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About our voluntary membership
The team has 37 members, men and women, all available via message pager for call out 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, operating under the direction of our Team leader, Deputy leader and Party leaders. Members are equipped by the team with:
- Baseball cap
- Summer Shirt
- Sweatshirt
- Keela Mocha thermal top,
- Keela Odin lightweight Jacket,
- Keela Quantum windproof / showcer proof jacket,
- Keela Munro, full mountain specification jacket,
- Slioch Goretex Salopettes.
- Protective overalls
- Petzl Ecrin Roc climbing helmet
- Search lamp
- High-visibility rucksack covers
- High-visibility vests
- Personal flotation devices (Lifejackets)
- Vehicle signage
- MRC Casualty Care in Mountain Rescue handbook
- Mountain Rescue Casualty Care Student notes hand book
- Comprehensive OS maps and street atlases covering all the likely team operating areas (issued to Team leaders and senior party leaders)
... all team clothing items feature our distinctive team badge.
In addition, every team member has a radio operating on the all the UK SAR Mountain Rescue, Helimed, Police ASU and Ambulance frequencies, enabling contact with other MRT's and RAF SAR helicopters. All of our vehicles, control trailer and Ladybridge base, are also equipped with radios on these frequencies.
BMRT team photograph, 2008
Potential new team members are invited to apply online when membership vacancies exist, and must undertake a six-week long probationary period, followed by a twelve month long period as a trainee team member, leading to full membership. We usually recruit from experienced hill walkers, fell runners, mountaineers and rock climbers; this is combined with an undertaking to give a strong commitment to the team and the cause of search and rescue in their local area and beyond.
| Team Officers: March 2010 - March 2011 |
| Team Leader | Garry Rhodes | Equipment Officer (Communication & Lighting) | (post vacant) |
| Deputy Leader | Geoff Seddon | Equipment Officer (HQ & Catering) | Chris Tennant |
| Chairman | Ken Oakes | Equipment Officer (Medical) | Dr Clare Whitney |
| Training Officer | Elaine Gilliland | Equipment Officer (Stretchers and Ropes) | Fred Taylor |
| Treasurer | Johanne Lamb | Equipment Officer (Vehicles) | Chris Greenhalgh |
| Secretary | Gillian Gregory | | |
| President | Bob Hutchinson |
| Life Vice President | Alan James, Tony McNally, Ann Shaw |
| Vice Presidents | Frank Hulton |
| Auditors | Howard Matthews Lloyd |
| Callout list membership and occupations: As of 1st September 2010 |
| Neil Aspinall | Pest Control Technician |
Paul Brain | IT Project Manager |
Brian Brooks | Web Programmer |
| Ged Clarke | University Lecturer |
Steve Fletcher | Network Support Technician |
Elaine Gilliland | Education Consultant |
| Chris Greenhalgh | GMF&RS Firefighter |
Alistair Greenough | A&E Charge Nurse |
Mathew Hailwood | Warehouse Operative |
| Alan James | Estimator |
Louise Jorgensen | Plumber |
Andy Kench | RSPCA Inspector |
| Stephen Kenworthy | Service Engineer |
Craig Lamb | Financial Consultant |
Gill Leigh | Teacher |
| Mark Parry | IT Systems Support |
Samantha McKay | Student Nurse |
Mike Marsh | Stores Manager |
| Steven Nelson | Company Director |
Michael O'Brien | Drainage Engineer |
Ken Oakes | Insurance Claims Assessor |
| Garry Rhodes | Landscape Architect |
Mark Scott | University Lecturer |
Geoff Seddon | Outdoor Pursuits Instructor |
| Fred Taylor | H.G.V Driver |
Chris Tennant | Data Clerk |
Ana Toole | Physiotherapist |
| Judith Waltho | Occupational Therapist |
Neil Warburton | Electrician |
Doctor Claire Whitney | Medical Doctor |
| Alison Yates | Psychiatric Nurse |
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| Trainee team members: As of 1st September 2010 |
| Martin Banks | HR Manager |
Nick Berry | Retail Sales |
John Fletcher | Electrician |
| Steven O'Hara | Occupational Therapist |
Helen Rigby | ICT Lecturer |
Marcin Zadlo | Healthcare Assistant |
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| Support Group members: As of 1st September 2010 |
| Iain Clarkson | Stock Controller |
Peter Critchley | Administration Assistant |
Howard Gilliland | Caterer |
| Teresa Gilliland | Retired |
Gillian Gregory | Retired |
Heather Jackson | Community Staff Nurse |
| Andrew Keyworth | Student |
Johanne Lamb | Administrator |
Caroline Mitchell | Patent Analyst |
| Andrew Murphy | Systems Project Manager |
Darren Robinson | |
Ali Shepperd | Retired |
| Tina Tennant | Healthcare Scientist |
Julie Thompson | Trainee Plumber |
Hanna Zadlo | Healthcare Assistant |
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| Reserve callout members: As of 1st September 2010 |
| Dianne Blakeley | Teacher |
Bob Hutchinson | Retired |
Dave Marsh | Arborist |
| Tony McNally | Retired |
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Recruitment is normally via a twice-yearly two part introduction to the workings of the team, following the receipt of a suitable initial online application form.
During this introduction process, interested persons will then be asked to complete a comprehensive membership application form, and if still considered suitable will then be invited to commence a minimum 6 week probationary period with the team. At the conclusion of this probation period you will then be subjected to further review regarding your suitability to join the team. If you are considered suitable beyond this intial period, you will then be invited to join the Team as a Trainee Team member for a minimum 1 year period. During this trainee membership period, you will be required to attend a weekend residential course in Mountain Rescue currently scheduled for October 15th to 17th 2010.
