The Froward Point Coastwatch Station has raised almost £1,500 from a picnic cruise.

The Dartmouth Steam Railway and River Boat Company offered the iconic paddle steamer, Kingswear Castle to the coastwatch station for a fundraising event on Saturday, September 15. It raised £1,408.24 with 144 guests on the cruise.

The Kingswear Castle, skippered by Damian Wallace, left Dartmouth and crossed the river to dock at Kingswear to pick up the remaining passengers.

She steamed down the river to have a peep at the lookout perched 209 feet above Inner Froward Point, before continuing up and down the river on the summer evening.

During the cruise, the crew worked hard to ensure all passengers enjoyed the evening with interesting commentary, a picnic and a full range of drinks.

Among the passengers was Jon Gifford OBE, president of the National Coastwatch Institution with his wife Rosemary, two local HM Coastguard senior coastal operations officers, Johnny Kendray and Drew Parkinson, county and district councillor, Jonathan Hawkins and Missin’ Tackle, the sea shanty crew from Brixham.

The £1,408.24 raised is a good help towards the £10,000 needed to keep the station operational, all of which needs to be raised locally.

NCI-Froward Point has said thank you to the Dartmouth Steam Railway and River Boat Company for the generosity and support.