Gordonstoun Students Join 24/7 Coastguard Emergency Response Team
A pioneering service has been launched that sees senior pupils at Gordonstoun School, the King's former educational institution, providing round-the-clock support to HM Coastguard during lifesaving emergency incidents. This initiative makes Gordonstoun the first school in the United Kingdom to offer such direct operational assistance to the national maritime rescue organisation.
Operational Support Team Details
The newly established Operational Support Team (OST) consists of eight students aged between 17 and 18 years old. These pupils will maintain a 24/7 on-call status, ready to assist Coastguard rescue teams with communications and logistical coordination during search-and-rescue missions across north-east Scotland. The team comprises five female and three male students, all of whom have undergone extensive specialist training.
Richard Cavaye, station officer of the Gordonstoun Coastguard OST, emphasised the significant commitment required from the young volunteers. "Going on call 24/7 is a substantial commitment for the students," he explained. "They could be in a mathematics class or asleep during the night when their pager activates. They must be prepared to respond immediately at all times, but they are genuinely enthusiastic about this opportunity to support our local communities by assisting with real emergency incidents."
Training and Supervision Protocols
The students have been divided into "watch" teams that will be available on alternate days to support HM Coastguard's north-east operations when required. Upon receiving an emergency call, team members convene at the purpose-built Coastguard centre to collect their equipment before mobilising to designated forward control points.
Stringent supervision protocols have been established to ensure student safety during incident responses. Two Gordonstoun staff members who have received Coastguard training will provide constant oversight during all operations. "There will be strict supervision protocols in place to safeguard the students when responding to incidents," confirmed Mr Cavaye, "overseen by myself and other qualified staff members."
The pupils have completed many days of intensive training covering essential skills including emergency communications and first aid procedures. "The students have spent numerous days in intense training," noted Mr Cavaye, "meaning they are now amongst the most qualified individuals at Gordonstoun in these critical areas."
Student Perspectives and Historical Context
Molly Warren, an 18-year-old team member, expressed the group's collective enthusiasm: "We've been training diligently for the opportunity to go on-call and we are all anticipating putting our training into practice while supporting HM Coastguard. We believe we have considerable skills to offer and hope that our year will be the first of many Gordonstoun cohorts to support HM Coastguard on live search and rescue operations."
Currently, thirty-one Gordonstoun pupils support HM Coastguard in various capacities, with eight now qualified for the 24/7 on-call roster. This initiative continues a longstanding tradition at the school, which established its first Coastguard watchtower in 1955, officially opened by Prince Philip, the late Duke of Edinburgh.
The original watchtower was utilised by the then Prince Charles during his time as a Gordonstoun student and member of the school's Coastguard service. In a television broadcast from 1977, King Charles described how, as a teenager, he found Coastguard involvement "extraordinarily exciting and rewarding." The new Winthrop-Young Gordonstoun Coastguard Centre, which opened last year with Princess Royal conducting the official ceremony, replaces the original structure.
Coastguard Leadership Response
Assistant Chief Coastguard John McBride praised the innovative partnership: "This collaboration with Gordonstoun represents a powerful example of how a local community can make a genuine contribution to lifesaving work. The operational support team provides trusted, well-trained assistance that strengthens our response capability, while enabling professional coastguards to concentrate on activity at the incident scene. What proves particularly impressive is the exceptional level of commitment demonstrated by both students and staff."
The initiative represents a significant expansion of community-based emergency response capabilities in Scotland's north-east region, combining educational development with practical public service in a unique partnership model between an educational institution and a national emergency service.
