Pigʼs Nose Inn last April, it soon became obvious her experiences up at the Lookout, nearly forty years ago, would afford a fascinating glimpse of watchkeeping the coastguard way, many years before National Coastwatch arrived on the scene.Hearing of a recruitment drive for trainee coastguards at Prawle Point, she joined up. Six to eight one hour training sessions were held in the Watchhouse, the easternmost of the coastguard cottages. Once Fanny attained Auxiliary Coastguard status, solo watches of six hours were the norm - 1 until 7, 7 until 1 throughout 24 hours.

Autumn2018 No 61

FANNY EARLE - AUXILIARY COASTGUARD PRAWLE POINT 1976 -1980

Parking was available near where we park today but arriving alone for a night watch was very different from our daylight routine. An outside light on the Watchhouse wall stayed on just long enough to walk through the cottage gardens to the cliff path. Thereafter it was often pitch dark until reaching the lookout . One night, bent double against a howling gale and torrential rain, she fell on to a sheep; both, in shock, struggled to regain their feet. Once change of watch was completed, it was customary to lock oneself securely inside “in case of IRA activity”. Vessels passing during hours of darkness were only identified if they made radio calls to the station, although an enormous Russian factory ship, moored in the channel, stands out in Fannyʼs memory, lit up and surrounded by numerous little boats, all illuminated, catching fish to keep the factory ship supplied.Equipment comprised two telescopes on rotating stands fixed to the bench, two pairs of binoculars, local charts and a radio, set to Channel 16. French fishermen would chatter to each other on this emergency channel and needed to be told to “clear off”. Salcombe Lifeboat routinely called up when passing. Fanny was once highly amused, when answering their call, to hear her brother in law, Brian Caterʼs voice in the background saying, “Bugger me, ʼtis our Fanny up there!”Fanny has her own humorous way of describing memorable events. She had only just started, when Chay Blythe capsized just east of the point. He was soon rescued and the yacht towed to Plymouth but this set off streams of telephone calls from newspaper reporters and others; an A4 page of logging- quite an initiation for a single-handed, newly qualified auxiliary coastguard.She recalls a dreadful storm one night with thunder, lightning and heavy rain. Prawle village and the lookout lost electricity so were plunged into darkness, it was up to Fanny to find a torch, go outside to the generator shed and activate emergency lighting. The lightning had struck the Station Masterʼs house, burning wallpaper near the bedside lights.Details of actual weather conditions were passed by phone to Plymouth Weather Centre for the local BBC forecasts at 3am and 3pm. A wind instrument aloft was read from inside the lookout, hours of sunshine were recorded on light sensitive card housed within a sphere on the brick pillar still there today, a rain gauge (calibrated pipette) and thermometer were fixed to a post by the entrance gate but, for ascertaining cloud conditions at night, a powerful light atop the steps was directed upwards. Doing her best to describe cloud formations, a comforting voice from Plymouth once said, “Donʼee worry, my dear, weʼll just say cloudy.” Fishermen sometimes rang in the middle of the night asking for the weather. If rough or not promising, Fanny would recommend staying in bed.Spotting a maroon flare rise up near Salcombe one evening, she rang the lifeboat station but it turned out to be the customary finale to firework night at Salcombe regatta in those days. One night Fanny heard over the radio, “Prawle Point Coastguard (X 3) this is HMS.....over. Her immediate thoughts were of some disaster but, after answering, heard “This is Captain.. of HMS.. ʻmy crew and myself would like to wish you a very happy new year, my dear”. After wishing them likewise, on went the kettle for a cup of coffee!

Fannyʼs handbook is all self written with notes and sketches on navigation lights, local knowledge, plotting, radio procedure, codes and abbreviations, weather instruments and reporting. The lookout closed in 1994, although the Prawle Point Rescue Team continues to operate from their station in East Prawle village. Resurrected as the first NCI station in Devon, Prawle Point continues to provide eyes and ears along the coast.

Prawle Point Auxiliary CoastguardRoger Barrett

When logging the passage of vessels past Prawle Point, Coastwatchers' priority is the smaller vessels - yachts, motor boats, kayaks, paddle boards, fishing boats and all those of a vulnerable nature . We also log the passage of commercial ships, within eight miles of the Point. With radar and Vessel-Tracker we can find out vital information concerning all vessels passing our windows, for example, weight, length, MMSI number, last known port and port of destination, current speed, type of cargo and even see a picture of the vessel. What we have no clue about is the human element – those seafarers on board who are the hidden workforce of these ships, some of the poorest and most desperate of the world's workers whose lives are spent largely below decks, months away from home and families, on poor pay and often employed by unscrupulous owners. Most of us have no idea what goes on at sea and are blind to the lives of those who bring us 90% of all commodities to our shores. Whilst seafarers have experienced significant improvements in working conditions in many parts of the world, too many cases of serious exploitation and hardship still exist. Life at sea often means isolation and tragedy, it creates a bond that seafarers describe as a brotherhood. That floating hulk of metal carrying souls is a home, at least temporarily for these crews.

