A dedicated husband and wife team are stepping down after more than 25 years working for a life-saving service.

Volunteers, Geoff and Pam Peters, have been managers for the local National Coastwatch Institution (NCI) station at Portland Bill, looking out for people on the sea and land.

The couple are now standing down, having served the local community for more than 25 years. 

Mr Peters said “The last 25 years have flown by and it has been an honour and a privilege to have worked with the brilliant team of like-minded volunteers who all have the same purpose, that of ensuring safety at sea around Portland Bill.

Geoff and Pam Peters, long serving managers of the local National Coastwatch Station at Portland Bill Geoff and Pam Peters, long serving managers of the local National Coastwatch Station at Portland Bill (Image: RAMarshall) "Together we have built and equipped a station to be proud of.”

Geoff has led, inspired, and managed a team of around 60 volunteer watch keepers at Portland Bill, who identify and track vessels or people which may be in difficulties, and, when necessary, help to coordinate any emergency aid.

Meanwhile, Pam Peters has been instrumental and relentless in raising funds essential to the operation of the lookout building and equipment.

During their time with NCI, the couple have raised the funds needed to completely rebuild the station and ensure that it has the latest and best available equipment installed.

They have achieved recognition through the granting to the station of the Queens Award for Voluntary Service, the highest possible accolade for voluntary service.

In the same year, 2012, they welcomed The Princess Royal and her husband Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence as honorary watch keepers at Portland Bill.

Geoff and Pam Peters were given a send-off at a surprise gathering of colleagues and friends at the National Sailing Academy.

Geoff and Pam Peters at their surprise gathering in honour of more than 25 years of serviceGeoff and Pam Peters at their surprise gathering in honour of more than 25 years of service (Image: RAMarshall) Paul Weinberg, an experienced and qualified ocean sailing instructor, will be taking over as station manager at NCI Portland Bill.

He added: “It’s a very fortunate position to follow on from Geoff and Pam’s exemplary work in, quite literally, building, funding and leading NCI Portland Bill over the past 25 years.

"Without Geoff and Pam’s tireless work, there’d simply not be a National Coastwatch Institution at Portland Bill. I’m sure we all wish them a healthy and lengthy retirement”.