Laura Bagshaw A CHARITY responsible for making sure sea and beachgoers stay safe will hold its biggest ever fundraising event this year. Gorleston's National Coastwatch Institution has teamed up with the Pavilion Theatre in Gorleston to put on a glittering variety show in November.

Laura Bagshaw

A CHARITY responsible for making sure sea and beachgoers stay safe will hold its biggest ever fundraising event this year.

Gorleston's National Coastwatch Institution has teamed up with the Pavilion Theatre in Gorleston to put on a glittering variety show in November.

The station, which is manned 365 days a year by a 65-strong team of dedicated volunteers, needs £10,000 a year to operate and relies totally on donations.

And this week, Coastwatch press officer and watch keeper Mike Cooper, appealed for sponsors for the event.

He said: “We want to get local businesses involved in the show which has been designed to include top performers as well as showcase local talent.

“With Yarmouth being a maritime town and a major tourist attraction we play a very important role. Every ship, cruiser, and sailing boat that goes in and out of Yarmouth is logged by the volunteers and this information is used by all sorts of government agencies but we need local support.”

The station at South Pier covers 40 miles of coastline and 20 miles out to sea. Volunteers keep a watchful eye on the seas and often alert the Coastguard over rescues.

Coastwatch volunteers spotted the 42ft Bosun of Forth yacht which got into trouble two miles east of Yarmouth last month and the continued to monitor the situation while the Coastguard launched Yarmouth and Gorleston RNLI lifeboat.

More than £800 has been raised for the station this year through supermarket collections.

The Coastwatch Gala event on November 8 will feature solo cabaret star Andy Eastwood. Andy's act is popular on cruise liners and corporate functions, his schedule of touring around theatres worldwide prompted industry magazine The Stage to call him “the busiest man in showbusiness.”

Local man Adrian Jeckells, who has appeared in TV hits such as Grange Hill and EastEnders, will compere the evening. He is now principal of the London School of Musical Theatre.

Supporting acts include the award-winning Yarmouth Brass Band, the Festive Singers, a local choir who will sing under the leadership of David Kett, and other acts will be announced shortly.

Businesses can purchase a sponsorship package from £30 which includes an advert in the programme. Sponsorship for posters is also needed.

Anyone interested should contact Mike Cooper or John Bebbington on 01493 662100.