THE MISSION TO SEAFARERS - by Jo Lapthorn

London A seafarer went missing off a ship entering Tilbury Docks. The chaplain to East London mission was alerted and visited the centre to support and comfort the crew over the loss of their “brother”. In turn, the partner chaplains in the Phillipines visited the wife and family of the lost seaman.Thunder Bay, Canada 150 Christmas gift bags were distributed to seafarers on eight ships in the port. Mombasa, Kenya Cases of abandonment are increasing at an alarming rate. The team in Mombasa worked hard to get a number of Kenyan seafarers home after being stranded in Indonesia. Geraldtown, Australia A sick Chinese seafarer in urgent need of medical attention was helped by volunteers who ensured the man's safe passage to hospital in Perth.Bangladesh In October 2017, the Migrant Offshore Aid Station was supported by a Mission Chaplain as they delivered aid to Rohingya refugees. The spiritual and mental wellbeing of crew members was the primary concern and, as the Port Chaplains are all trained in crisis counselling, they were able to help. India In 2013, six British former soldiers joined a US owned ship to protect it from piracy in the Indian Ocean. The men were arrested in Indian waters and charged with carrying illegal weapons, despite having the required licenses. They were sentenced in January 2016 to 5 years in prison. The American owners abandoned them completely. The Mission to Seafarers stepped in and co-ordinated with the British Legion and regimental associations. It paid the men's hostel fees, gave welfare payments to support the families and administered a fund for legal costs. In November, the sentences were overthrown and all the men repatriated. Baltimore Another case of abandonment by owners - the M/T Newlead was stuck at anchor for four months with the remaining crew of 6 Filippinos. No shore leave was permitted during 5 more months when the vessel was finally sold. The Mission Chaplain co-ordinated several organisations and the local community to support the crew, provide them with food, clothing, heaters, internet access and moral and spiritual support. Eventually, the men were fully paid and repatriated.Fundraising committees around the UK and worldwide do an incredible job supporting seafarers and ensuring their hard work does not go unnoticed. Sea Sunday is an annual service in the Christian calendar often held outdoors, close to the sea.

Mission to Seafarers offers emergency assistance, practical support, and a friendly welcome to crews visiting over 200 ports in 50 countries. On a global scale the centres provide havens for respite, offer help and advice, enable contact with loved ones and give spiritual comfort too. Below are a few examples where Mission Chaplains have helped :-

A VISIT FROM THE CHAIRMANLeslie Suddes, Chairman of National Coastwatch, visited Prawle Point lookout on September 11 before addressing the monthly meeting of watchkeepers that evening. A wealth of statistics revealed some interesting and encouraging facts regarding the efficacy of ʻeyes and ears around the coastʼ working closely with HM Coastguard and included some significant incidents where timing played a crucial part in averting loss of life.Several new stations have opened this year making a total of 53 with 1 satellite station, all in locations of strategic importance to maritime safety. Next year marks the 25th anniversary of National Coastwatch when the first station opened at Bass Point in Cornwall.

INCIDENTS TO DATE10.07.18 Call from Falmouth CG requesting watchkeepers to scan Starehole Bay for speedboat on rocks. Casualty identified and reported. Salcombe ILB gave tow into Salcombe.21.07.18 Pan Pan from Yacht. Watch keepers telephoned Falmouth CG as they had not heard it. With Coastguard permission we contacted the vessel on Channel 16 to reassure them. Another yacht in the vicinity heard our radio comms and towed the stricken vessel into Salcombe.04.08.18 Pan Pan call from Falmouth CG heard tasking Salcombe AWLB to motor launch broken down 3 miles south of Start Point. Inform CG we had casualty visual, Salcombe Lifeboat arrived on scene and towed the launch into Salcombe.09.08.18 Fishing vessel radioed Falmouth CG requesting tow as engine broken down. Informed Falmouth CG vessel visual and that no vessels were in the area to assist. Salcombe AWLB tasked to her assistance.12.08.18 Telephone call received from member of the public regarding goat on foreshore at East Portlemouth. Reported to farmer.18.08.18 Member of public reported injured sheep. Farmer informed.22.08.18 Member of the public telephoned to report cow in precarious position on rocks between Start Point and Hallsands. Owner was aware and had been supplying the animal with hay by kayak. After several days, it was sedated and rescued by firefighters and the RSPCA. Later the farmer phoned to thank us and report the rescue.23.08.18 Pan Pan from fishing vessel with engine failure. Reported to Falmouth CG the vessel was visual and drifting. Salcombe AWLB tasked to her assistance and towed her into Salcombe.29.08.18 Salcombe Harbour office telephoned us to ask about a lone spear fisherman who seemed to be overdue. We had a fisherman visual on Meg Rocks who eventually got back in his boat and headed for Salcombe. Office grateful for our assistance.01.09.18 A dive boat radioed Falmouth CG to report steering problems and heading for Dartmouth. They gave their positon as just off Start Point. We had the vessel visual and as they were off Prawle Point, informed the Coastguard of their correct position.Fifteen sightings of dolphins were reported to Lindy Hingley at Brixham Seawatch including, sadly, harassment on 15.07.18 by 4 persons in a white dory- this was reported to HM Coastguard.

