HM COASTGUARD - STONEHAVEN

THE STONEHAVEN PATCH

Stonehaven sits just 15 miles south of Aberdeen on the stuning Mearns dramatic coastline. The Mearns is an area of outstanding natural beauty stretching from Porthlethen North to Montrose South, and inland west to Auchenblae and the Cairn o' Mount hills.

Stonehaven is famous for its beauty and excellent harbour protection from the North Sea gales.  Famous for RW Thomson who invented the pneumatic tyre. The town is a typical Scottish town and visiting Stonehaven one cannot fail to notice the diverse buildings some dating back beyond the 1500’s.  A visit to the Tollbooth museum on the harbour front is a must for those interested in the town’s history.

Further south along the coast is the hamlet of Catterline where it is reported that Saint Ninian landed on Scottish soil in the late 400’s.  St Ninian is credited for converting the Picts to Christianity and one of his first chaples was built in nearby Dunnottar Castle which was a fortified stronghold.

Traveling south is the small hamlet of Kineff, where the Scottish Crown Jewels and Scottish Regalia were hidden under the floor in the village church during the assault on Dunnottar Castle by Cromwell’s forces.    The church is still in use for worship and visitors are made most welcome.

South of Catterline is the Royal Burgh of Inverbervie (Bervie for short) where Mr Hercules Linton designed the famous clipper Cutty Sark (now preserved in dry dock at Greenwich), was born in 1837.  Mr Linton was commissioned to design a fast clipper ship to race the early season tea to market in Bristol and London.  The name Cutty Sark came from the Robbie Burns poem of Tam O’Shanter.  As Tam rode through a forest on his mare Meg, he spied a coven of witches wearing scant clothing.  He stopped to observe but was seen by one of the witches who then chased Tam.  Tam knew that his only escape was to cross running water as the witch could not follow.  As Tam reached a bridge the witch managed to catch hold of the mare’s tail which came off in her hand.  The witch was named ‘Cutty Sark’ after her thin clothing.  The figurehead of the vessel Cutty Sark shows a witch holding Megs tail.

WHAT THEY DO

HM Coastguard is equipped and organised to act as national co-ordinator of all civil maritime Search and Rescue (SAR). In responding to reports of casualties at sea or on the coast, HM Coastguard will can call upon a wide range of facilities made available by the organisations participating in UKSAR.

CALL OUT TYPES

Stonehaven is surround by some the of the most spectacular cliff formations in the north east coast of Scotland. This is where Stonehaven team find they are tasked to members of the public in difficulty the most.

Stonehaven CRT (Coastguard Rescue Team) train on a weekly basis, perfecting their cliff rescue process.

Stonehaven CRT also back up, (BURT – Back up rescue team), Montrose CRT to the south  and Aberdeen CRT in neighbouring sector to the north.

MEET A STONEHAVEN COASTGUARD

Sandy Beach - Coastguard Rescue Officer at Stonehaven.

“It’s 5.30 pm and I’ve just got home from work and sat down for my evening meal when my pager goes off. I make a call to the Watch Room to find out the details of the emergency and am tasked to Catterline beach. I set off to the CRE (Coastguard Rescue Equipment) Station to collect the mobile (vehicle) and on the way am briefed with the details of the emergency: a rowing boat has capsized and a man is on the beach, awaiting the ambulance and Coastguard helicopter, which are on their way.

Ten minutes later I arrive at the scene to find my Station Officer and another Coastguard dealing with an elderly man who is very confused and upset. Assessing the situation, we cancel the helicopter, as it is decided it may cause him further distress, and instead we all await the ambulance.

We are relieved to see the flashing lights of the ambulance approaching, but as it comes closer it gets stuck on rough ground and is unable to reach us. The only solution is to take the crew to the casualty in our off road vehicle, but the elderly gentleman is starting to get irate and frightened. He won’t co-operate with us and refuses to go with the ambulance crew. In his confusion, he is demanding the return of his belongings, which by now must be at the bottom of the north sea. Talking to him patiently, I eventually manage to persuade him to get in to the ambulance and they take him to hospital. My job is now over and it’s time for me to return to the Station and then home to finish my evening meal.

Is this a typical day in the life of a Coastguard Rescue Officer? No, it’s just one type of emergency we deal with. Our position means that we could get called out to any crisis: boats in trouble, cliff rescue, searching for missing people, guarding unexploded bombs on the beach, landing helicopterst. We are also trained in first aid, and we give safety talks at schools and sailing clubs. It certainly adds excitement and a challenge to my life!”

Sandy Beach - Coastguard Rescue Officer at Stonehaven.

STATION VISIT?

Would you like your group to visit the Stonehaven coastguard station, or would you like them to come and visit you to show you what they do and how they do it as well as offer safety advice. Please contact Ross Greenhill, Sector Manager on 01674 672101 for further info.