Diary - July 2010

Tuesday 27th July
Visit to the Parkinson's Disease Society, Bolton by the team
This evening callout list team members Mark Scott and Chris Tennant were guests of the Bolton Parkinson’s Disease Society at the Jubilee Centre in Halliwell, Bolton. Mark and Chris gave a 40 minute talk about the team, its capabilities and training, and its operational activities. This was followed by accounts of some of the incidents Mark and Chris had been involved in recently, to try to paint a picture of what it’s like to be a team member.

The talk was well received by the audience of around forty people, and there were lots of questions at the end.

We are very grateful to the society for inviting us to talk to them about Bolton Mountain Rescue, and for their warm welcome and enthusiasm.

Monday 26th July
Fantastic grant from Bolton Community and Voluntary Services Small Grants Round June 2010
We are very pleased to announce today the receipt by the team of a wonderful and very generous grant of £3,000.00 from the Bolton Community and Voluntary Services Small Grants Round June 2010.

In a letter to our Life Vice President Tony McNally, accompanying the award of this very supportive grant, Sharon Bolus, Grants Support Worker, stated that the £3,000.00 grant had been awarded from the Bolton Vision Grant, and was to be used, (As per our application) against the purchase costs incurred against the replacement of our existing vehicle fleet.

Tony McNally who made this grant application on behalf of the team, which was supported by letters of support from colleague members in the Bolton MRT, stated that he was "overwhelmed by the very generous support of Bolton CVS in kindly supporting the Bolton MRT and in their award of the maximum grant available under the Small Grants Round June 2010."

This generous and supportive grant has been set against the £3,000.00 deposit made against our order for three brand new state of the art, Land Rover Defender Mountain Rescue Ambulance vehicles.

Members of the Bolton CVS Small Grants Award Panel have been invited by our Life Vice President Tony McNally, to our Ladybridge Hall Base / HQ on Thursday August 5th 2010, for a presentation on the work of the team.

The whole team membership extends its thanks to the Bolton CVS Small Grants Award Panel for offering this much appreciated and very kind grant.

...also on Monday 26th...
Drama in the air for experienced team Call Out List member Mark Parry
Some years ago now, our current Life Vice President (He was our Chairman at the time) Tony McNally was returning home from holiday on a flight from Palma / Majorca inbound to Manchester, when over the aircrafts tannoy came a request for any Doctor on board to respond to an in flight medical emergency to a passenger. No one responded (i.e. no Doctors on board) leading to Tony offering his help as a casualty care trained mountain rescuer. Tony's offer was immediately taken up and he ended up (Being assisted by the cabin crew) treating and monitoring a woman passenger who had suffered a suspected stroke.

The aircrafts Captain even enquired directly of Tony at one stage should he divert the flight to the nearest available airport, but with the woman's condition stabilised and on Oxygen it was decided to carry on and land at Manchester. (Where the woman passenger was received in to the immediate care of the Ambulance Service upon the aircrafts landing)

On Sunday 25th July 2010, on an in bound Manchester flight, co-incidentally again from Palma / Majorca, history repeated itself, this time with a similar situation for experienced team Call Out List member Mark Parry.

Returning from a family holiday on a Thomson flight, scheduled to land at Manchester at 12.30hrs, a tannoy message asked for any Doctors on board to respond to an in flight medical emergency to a young passenger.

With no immediate response, Mark Parry of Bury, an Implementations Manager with Connect Technology Group of Blackburn, and a very experienced team member volunteered his services, which were taken up.

There follows below Mark's account of what happened. Please note this account has been written by Mark primarily from a medical treatment standpoint for the benefit of fellow team members, to illustrate how our skills and knowledge may be called upon at any time. By Mark's own admission this account does not fully describe the drama of what happened, nor the very real concerns for the well being of the very young child involved.

"On the return flight from my Hols (which were nice BTW) I noticed a bit of a commotion just in front of me on the aisle. There was then a call for any Doctors over the intercom. I told the flight attendant who happened to be getting an oxygen cylinder out of a box above my head that I was part of a voluntary mountain rescue team. She told me that a child had collapsed and had stopped breathing. After moving some people out of the way, I was presented with a small child 1 to 2 years old, lay on her side on the aisle floor.

After checking her airway and breathing, both of which appeared fine, I struggled to find a radial pulse. A check of her carotid pulse gave a nice big bounding pulse approx 75 bpm. After rechecking her radial pulse, I found it after about 3-4 seconds, its much smaller and finer (duh).