FUND RAISING AND PRSarah Procyk, our PR Officer, has worked tirelessly through another year boosting much needed funds and raising public awareness at every local event. Pictured here are stands at Kingsbridge Show, Frogmore Regatta and the ʻCelebrate Start Bayʼ display held at Stokeley Farm. A further collection was held outside Ashbyʼs Stores in East Charleton on October 27 and the last of the year will be at Morrisonʼs Supermarket in Kingsbridge on December 8. Sarah has served the station with exceptional expertise and proactive innovation since taking over the role in 2013 She has brought display equipment professionally up to date with attractive banners and bunting, introduced popularmerchandise and spent hours organising tombola and book stalls, all drawing the crowds and effectively boosting station funds towards the £12,000 needed annually to run NCI Prawle Point.It is increasingly noticeable that the public recognises our role as the ʻeyes and ears along the coastʻ, whereas hitherto, some confused coastwatch with coastguard; a misunderstanding now far less evident. Of no less importance, display stands are maintained at The Salcombe Maritime Museum and The Cookworthy Museum in Kingsbridge and other public locations which can serve as centres for recruiting new watchkeepers. Watching a video and chatting to volunteers encourages interested folk to enrol for training to become qualified watchkeepers.

Frogmore Regatta Kingsbridge Show Stokeley Celebrate Start BayS Procyk R Procyk S Procyk

This keenly awaited autobiography, by Scratch Hitchen, is a remarkable achievement of memory, freshly recalled in vivid detail.Salcombe provided the perfect environment for an adventurous boy, passionately keen to acquire skills of seamanship, but the chance of becoming a cabin boy on the Norian, an admired steamship moored in The Bag, inspired the author to run away to sea at the age of fourteen. But why leave a port that offered so much maritime opportunity and the sea-focussed characters who encouraged his ambitions? The reader soon grasps how the constraints of compulsory school days became unbearable for a lad with little interest in traditional education or academic achievement. Describing himself as illiterate and innumerate, the unfolding story proves he was neither; the seagoing way of life gave him an altogether different education. This theme of freedom and escape from regulation runs throughout the book, so does the courage and determination needed to become an accomplished seaman. By the age of 19 he had travelled five times round the world in merchant ships. Nothing easy about this education though, early teenage experiences were of hardship and endurance, some intolerable conditions at sea, demanding skippers, yet his choice of life never wavered, respect was earned and responsibility of command rapidly gained.Readers conversant with the merchant navy will recognise companionship among crewmen developed through rigours of life on board and relaxations ashore in noted bars of seaports around the world. Those of the fishing fraternity will be familiar with the highs and lows of engaging in one of the most dangerous livelihoods across a wide variety of fishing grounds, while yachtsmen will enjoy Scratchʼs sailing background, yacht delivery exploits and some unconventional navigation.The writing is expressive, the style free flowing, unique and as natural as conversation among seafarers at the end of a voyage. Anyone acquainted with Salcombeʼs heyday of fishing, cruising and vibrant social life will recognise colourful characters and dramas of the period but no reader can fail to become absorbed in so much adventure, near disasters and bizarre situations told with honesty and a great deal of humour.

The book can be purchased at local bookshops, price £9.99 or obtained by ringing 01548 562248 -an unforgettable read, just perfect for Christmas presents.

BOOK REVIEW - AN AUTOBIOGRAPHY BY ʻSCRATCHʼ HITCHEN OF SALCOMBE

Prawle Point NCI Newsletter edited by Jenny Brown, compiled by Andrew Northrop Prawle Point NCI Charity Number: 1159975. Call us at Prawle Point NCI on VHF Channel 65.

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Grateful thanks to Luscombe Maye Estate Agents, 2 Island Square, Island Street,  Salcombe TQ8 8DP   for printing this Newsletter Tel: 01548 843593 email: salcombe@luscombemaye.com

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