Annualreview2019-1.Pdf

Mountain Rescue England and Wales Annual Review 2019 9 1 0 2 y a M d e h s i l b u P o F H o f R r C H e a w T h m o e r b d D r i d u k g e e Top: HRH The Duke of Cambridge © Chris Jackson. Main photo: Joint exercise involving team members of Buxton and Derby MRTs © Buxton MRT 3 2018 in brief Many people of all ages spend time volunteering, helping all sorts of organisations every day. I am convinced we would not provide the many services we do in the UK without volunt eers. Most of this is ‘arranged volunteering’ so people know what time they are going to give after work or on a weekend, in their time off. c2a5ll•3ou8ts But when we come to volunteering for M mountain rescue, it’s not just about the O highly-trained guys and girls that go up R the fellside, it’s also about the volunteers F who perhaps drive vehicles and run bases during call-outs. They all do this not statutory knowing how many hours they’re going 33 to give on that call-out, or how many agencies hours they may give that week. We do this volunteering walking a fine line not to upset partners, employers and OF WHICH our kids. So, as chairman of Mountain Rescue England and Wales (MREW), I’d like to personally thank all our members for the massive commitment they make. And can I also thank our partners and children — for being patient when we’re not at the family event when we should RESULTED IN be — and all the employers that let our 2214 members, your staff, keep leaving work planning, mountain rescue assistance a mountain to help strangers, people we’ve never might not have been necessary. People seen before who need help? need to remember that every time they rescue team Without this support for what we do, we make that call for help, team members deployment wouldn’t have the special, free service leave a partner or leave work to go help we have. The mountains and moorlands them. We’re not telling people to stop would be a much more dangerous place calling us if they need our help — they without mountain rescue volunteers going must, we are there for them — but behind to the aid of those strangers in need. every ‘999’ call there are consequences While I’m thanking people, a special for someone, somewhere. We volunteer thanks to all our officers, national and to help people in distress and we do it + regional, for the unseen work they do. because we are climbers, mountaineers They travel around the UK, representing and fell walkers ourselves. All we ask is for 1949 MREW at all manner of meetings, taking a little planning before setting off. actions to make this organisation more To provide this fantastic service takes professional and develop the high funding, so thanks to all of you who help people standards of training to ensure that, if teams by putting that pound in their assisted anyone should ever need the help of collecting box. It all helps. And thanks mountain rescue, they get the best too, to the many organisations that give service available anywhere. And the work directly to MREW. Your donations make they do is frequently on top of team and a difference. S regional commitments. I am pleased to report in this annual Reading our incident report from last review that Mountain Rescue England Y year, teams continue to get busier. We and Wales is doing well. I am proud to are working with other organisations to be the national chairman and part of help reduce the number of unnecessary an organisation that puts others first. A Chai rman calls. We get many where, with a little D without a mountain Opposite (and cover): Upper Wharfedale FRA in training at Buckden Gill © Sara Spillett. Above: rescue call-out in Mike France Northumberland National Park MRT on technical rope rescue training with Lyon Equipment © NNPMRT. England and Wales 5 4 N A O L 16,000.5 + N Since November 2 017, team members around England O 5 miles and Wales have been putting the Land Rover Discovery Y 5 to the test. So far, we’ve had two consecutive vehicles R TRAVELLED E to try out, with a third one now in build. The idea is that V as many team members as possible get to test out the O vehicle’s capabilities and teams have certainly made C 30 teams S from around the most of this unique and generous opportunity. I D England Wales + Thanks to the peculiarities of each (and a great conversation-starter) for two countries, with 29 of the 48 mountain team’s operational ‘patch’, the Discovery team and national fundraising events. rescue teams and one cave rescue has been put to the test in a variety of It’s even travelled over the border to team taking up the offer to test. terrain: up and down rough mountain Aviemore, in Scotland, for a spot of winter This calibre of vehicle may well be tracks and water courses, negotiating training. Although, thanks to the Beast outside most, if not all, team budgets, country lanes and cruising the motorways, from the East (and other storms), there but at least we can dream. And with over heathered moorland (and burned- was plenty of opportunity to test its mettle the third vehicle now in build, it’s hoped out moorland too, in the Peak District in a snowy England and Wales too. more team members yet will experience and Lancashire), into show caves and It was originally expected that this the Discovery 5 for themselves. quarries, and breathing in the seaside state-of-the-art Land Rover would end ‘We continue to owe a huge thanks to air. Through rain, fog, sleet and snow — its ‘incredible mountain rescue journey’ the Duke of Cambridge, who first mooted and the odd bit of sunshine too. in November 20 18, but the adventure the idea with Jaguar Land Rover,’ says The vehicle has been well and truly continues. Simon Thresher, MREW vehicle officer. put through its paces — with critical So far, the two consecutive Land ‘And, of course, Jaguar Land Rover and appraisal at every stop along the way Rovers between them have clocked up Lorraine Rogers (Director, Royal and — on and off-road, for incidents and in excess of 16,000 miles, zigzagging up Diplomatic Affaire), without whom none training, and drafted in as eye-candy and down, back and forth, across the of this could happen’. The voyage of discovery continues Opposite: In Darwen, Lancashire © Bolton MRT. Inset: Mullion Cove Coastal Retreat © Cornwall MRT. Above left: Lizard Point, Cornwall © Cornwall MRT. Above right: Loftend Quarry © Glossop MRT. 7 Thank you. We can’t do any of it without your help. Here’s In June 2 018, we launched our blog – a bit late to the how you can online party, maybe, but better late than never. So why not fill up the flask, break out the flapjack and spend a support us. 10 little time in our compan y? The idea is to entertain and occasionally amuse – an d, every once in a while, tell Give online: Go to people something they didn’t already know about mountain.rescue.org.uk and mountain resc ue. click Donate . Join Basecamp: The simplest way to support us. You can even add a donation . Go It’s always worth repeating, of course, to mountain.rescue.org.uk and that team members are volunteers, on click Basecamp to join. call 24/7, 365 days of the year, but the blog is more about diving into the stories Leave a legacy: A gift to and opinions behind the news, both us in your Will allows you to current and historical, a chattier way of support our future — even a presenting stuff than with regular press small gift can make a big releases. difference. And it’s the surest And it’s also about busting a few myths. way to fund the equipment Like the idea that mountain rescue team and training for the years to members spend their days and nights come as gifts are exempt kicking their heels at mountain rescue from inheritance tax, capital bases, tightly coiled and ready for action , gains tax and income tax, so just waiting for ‘the call’. Which couldn’t the charity receives the full be further from the truth. But it’s an value of your bequest. cats and crocodiles, and looked back assumption we hear often. That and the Buy a book from us: We at the story behind an iconic ‘winter’ belief that mountain rescue is a paid-for, can’t promise you competitive photo. We’ve talked about warm baths statutory service. prices or free postage but we and soggy underpants and told how Tightly coiled and ready for action can guarantee that for every Crimewatch caught up with one team. team members may be (boots and book you buy, about a third of We’ve blogged about winter navigation rucksacks ever at the ready, radios the cover price represents a and ways to keep yourself safe in the charged, carabiners eagerly clinking), donation to us. Go to mountains — and the speed with which but kicking their heels at mountain rescue mountain.rescue.org.uk and below-the-line commentary can quickly bases they most definitely won’t be — click on Shop.

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