I checked with dad and he told me that she had been crying for 10 mins or so, and had then just gone limp in his hands at which point he placed her on the floor and shouted for help. I asked if there had been any kind of fit or strange behaviour that would suggest a fit, he told me there had been none, just crying then limp.

After a double check, there were nothing to suggest any issues for moving her, so I popped her in the recovery position, and had a good listen, my ear on her back, and she was breathing quite well, albeit a little fast(30-40 breaths per minute). There was no sign of any circulatory problems or cyanosis and she did not respond to a gentle shake and shout. On the AVPU scale she was U as a rather hefty squeeze of her ear lobe gave no response. I checked with dad and he explained that this had happened before, and that previously she had come round after a few minutes.

A short time later, I noticed that she was starting to come around, her eyes would open momentarily, but she would still not respond to pain or remain awake. I asked if the aircrafts first aid kit carried a glucometer and I was told that it did not, it also turns out that the oxygen that the plane carried was not free flow, it had a demand valve on it, which given the size of the child was pretty much useless as she could not create enough suction to open the valve.

A lady then identified herself as a paediatrician, and offered to help. I explained my observations, and that I expected she would be coming round within a few minutes. We decided to move her from the floor to the galley some 10 metres away, and after checking with dad again that she could not have done any structural damage picked her up to move her.

Just as I was standing having picked her up and started walking toward the galley she came round and let go with the crying again, happy that she was back with us, and unsure of the aftercare I handed over to the Doctor and went back to my seat.

What could I have done differently?

O2 was the big one, I spent a little too long wondering why there was no flow, the big bag on the back of the mask was a bit of a giveaway.

Blood sugar. Having no glucometer, I could not decide if getting some sugar in as she came round would have been a good idea or indeed possible. (Afterwards I realised that a request for such could have been put out over the planes tannoy )"

So it's a situation that many perhaps 'joke' about happening but very few have experienced thankfully. By the time the aircraft landed the young child had apparently made a full recovery, which did not detract from the seriousness of what had happened.

Sunday 25th July
Team delivers Thank You plaque to 'anonymous' benefactor
On Monday 17th May 2010 (See website 'news' article dated the same) we reported that a Bolton gentleman kindly donated £1,000.00 to the team, with the stipulation that his identity remain anonymous.

Today our Team Training Officer Elaine Gilliland, Call Out list member Paul Brain and Trainee Team member John Fletcher visited the Bolton home of this very supportive gentleman, where they handed over to him an inscribed plaque of appreciation from the team.

In the company of his wife, photographs were taken of the three team members, who had attended in a Team Land Rover Mountain Rescue Ambulance, with our very generous benefactor thanking the three present for the teams kindness in thanking him in this manner.

Friday 23rd July
Another fantastic donation from our kind friends at Bolton H.F. Walking Group.
We are very pleased to announce today the receipt of a yet another very kind donation from our valued friends and supporters at Bolton H.F. Walking Group. Mr D. Sumner, President of Bolton H.F. Walking Group specifically requested that the £105.00 proceeds of a raffle at his recent President's Day Outing be donated to the Bolton MRT.

As always the entire team welcomes the continuing very kind and generous support of Bolton H.F. Walking Group.

Please also see website 'news' articles dated 12th April 2010, 22nd December / 19th May 2009.

Thursday 22nd July
Absolutely fantastic news of support from the Keep Fit Association of Chorley and Leyland
Former long serving team member and ex Team Training Officer Andrew Ryding, currently retired from the team, recently informed us that his mother Pat Baron, a member of the Keep fit Association of Chorley and Leyland, had nominated the Bolton MRT as a worthy charity for the KFA of Chorley and Leyland to support.

This evening, at the invitation of Eunice Walsh, Ladies Keep Fit Instructor at the KFA of Chorley and Leyland, St Michaels Secondary School, Chorley, the team was invited to attend the KFA meeting, with Elaine Gilliland, Team Training Officer, and Doctor Clare Whitney, our Team 'Doctor' and our Medical Equipment Officer representing the team.

Andy (Andrew) Ryding also attended, and introduced Elaine and Doctor Clare to the assembled KFA members, with Elaine and Clare then being invited to give a short overview of the teams work.

At the end of their visit, Andy, Elaine and Clare were then absolutely amazed to be informed by Pat Baron and Eunice Walsh that they had indeed chosen the Bolton MRT to support, and that within days we are to receive a fantastic donation from the Keep fit Association of Chorley and Leyland of £2,050.00. This is a massive donation which the KFA have asked be put against our project to replace our current specialist mountain rescue stretchers, which is in hand with our vehicle replacement programme currently in progress.

