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Can you help the HM Coastguard celebrate its 200th birthday?


By David G Scott

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The current Maritime Safety Week marks almost six months to the day until Her Majesty’s Coastguard (HMC) will celebrate a milestone birthday – and it needs your help to make the occasion extra special.

On January 15, 2022 HMC will turn 200.

The history of the coastguard can be traced back to 1822 and, with more than 200 years of proud memories, the service hopes the public can help it tell them, by sharing pictures, memories and experiences over the years.

Early days of the coastguard. Picture: National Emergency Service Museum
Early days of the coastguard. Picture: National Emergency Service Museum

Claire Hughes, director of HMC, said: “From our volunteers to full-time staff, we are all immensely proud of the coastguard’s distinguished and fascinating history which has really helped to shape the incredibly important work HM Coastguard carries out today. We look forward to marking the coastguard’s 200th birthday in 2022 and upholding HM Coastguard’s commitment to keeping the public safe at the coast for many years to come.”

The modern coastguard service. Picture: AgustaWestland
The modern coastguard service. Picture: AgustaWestland

Over the past two centuries, HMC has gone from strength to strength, with coastguard operations centres coordinating responses to emergency situations at the coast – calling upon approximately 310 Coastguard Rescue Teams – made up of around 3000 dedicated volunteers – and 10 search and rescue helicopters.

It is now one of the UK’s four frontline emergency services, operating a 24/7, 365 day a year search and rescue service to save lives at the coast and at sea.

Safety has always been at the heart of what the coastguard does and, with technology ever evolving, HMC continues to strive to be at the forefront of innovation in order to carry on improving and saving lives.

Can you help it to tell the coastguard story? As next year’s 200th birthday approaches, HMC is pulling together as much history as it can and would like to look back at some of the stories, experiences and memories that many people have to tell about the coastguard.

If you have something that you think might fit the bill, please use this link to upload your files www.smartsurvey.co.uk/s/CG200ConsentForm/ or email CG200@mcga.gov.uk


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