KESWICK Mountain Rescue Team A Registered Charity Number 509860 Annual Report 2007 Welcome Keswick Mountain Rescue Team Caldbeck Bassenthwaite B a s s e n th w a ite Skiddaw Blencathra Welcome to the 2007 Annual Report of Threlkeld Keswick Mountain Rescue Team. KESWICK Braithwaite Keswick MRT is mainly responsible for the area in Cumbria shown Derwentwater on the map, which includes Skiddaw, the Borrowdale approaches to Scafell Pike, and the western aspect of Helvellyn. Thus, the Team responds to incidents on three of the 3000 foot mountains in England. Grange T h Search operations may lead to Team members working in other areas of irlm the Lake District, or elsewhere. ere Helvellyn The Team was founded in 1947. By the end of 2006 the Team had attended 2397 rescues. Seathwaite see also www.keswickmrt.org.uk Scafell Pike Thanks to Venus Griffiths for the acrylic "Castlerigg Stone Circle" used on the cover. Map taken from maps.google.co.uk Keswick Mountain Rescue Team 2007 Keswick Mountain Rescue Team Team Leader: Mark Hodgson Deputy Team Leaders: Roy Henderson President: Mike Nixon MBE Chris Higgins Chairman: David Pratt Simon Hodgson Secretary: Paul Cheshire Medical Officer: Dr Tim Hooper Shorley Mews, Shorley Lane Training Officers: Jocky Sanderson Keswick, Cumbria CA12 4HN Piers Warburton Treasurer: lan Wallace Radio Officer: Alan Prescott Spooney Green House Transport Officer: Allan Alcock Spooney Green Lane, Keswick Equipment Officer: Richard Gale Cumbria CA12 4PJ Collection Box Brian Spencer Base Officer: Keith Stephenson Co-ordinator : Daresfield, Chestnut Hill, Keswick Report Editor: Peter Little Cumbria CA12 4LS CALLOUT LIST: Allan Alcock Forecourt Attendant Katharine Horder Head Teacher Donald Angus Retired Paul Horder ICT Technician Peter Barron National Park Ranger Robin Humphreys Retired Jan Beedham Laboratory Technician Andy Jones Retired Martin Bell Paramedic Nick Jones Outdoor Pursuits Instructor Fiona Boyle Lecturer Nick Liley Outdoor Pursuits Instructor Paul Carter Production Manager Peter Little Pharmacist Paul Cheshire Chartered Engineer John Malley Manager Neil Dowie Hotelier Malcolm Miller Laboratory Technician Donald Ferguson Retail Assistant Phil Newton Retired Chris Francis CAD Technician Mike Nixon MBE Retired Cheryl Frost Adventure Travel Consultant David Pratt Teacher Richard Gale Systems Engineer Alan Prescott Senior Manager Chris Gillyon Outdoor Pursuits Instructor David Ridley Outdoor Pursuits Instructor Geoff Gilmore Leisure Pool Manager David Robinson Shop Manager Mick Guy Retired Jocky Sanderson Outdoor Pursuits Instructor Roy Henderson National Trust Warden Jill Sharpe Nurse Scott Henderson National Park Ranger Ben Soffe Fireman Steven Hepburn Tree Surgeon Brian Spencer Retired Chris Higgins Police Officer Keith Stephenson Joiner Mark Hodgson Chartered Builder Julia Tucker Veterinary Surgeon Simon Hodgson Builder lan Wallace Retired Karen Holmes Outdoor Pursuits Instructor Piers Warburton Quantity Surveyor Dr Tim Hooper General Practitioner Elly Whiteford Environment Officer 1 A Sparkling Celebration Editorial by Peter Little Keswick Mountain Rescue Team Welcome to the 2007 Annual Report of Keswick Mountain Rescue Team. In any year, in any sphere of human activity, it is possible to find anniversaries and events worth commemorating. In the field of mountaineering and hill-going in general, 2007 is an example: • The 100th anniversary of the birth of the doyen of all fellwalkers, Alfred Wainwright. • The centenary of the founding of the renowned Fell and Rock Climbing Club. • The 150th anniversary of the founding of The Alpine Club. We also have the 60th Anniversary of the founding of Keswick Mountain Rescue Team! In this special expanded Annual Report, in addition to the usual reports and details of our activities for the year gone, 2006, you will find some features delving into the history of the Team, and its whys and wherefores. Through the years the Team has evolved into a highly efficient organisation, with expertise in many areas not always apparent under the title “mountain rescue team”. The Team draws upon the many individual strengths and capabilities of its members. I hope that you will find the written content and photography informative and interesting. The “Callout” book, (see inside back cover), is a valuable source of information for those readers looking for more detail, as also is the Team website, (www.keswickmrt.org.uk). Look out, also, for a special DVD video available later on in 2007. A 60th Anniversary may be called a diamond anniversary, and Keswick MRT intends to have a grand celebration through many events throughout 2007. No doubt the Team will carry out many rescues again, too. In 2006, it continued to extend its expertise and resourcefulness in all areas, and completed 86 rescues, just two short of the record year 2005. So, in its 61st year, the Team is shining brightly. Shine on you diamond