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Meet Your Coastguards: Hornsea CRT

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With a Victorian promenade, sandy beach, and tea rooms, Hornsea is an historic town in East Riding of Yorkshire. In 1864, the town was expanded with the opening of the Hull and Hornsea Railway, and during the First World War, the town was home to a Royal Naval Air Service seaplane base. Hornsea’s 11-strong Coastguard Rescue Team covers the immediate Hornsea area, as well as providing support to flank teams at Bridlington, Withernsea and Hull. The team’s service experience ranges from under one year to more than 45. Here we speak to Hornsea Station Officer Jonathon and Coastguard Rescue Officer Tim.  Why did you join HM Coastguard? Being interested in maritime and with aspirations for a career in the Royal Navy, Jonathon thought that working with HM Coastguard would be a good fit. And 45 years on, he’s still volunteering at Hornsea where he’s a Station Officer.  “I was encouraged to join by my dad, who was then the Volunteer in Charge of the Rescue Company at Hornsea,” says Jonathon. “T
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HM Coastguard showcases drones and electric vehicles at Emergency Services Show

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  HM Coastguard has returned to the Emergency Services Show for another year, with staff ready and waiting to share developments towards the next generation of search and rescue. Visitors to this year’s event in Birmingham will have the opportunity to chat to HM Coastguard colleagues about their work and the latest specialist kit, as well as learning about potential future technologies.   HM Coastguard zero emissions and low emissions electric response vehicles are at the event, showcasing the service’s push towards a greener fleet. The coastguard’s first electric vehicle was unveiled at the Emergency Services Show last year, so coastguard staff will be reflecting on a year of testing a more sustainable version of transport.   ‘On-scene’ drones also feature on the display, which are part of an ongoing trial evaluating their ability to assist HM Coastguard search and rescue missions.    Visitors can learn the way drones have been used to support missing person searches, water rescues an
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Meet Your Coastguards: Barry CRT

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  Barry is a peninsula and seaside resort in the Vale of Glamorgan, South Wales. The area’s unique coastline has the world’s second highest tidal range, a whopping 15 metres.    The town and island grew substantially in the 19th century, whereby it became linked to the mainland with the opening of Barry Docks in 1889.  Barry continues to be very popular with tourists and locals alike, who enjoy pretty parks, promenades and sandy beaches. Barry has also gained a cult following, after the iconic backdrop was used as a setting for several hit TV shows.    Here, we speak to father and daughter Barry Coastguard duo, Station Officer Chris and Coastguard Rescue Officer Hannah Fletcher.  Why did you join HM Coastguard? “We all have busy work and home lives, but I joined HM Coastguard because I wanted to give something back to the local community,” says Chris, Station Officer at Barry Island.  “My Daughter Hannah joined the Barry Island team as a Coastguard Rescue Officer (CRO) last year, and I
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Emergency Services Day with HM Coastguard

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To celebrate 999 Day, we spoke with a longstanding coastguard and a potential new recruit about keeping people safe at the coast. As one of the UK’s emergency services, HM Coastguard stands ready round the clock to help anyone in difficulty at sea or on the coast.  That capability involves a vast range of activities, from search and rescue to counter-pollution and ship safety – but also a wide variety of people.  We spoke to one of HM Coastguard’s youngest, 16-year-old Felix Palmer fresh from a week of work experience, and seasoned veteran Coastguard Jonathon Cliff, who has more than 40 years of service under his belt.  On  Emergency Services Day , here’s what being part of the blue light family means to them.   Felix (16)   Felix’s face lights up when he recalls the visit to see HM Coastguard search and rescue helicopters at their base during his week of work experience.  His ambition is one day to be a pilot or an engineer for one of the iconic red and white aircraft. Some of his fri
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Meet Your Coastguards: Gary Locke, Port Talbot Deputy Station Officer

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Located in the historic county of Glamorgan on the South Wales coast, Port Talbot is an industrial centre and popular seaside resort.  The town’s three-mile sandy beach at Aberavon is popular with surfers, swimmers and kayakers, and offers tranquil views over Swansea Bay. The nearby Margam Country Park and renowned Afan Forest Park are popular stops for cyclists and walkers.  The Port Talbot Coastguard Rescue Team (CRT) consists of 12 Coastguard Rescue Officers (CROs), including Deputy Station Officer Gary Locke, who’s here to tell us more about the Port Talbot team. Port Talbot Deputy Station Officer Gary, right Why did you join HM Coastguard? "Our team shares a range of reasons for joining the Coastguard, from growing up close to the beach to giving back to the community. My family has served for more than 160 years and counting, so I’ll often say that it's ‘in my blood’. Fellow team member Gary Lowe’s father has also served." What do you enjoy most about being a member
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Swimmer saved in dramatic 'snatch' rescue

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A swimmer has been saved in a time-critical rescue at Groomsport Harbour, Northern Ireland, thanks to his own actions and the quick thinking members of the public who called 999 and asked for the Coastguard. The man found himself in difficulties on Friday (6 September) during his regular sea swim at around 8am and his calls for help were heard by several members of the public on the shore. They immediately called 999 to alert the Coastguard which meant that expert rescue teams were quickly sent to help. Coastguard rescue teams from Bangor and Portaferry were sent, along with the RNLI lifeboat from Bangor and the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service. No time to lose When the rescue teams arrived at the scene, they could see there was no time to lose. While waiting for the rescuers, the tired and chilled swimmer had done the right thing and adopted the Float To Live position. He was about 50 metres off the shore and the highly trained Coastguard rescue teams decided the swiftest and
Location: Groomsport, Bangor BT19 6JP, UK
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Meet Your Coastguards: Southend-on-sea Coastguard Rescue Team

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It’s time for another Meet Your Coastguard, and this week, we’re with our Coastguard Rescue Team at Southend-on-sea. Around 40 miles east of London, the popular coastal resort is home to five Blue Flag beaches, an iconic 1.3-mile pier (the longest of its kind in the world), and just off the coast, six war-era Maunsell forts.  The coastal city hosts one of the biggest annual air shows in Europe, and with the UK’s most hours of sunshine per month, it’s a popular destination for holiday makers. Most importantly, Southend is home to the Southend-on-sea Coastguard Rescue Team. The group of five Coastguard Rescue Officers, a Deputy Station Officer and Station Officer, cover around 70 miles of coastline and inlets of the Thames Estuary, from Benfleet to Battlesbridge.  Here, we speak with Station Officer Del and Coastguard Rescue Officers Alan, David and John.  Why did you join HM Coastguard? Station Officer Del joined HM Coastguard after seeing the team step in to help people in need along t
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