By Lindsey Bryant. Lin Bryant is a Barry girl, the daughter of a marine engineer, she grew up with a fascination for Barry Docks and railways.  Sixty years later her interest remains, supported by a huge collection of postcards and images.  The paddle steamers that used to ply the Bristol Channel are one facet within this consuming interest.

Lindsey has been a volunteer with the National Coast-watch Institute (NCI) for over ten years, starting in Porthcawl when that station opened and since transferring to Nells Point about six years ago. As well as being a watchkeeping officer, she is also the station's roster officer.

The NCI is a charity dedicated to sea and coastal safety, supporting search and rescue agencies in the preservation of life. 2600 volunteer Watchkeepers in 57 stations provide the eyes and ears along the UK coast, using VHF radio, plotting radar, automatic ship recognition and powerful optics.