The National Coastwatch Institution (NCI) at The Needles elected a new station manager on Tuesday, Air Vice Marshal Tony Stables CBE FRAeS.
Born and educated in Kent, Tony Stables entered the Royal Air Force College Cranwell in 1964 graduating as a pilot in 1967. He subsequently served as a helicopter pilot in the Middle East, Germany and Northern Ireland, commanding No 18 Squadron (Chinook) during the Falkland Islands campaign. Tony was promoted to Air Vice Marshal in 1994 and appointed Commandant of the Royal Air Force College Cranwell, then in 1997 the Chief Executive of the Training Group Defence Agency before his final appointment as NATO (KFOR) Commander in the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia and Albania.
Tony is a Harbour Commissioner at Yarmouth and a member of the Yarmouth Sailing Club, as well as the Royal Solent Yacht Club.
A Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society, Tony was awarded an OBE in 1983 and a CBE in 1989. He is married to Sarah they live in Norton near Yarmouth.
Tony takes over from Don Hughes, who guided the station through its formative years and has left a great legacy for Tony and his team to build on.
In his election address Tony said:
“My vision is to maintain and enhance the operating capability of the Needles NCI, as a valued constituent of the national maritime rescue services, through improved technology and highly motivated, well trained personnel”.
NCI is a fully voluntary group and mans The Needles lookout 365 days a year, keeping a watch on all mariners and craft both leisure and commercial as well as keeping an eye on the 250,000 walkers that visit the iconic viewpoint. The station currently has 65 volunteers and man the lookout from 09:00 to 17:00 and 08:00 to 20:00 during high summer.
Featured photo: Bob & Anne Powell