There follows an account of the evenings proceedings from our Training Officer Elaine Gilliland:

This evening, ex-Team Member Andrew Ryding, Medical Officer and Team Doctor Dr Clare Whitney and Team Training Officer Elaine Gilliland, ventured to St. Michael’s Church of England High School, Astley Road, Chorley with an invitation to join the Annual Demonstration, given by the Chorley and Leyland District Keep Fit Association, to family and friends.

We were met by Eunice Walsh, Organiser of the demonstration and Instructor for the Keep Fit Association, who enthusiastically volunteered lots of information about the event and the ladies who were participating in the event.

Eunice has been a member of the Keep Fit Association since she was 16 and has been instructing for many a year in the Chorley and Leyland area and this has involved instructing the ladies to a level to demonstrate at regional and national level, including demonstrations and the Royal Albert Hall of which all of the ladies are very proud.

The Chorley and Leyland Keep Fit Association raise money every year for a nominated charity and this year, through the nomination presented by Mrs Pat Baron, mother of Andy Ryding, Bolton Mountain Rescue Team were chosen as their Charity for 2010.

On entering the sports hall, we realised the extent of the event. Over 200 ladies were present with a few gentlemen dotted in between, which made Andy feel a little more comfortable. Unaware of what the event entailed, we were placed in the ‘guest seats’ in front of the demonstration area and presented with an agenda for the evening.

And so the lesson begins;

Eunice gave a short presentation to the audience about the reason for the demonstration, stating that ‘Our vehicles are our bodies and we need to look after them’. She also explained that ensuring our bodies our well looked after with assist with mobility, stamina and co-ordination. Approximately 70 ladies were awaiting instruction and as the music started Eunice shouted ‘Good posture everyone’ and the warm up started.



These ladies, most pensioners, astounded us with their agility and coordination throughout the demonstration where we were shown the three main actions of the spine – Chorley & Leyland Ladies, full body routine – Chorley Ladies HHS, stamina routine – Chorley Ladies HHS, a second full body routine – Chorley Ladies St. Michael’s , scarf work – Spring Meadow Ladies, ribbon work – Chorley Ladies St. Michael’s, and movement for all – All Groups.

Andy had promised that if Clare and I were able to attend, that he would join in with the exercises, although all the coaxing in the world wouldn’t get him to stand up and be counted. We did all join in a little though, especially during the stamina routine where we were all foot-tapping to ‘There’s a Kind of Hush’ and then the finale of movement for all where, not only were we foot-tapping but also singing to ‘Thank You For The Music’. It’s a good job the music was loud enough not to hear us……

Throughout the evening, the Group had been raising money for the Team by charging for entry to the demonstration and selling raffle tickets, and added to the funds that they had raised during the year, a total count came to £2050.00 raised for Bolton Mountain Rescue Team.

To say we were astounded is an understatement as Eunice told the whole audience how much they had very kindly raised for us.

Well, it was our turn now. I was invited to the microphone to give a speech in which I thanked the whole audience for their kind donations. Andy and Clare were then asked to give an overview of the Team and our work in the community, and finally it was suggested that the very generous donation go towards the purchase of a new stretcher which will be required once the Team has purchased its new vehicles. The Group were very pleased that we were able to specify what the donation would go to and voiced that they would very much like to visit our base to have a vehicle and equipment demonstration once the purchase had been made.

The whole team membership is very grateful for the extremely generous donation provided by The Chorley and Leyland Keep Fit Association and the audience who attended, and Andy, Clare and Elaine would like to thank the Ladies for their invitation to such a fascinating evening and we look forward to seeing them early next year when they will be invited to visit the Team’s base

...also on Thursday 22nd...
Very kind donation from Paul Richards and Maggie Vincent of Holmfirth
In late March this year Team Call Out list member Alison Yates along with her husband and former team member Geoff Yates journeyed to the Himalayas for a three week trekking holiday along with our Team Leader Garry Rhodes and his partner (also a former team member) Ann Thompson.

In Kathmandu all met up with other members of the trekking party including Paul Richards and his partner Maggie Vincent of Thongsbridge, Holmfirth.

Upon their return home from Nepal, Alison and Geoff sent to Paul and Maggie some photo discs of the trek (Annapurna and Everest regions) and as a thank you to Alison and Geoff, Paul and Maggie sent a very kind donation in their name to the team for £50.00.

The whole team membership thanks Paul and Maggie for this kind support of the team.

