• An Overview
  • RGS Vision and Ethos
  • Brief History of the School
    • The Chained Library
    • History of Sport at RGS
    • Buildings
    • Distinguished Old Guildfordians
      • Andrew Hamilton
      • Arthur Onslow
      • Bob Willis
      • Ed Coats
      • George Abbot
      • John Russell
      • Lord Mark Kerr
      • Simon Bird
      • Simon Lazenby
      • Sir George Grey
      • Sir John Allison
      • Sir Thomas Byam Martin
      • Terry Jones
  • Facilities
• Policies and Procedures
• ISI Inspection Report
• Academic Matters
• School Uniform
• Sports Kit
• Daily Life
• Activities
• Academic Staff List
• Support Staff List
• Governing Body
• Job Vacancies

Ed Coats

Dr Ed Coats was chosen to join James Cracknell and Ben Fogle on their epic race to the South Pole earlier this year. After racing for 473.6 miles, having faced crevasse fields, battled blisters, frostbite and hallucinations as well as catching pneumonia, the team crossed the finish line in second place, just 20 hours behind their Norwegian rivals. The trip was followed closely by the Daily Telegraph and BBC Breakfast and was filmed for a primetime BBC documentary series, which is to air this summer.

Even before taking part in the South Pole Race, Ed Coats was no stranger to physical hardship. His achievements include representing Great Britain as a decathlete, captaining two teams that swam the English Channel in 2003 and he has completed the Karrimor Mountain Marathon. He has a degree in Aerospace Physiology from the University of London and has just completed a law degree whilst juggling his day job. Ed is now back working as a doctor of obstetrics and gynaecology in a busy Maternity Unit in Bristol.