The last introductory sessions for 2010 will be held as follows:
- Introductory evening: Thursday 4th November 2010, commencing at 18:30.
- All-day introductory session: Sunday 7th November 2010, commencing at 09:00.
Please note that the November sessions run over a complimentary evening and full day session. Both these sessions must be attended by all who are interested in joining the team (we will not make any exceptions).
Please note that the January 2010 date was fully subscribed with attendees now progressing through their 12 months basic trainee team membership period.
Have you got what it takes to join us ?
Full Team Callout Member
The text below gives prospective members some idea of the qualities we are looking for in someone interested in joining the team.
ESSENTIAL QUALITIES:
People:
- who can give a significant amount of their time on a regular basis to partake in the team's many activities (e.g. callouts, training, fundraising etc) - see the News section of the web site for a thorough idea of the commitment team members make;
- who will show solid commitment to the team, its members, leaders and its aims;
- who will follow instructions diligently when required;
- who are confident, and can demonstrate potential leadership skills (e.g. when leading a party);
- who have a reasonable level of fitness (e.g. can ascend from Ward's Reservoir to Winter Hill Summit in under 35 minutes in normal hill walking gear;
- who are in good general health and are strong enough to carry or haul a casualty on a stretcher;
- who drive, and have their own transport;
- who are free every Wednesday evening for training (holidays and illness excepting);
- who are ramblers, hill walkers, climbers, or mountaineers or other similar "outdoor types", or who are already members of another Emergency Service, or who are Medical Professionals;
- who have at least a basic level of hillcraft skills;
- who have at least a basic level of navigation skill: map and compass navigation, grid references, bearings, map reading;
- who are not afraid of heights and can move safely and confidently on steep ground;
- have an interest in, and a willingness to undertake significant training in, casualty care and casualty handling skills;
- have certain essential items of personal equipment (note that we only issue team kit 6 months after first joining) i.e:
- Hillwalking footwear
- Waterproof jacket
- Waterproof overtrousers
- Gaiters
- Headtorch
- Rucksack
- Etc.
DESIRABLE QUALITIES:
People who:
- have the agreement of their family to enable them to respond to callouts during evening and weekend hours, and ideally a degree of flexibility in their employment to similarly respond during working hours;
- have experience in any of the following skills or occupations:
- Medical knowledge / skill (e.g. Paramedic, A&E Nurse, First Aider, First Responder, Doctor)
- Rock climbing (outdoor trad (traditional) rather than indoor walls)
- Mountaineering / Winter mountaineering
- Kayaking / canoeing
- Off-road driving
- Emergency response driving
- Emergency services experience
- Voluntary First Aid Society experience
- Radio amateur
Any callout list membership vacancies, as of 17th February 2010, will be met from our November 4th/7th membership recruitment intake.
The online application form is currently closed. However, recruitment for trainee callout list membership will begin again in advance of the November 2010 introductory sessions, at which time the form will be reopened. If you are interested in applying for team membership, then please keep checking our website where details of the next intake will be posted.
Please note: if you wish to join the team, you will be expected to attend ALL Wednesday night training, contribute to the fundraising and administrative activities of the team, and be available for callouts and incidents whenever the need arises.
The team will not consider applications from persons who cannot meet the above minimum criteria.
Support Group Member
Our Support Group members help by lending support to the operational 'Call Out List' membership on a wide range of activities and events.
Our Support Group currently meets the last Thursday of every month at 7.30pm at our Ladybridge Hall Base / HQ.
The time commitment is whatever you can offer, with membership open to all with an interest in supporting the work of the active team membership.
In essence the Support Group which is not just a fund raising group, helps the team in a great many ways, including;
- Providing exercise casualties for our Wednesday evening team training sessions.
- Providing exercise casualties for our Tuesday evening and Sunday morning Search Dog training exercises.
- Assisting the Call Out list membership on Team Vehicle and Equipment demonstration days and events.
- Assisting the Call Out list membership with our 'last Sunday in every month' vehicle, trailers and Base / HQ valet sessions.
- Supporting the team by assisting at Team Collection Days, ie Supermarkets and Village Fetes.
- Helping with the regular emptying and checking of our numerous Collection Boxes out in the community.
- Providing catering (based upon our fully equipped Catering Trailer) on larger team exercises and operational call outs, particularly search incidents.
- Providing help with catering on the annual Mountain Rescue Foundation Course weekend in mid October, hosted by the Bolton MRT.
- Providing support and help to Call Out list members at evening lectures and presentations on the work of the team.
- Providing help and support to Call Out list members at Base / HQ Open Days.
- Assisting with occasional decorating tasks and building maintenance tasks at our Ladybridge Hall Base / HQ.
- Organising the teams very successful Annual November Ceilidh evening.
Support Group members are covered by the teams insurances, and are issued with a Team Support Group Sweatshirt, carrying the teams logo, and a Keela Odin lightweight waterproof jacket, again bearing the teams logo, both are the same colours as the Call Out list memberships clothing.
Support Group membership of the team involves a yearly subscription of £12.00, with all members being supplied with regular copies of the Teams Training and Events Programme, contact listings and regular Incidents listings.
If you are interested in joining our Support Group and helping the valuable work of the Bolton MRT then please reply by email to fo@boltonmrt.org.uk or apply in writing to Bolton Mountain Rescue Team, 38 Heathfield Drive, Tyldesley, Manchester, M29 8PW. Please give a contact address and telephone contact details in any reply.
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