...also on Thursday 22nd...
Very kind donation to the team from GMP Bolton Division
We are pleased to report the receipt today of a very kind £100.00 donation from Greater Manchester Police Bolton Division.

In a letter with this donation to our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE from Chief Superintendent Steven Hartley, Bolton Divisional Commander, he stated; "I hope you will accept this donation as a token of our appreciation for the work you and your team do throughout the year."

The team membership thanks all at GMP Bolton Division for their kind and appreciated support of the team.

Wednesday 21st July
Meeting with Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service regards developing liaison and mutual working
This evening our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE in the company of Mick Nield, Team Leader of Oldham MRT, Andrew Simpson, Team Leader and Peter Goble, Team Training Officer both of Rossendale and Pendle MRT, met with Andrew Brookes, Area Manager (Operations) Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, at GMFRS HQ at Swinton for a meeting to discuss developing the existing relationship all three teams have with the Fire Service and exploring further areas of mutual operational working.

An action plan was agreed between all present to achieve these aims including;

• Establishing quarterly meetings between the three MRTs and GMFRS to discuss items of mutual interest and inter-operability.
• Reinstating the MRT awareness presentations to the various GMFRS Control Room Duty Watches.
• Informing the GMFRS ILOs (Inter-agency Liaison Officers) of the capabilities, resources and roles of MRTs.
• Publicising the work, capabilities, resources and roles of MRTs in the GMFRS in house publication 'In the Loop.'
• 'Tagging' certain incident types within the GMFRS dispatching system, where mountain rescue may be able to lend its assistance, either in part or whole to GMFRS.
• Expanding and revising the existing Memorandum of Understanding between GMFRS and Bolton MRT / Rossendale and Pendle MRT / Oldham MRT.
• Circulating MRT Training and Events programmes within GMFRS, with an invitation for GMFRS personnel to attend suitable activities.

Tuesday 20th July
Visit to Team by Senior GMFRS Fire Officers
This afternoon our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE met with two Senior Fire Offficers from GMFRS at our Ladybridge Hall Base / HQ to discuss strengthening the existing liaisons between MRTs operating in Greater Manchester and the GMFRS.

Andrew Brookes, Area Manager, Operations and Station Commander Jim Hutton (Also a GMFRS USAR member) spent some 2 hours in the company of Garry, discussing the role, capabilities and work of MRTs and how existing liaisons can be mutually developed between the MRTs in Greater Manchester and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service.

A further meeting is scheduled tomorrow evening between the Team Leaders of Oldham MRT, Rossendale and Pendle MRT, Garry as Team Leader of our Team and Andrew Brookes of GMFRS to review our existing Memorandum of Understanding between the mentioned MRTs and GMFRS, and to discuss how MRTs can further support GMFRS in operational rescue incidents.

...also on Tuesday 20th...
Very kind donation from Mr John Thornley of Horwich
We are happy to report today the receipt of a kind donation of £30.00 from Mr John Thornley of Horwich, via the Charity Aid Foundation.

...also on Tuesday 20th...
Very kind donation from Mrs Bridget Parsons of Leigh
Today we are happy to report the receipt of a wonderful £50.00 donation from Mrs Bridget Parsons of Leigh.

In a letter to our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE, Mrs Parsons states; "I have recently won the World Cup sweepstake at work, and part of the winnings included a £50.00 donation to a charity of my choice. I would be grateful if you would accept this cheque for £50.00 for use in the Bolton Mountain Rescue Team. Thankfully I have never needed to use your services (and hope I never do) but I do know that you all do a very good job."

The whole team would like to thank Mrs Bridget Parsons through the medium of our website for her very kind and much appreciated support of the Bolton MRT.

...also on Tuesday 20th...
Very kind donation by members of Friendship Lodge 2488 RAOB GLE Ltd
Today the team received another fantastic donation from our valued friends at Friendship Lodge 2488 RAOB GLE Ltd, following their successful Charity Prize Bingo Night, held at the Crown Hotel, Horwich on the evening of Tuesday 6th July 2010. (See website 'news' report dated the same).

Their wonderful donation included £87.00 raised at the Bingo Night and £13.00 from the Lodge itself, giving a grand total of £100.00.

In a letter accompanying this kind donation, received by our Secretary Gillian Gregory, Roy Priestley, Lodge Secretary of Friendship Lodge 2488 RAOB GLE Ltd, stated; "Please pass on a very big thank you to all the volunteers who made our visit to your Base / HQ on the 8th July 2010 such a fantastic night - very, very enlightening and entertaining."

