Gordonstoun students visit Watcher's Tower at Covesea to pay respects to Queen Elizabeth II
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STUDENTS at Gordonstoun School visited Watcher's Tower at Covesea yesterday to pay respects to Queen Elizabeth II.
The school took part in a 6.5 kilometre-long 'Queen's Walk' from the school grounds to Watcher's Tower, where King Charles worked as a pupil, and back.
The walk went via Duffus, before heading up to Watcher's Tower where pupils placed wreaths and observed a minute's silence.
Gordonstoun principal Lisa Kerr said: "Each boarding house laid a bunch of flowers in their house colours to mark their own respect to the Queen.
"The Watcher's Tower is particularly significant because King Charles was Captain of Coastguards at Gordonstoun and he used to guard the Moray coastline from the Watcher's Tower."
The flag at the Watcher's Tower – which is owned by Gordonstoun – was at half-mast to mark the occasion.
Richard Caveye, who is now station office, similar to Captain of Coastguards, said the fact that King Charles was once in the role at Gordonstoun is inspiring to the children.
"It's the only Coastguard service in the land that the King has been part of," he said.
"When I asked the teenagers what I thought of that they said 'pretty cool' – so that was there assessment!
"Considering he must would have done exactly what we do – which is going out on the Moray coast, search for missing people and train, it's pretty inspiring for them."
Yesterday morning, Gordonstoun pupils watched the Queen's funeral in their boarding houses, before a memorial service at night.