of a team ! Coire an t-Sneachda training Peter Little 2 “I said your pager is going off” David Allan 3 A Spectrum of Mountain Rescue Team Leader’s Report by Mark Hodgson Keswick Mountain Rescue Team With the Team entering its 61st year of operation in we undertook 8 rescues with RAF or Royal Navy 2007, the total of 86 rescues in 2006 was two fewer helicopters and 8 where the services of the Great than our previous busiest ever year (2005); we remain North Air Ambulance ‘Pride of Cumbria’ were involved. a very busy mountain rescue team. There were a As with many, we were saddened to hear of the further 28 alerts to the Team that did not result in a full accident involving the air ambulance crew and doctor team callout. There were four fatalities in the year, with whilst climbing on Ben Nevis. two of these occurring within a week of each other, late Within this spectrum of services, however, Keswick in the year, both involving extensive searches where we MRT is unique; we provide a totally voluntary service, were supported by neighbouring and RAF Rescue manned by team members who are voluntary only in Teams. 2006 saw our first involvement with a major the fact that we are not paid – the service we provide water based rescue on Derwentwater when we were is in all other aspects totally professional. Highly trained called to rescue eight people who had crashed in their and skilled individuals provide comfort and assistance speedboat on to rocks in the early hours of a late April wherever and whenever it is needed in the hills and morning. Out of the 86 rescues, 24 (28%) involved leg mountains and deliver these skills as a highly efficient injuries, and 23 (27%) involved searches. team unit. Perhaps the high level of skills and abilities Another busy year for the Team has drawn upon all of Mountain Rescue Teams become hidden under team members; more rescues, more training, more the banner of our voluntary status when changes to running the business side, more equipment checking statutory and emergency service provision are being and replacement, more vehicle maintenance, more considered; we always seem to only get involved after servicing and repairs. My thanks go to; the deputy the event. We could I am sure, better be able to offer leaders, to all the officials, officers and their helpers our opinions and advice if we were consulted sooner. and to every team member for their input throughout This voluntary ethos is, I believe, where the true the year. My sincere thanks also go to members’ strength of mountain rescue lies. Every team member families, friends and employers for the disruption that (and prospective member) is in the team because they is inevitably caused when the pagers spring into life. want to help fellow mountaineers and because they Many of our rescues involve us working with other get a great sense of reward and a buzz from being able agencies and emergency services; we regularly work to do so. This is exactly the same as it was in 1947 closely with the Police, the Ambulance Service, RAF when the team was formed. The vehicles may have and Royal Navy helicopters and RAF Rescue Teams, changed, the technical equipment we carry now is Air Ambulances and with the Derwentwater rescue in total contrast to the equipment of 1947, team mentioned above the MCGA (Coastguard). This year members are better protected with the best of A rescue on Sharp Edge Chris Francis 4 Team Leader’s Report Keswick Mountain Rescue Team personal equipment, the cost of and management of from the Ambulance Service when an incident in the business side has risen out of all proportion, but an off-road or mountain location is reported to this voluntary belief continues as strong as ever. Out of them; these can save 10 to 15 minutes from our 48 members of the Keswick Team and a membership response times. Through these meetings we now of some 400+ in all the Lake District Teams I suggest better understand each others methods and that not one single member would consider that the restrictions and are more able to talk through things service should go to paid status. that went well and discuss areas where we can both As Team Leader I feel immensely proud of what the see areas for improvement. We don’t as yet have any Team has achieved and continues to achieve in the experience of working with the newly merged North spectrum of mountain rescue. As a result of the Teams West Ambulance Authority. One concern we have contribution in the field of emergency services two in this area is the extent to which other Mountain team members, myself and Paul Horder (MRC and Rescue Teams in the new, merged, authorities’ area IKAR representative) were invited to Buckingham become involved in general ambulance duties and Palace in February to attend a reception held by Her an expectation that this might be the norm, and Majesty The Queen and other members of the Royal applicable in the Lake District.