Team bases

2003 was the year that we lost our much loved home at the New Overdale Youth Training Centre, as well as the vehicle storage at the Carnaud Metal Box (CMB) factory in Westhoughton.

The Overdale base consisted of a modest garage, just large enough to fit a Land Rover into it, with a roof space just large enough to hold a meeting in. But, it was home and it had been home for 32 years since 1971. Many of our Team members regarded it as their second home - Just ask the TL's partner, Ann! The New Overdale site had been sold for property development, and so, sadly, ended the lease of the garage there.

The CMB factory had served as a vehicle storage facility for 3 of our vehicles for many years, and the security staff had put up with our comings and goings at all times of the day and night! Sadly, the factory was scheduled for closure and within the space of a few months, we were faced with not only the loss of our training base, but also with nowhere to store our 4 vehicles!

Fortunately, the reality of homelessness never struck. Thanks to our recently-established links with Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service, and the long-standing relationship with Greater Manchester Ambulance Service, we were offered 2 new homes. The first came from GMFRS, in the form of a two bay garage at Bolton Central Fire Station. The second offer, from GMAS, gave us not only a place to garage our 2 other vehicles, but also offered an excellent training/base prospect, which we duly constructed.

The following pages provide a pictorial chronicle of the teams' relocation activities, over a 12 month period from June 2003 to June 2004...

The move from Overdale to Bolton Central Fire Station

Documenting construction at Ladybridge Hall

Interior shots of Ladybridge Hall, once we had moved in