Gordonstoun Coastguard Operational Support
Team Goes Live
Wednesday 28 January 2026
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Gordonstoun has launched a service to become the first school in the UK to support Coastguard Rescue Teams responding to lifesaving incidents. Senior students will be volunteering their time and skills around the clock to assist HM Coastguard with emergency search and rescue incidents across North East Scotland. Gordonstoun is the only school in the world to have its own Coastguard Centre, first established soon after its opening in 1934. |
Eight students begin on-call role
A team of eight senior students will form part of the Operational Support Team (OST), a group of highly committed volunteers who can be called upon at any time to support trained Coastguards dealing with lifesaving operations. From a designated location, the OST will support communications and logistics during incidents, playing a crucial behind-the-scenes role in emergency responses.
The students’ key role will be assisting with communications from a Forward Control Point, strictly supervised by two Coastguard-trained members of Gordonstoun staff. The Gordonstoun team – made up of five girls and three boys – can be called out anytime during the school day or at night to assist with emergency incidents. The students, aged between 17 and 18 years, will operate from a new purpose-built Coastguard Centre situated on the Gordonstoun campus, around a mile from the shoreline.
The ‘Winthrop-Young Gordonstoun Coastguard Centre’ was officially opened by HRH The Princess Royal last year, ensuring the students have the latest equipment and facilities. Assistant Chief Coastguard John McBride today (28 Jan) attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the centre to officially mark Gordonstoun students going on call.
Richard Cavaye, Station Officer of the Gordonstoun Coastguard Operational Support Team, said:
“Going on call 24/7 is a big commitment for the students. They could be in a Maths class or in bed during the middle of the night and suddenly their pager goes off.
“They must be ready to respond immediately at all times, but they are really excited about getting the opportunity to support our local communities by assisting with real ‘live’ emergency incidents.
“The students have been split into ‘watch’ teams who will be available on alternate days to support HM Coastguard North East when required,
“Once the call comes in, everyone meets at the Coastguard Centre to get all their kit before mobilising to the Forward Control Point.
“There will be strict supervision protocols in place to safeguard the students when responding to incidents, overseen by myself and other staff.
“The students have spent many days in intense training, including communications and first aid, meaning they are now amongst the most qualified at Gordonstoun."
Before going live, the OST were put through their paces by the Area Management Team, working alongside local Coastguard Rescue Teams. Two Coastguard 'watches' will provide a response 24/7 during term times, ensuring consistent and reliable Coastguard support.
Student Molly Warren, 18, a member of the Gordonstoun Coastguard Operational Support Team and part of the team going on call, said:
“We’ve been training hard for the opportunity to go on-call and we are all looking forward to putting our training into practice and supporting HM Coastguard.
“We feel we have a lot to offer and hope that our year will be the first of many from Gordonstoun to support HM Coastguard on live search and rescues.”
The Gordonstoun Coastguard Operational Support Team is one of eight rescue and community services at Gordonstoun, through which every senior student is involved in active service to the local community.There are currently 31 students supporting HM Coastguard, including the eight qualified to be on-call.
Assistant Chief Coastguard John McBride said:
“This partnership with Gordonstoun is a powerful example of how a local community can make a genuine contribution to lifesaving work. The Operational Support Team provides trusted, well-trained support that strengthens our response capability, while allowing professional coastguards to concentrate on activity at the scene.
“What is particularly impressive is the level of commitment shown by the students and staff. Their contribution reflects the strong community spirit of the North East of Scotland and shows how structured volunteering can give young people real responsibility, practical skills, and a clear sense of public service.”
The new Coastguard Centre replaces the previous ‘watchtower’ building opened in 1955 by Prince Philip, later used by HM King Charles when he was a member of Gordonstoun's Coastguard service during his time as a student at Gordonstoun. The then Prince Charles recalled in his first TV broadcast in 1977 how, as a teenager, he found it “extraordinarily exciting and rewarding” to be involved in the coastguard unit at Gordonstoun.
The Coastguard Centre is designed not only to support operational response, but to equip students with essential real-world skills including water safety, teamwork, leadership and orienteering.
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