(Please also see website 'news' articles dated 13th November and 23rd December 2004, 10th March and 3rd April 2007, 9th November 2008, 11th February 2009, 11th March 2010 and 6th / 8th July 2010)

Monday 19th July
Visit to Team by 41st Bolton Lostock Brownie Unit
This evening the team hosted a visit to our Ladybridge Hall Base / HQ by a very enthusiastic group of Brownies from the 41st Bolton lostock Brownie Unit, along with their Leaders, adult helpers and some parents.

They were met by Team Call Out list members Gill Leigh, Neil Warburton and Trainee Team member Helen Rigby, who gave all present a run down on what we do in the team, a demonstration of team search and rescue equipment and a look around our emergency vehicles.

Gill, Neil and Helen, all reported that the Brownies were a very well behaved and interested group of youngsters, who asked lots of questions about the team and who obviously enjoyed 'having a go' with various bits of team kit.

At the conclusion of their visit, the Brownies presented the team with a very kind and thoughtful £160.00 donation, which they had raised during a sponsored walk around their HQ, and from decorating cakes and biscuits to then sell and raise money for the team.

the whole team membership extends its thanks to all at 41st Bolton lostock Brownie Unit for their much appreciated and valued support of the Bolton MRT.

Sunday 18th July
Bolton MRT Team Doctor assists Bowland Pennine MRT with their MREW Casualty Care Certificate Course
All active 'Call Out' members of MREW MRTs are encouraged to undertake the intensive and comprehensive long established MREW Casualty Care Certificate Course every three years, which consists of many theory and practical sessions culminating in a written paper examination (Very stringent), oral and practical examinations, with the examiners drawn from the ranks of Doctors actively involved in Mountain Rescue, Paramedics and A&E Nurses.

The course relies on much mutual support between MRTs, and as such, today our Team Doctor, Clare Whitney, journeyed to the Smelt Mill, Dunsop Bridge HQ / Base of our colleagues at Bowland Pennine MRT to assist them with their Casualty Care Certificate Course.

Good luck to all at Bowland Pennine MRT in achieving a successful pass for this course.

...also on Sunday 18th...
'Graduation' of Team Member Judith Waltho
On 15th July 2009, the team welcomed Judith Waltho to the trainee membership.

Judith has continued with her training and familiarisation of all things Bolton Mountain Rescue over the past 12 months, so has now been welcomed as a Full Team Callout member.

Saturday 17th July
Very kind donation from Team Trainee Team member John Fletcher
We are very pleased to announce today the receipt of a kind £20.00 donation from Team Trainee member John Fletcher.

On the evening of Wednesday 14th July 2010, heavy and localised rain in the Buckshaw Village area of Chorley, Lancashire, where he lives, prevented him from attending our regular Wednesday evening exercise.

This was despite him trying to get to our Base / HQ in his 4WD vehicle, but the flooded roads en route proved too much.

In the course of his journeys that night he ended up towing out 3 x vehicles from flooded road sections, with two drivers kindly offering him £10.00 each for his time and help.

On each occasion John informed the drivers that he did not want payment for his kindness but instead would they consider a donation to Bolton MRT in his name, which both gladly did.

Friday 16th July
Lancashire Constabulary Missing Person Search Manager Course. (Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE and Training Officer Elaine Gilliland both successfully pass the course)
Every year Lancashire Constabulary kindly offer to the MRTs operating in Lancashire, places on their week long Missing Persons Search Manager Course.

This year our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE and Team Training Officer Elaine Gilliland were able to attend this Police nationally recognised course.

Held at Lancashire Constabulary Training centre at Hutton, within the HQ and Training complex of Lancashire Constabulary, the course attracted 31x students, including Gail Todd and Graham Daley from Rossendale and Pendle MRT, Nick Mattock from Bowland Pennine MRT (also a Lancashire Constabulary Officer), the New Dimensions Officer from Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service and 25x serving Lancashire Constabulary Officers, mostly of Sgt rank, with everybody present having experience of 'Missing from Home' search enquiries and operations.

Each day started at 09.00hrs at Hutton with a pleasant mixture of presentations, table top exercises and practical exercises, alongside resource demonstrations.

The whole course was excellently organised by Inspector Neil Sherry (A Police search Advisor / POLSA) with considerably help from PC Alison Suffield, both of Lancashire Constabulary.

Monday 12th July, consisted of the obvious course introductions, including an overview of the NPA Guidance on Missing Persons, Grading catagories of Missing Persons, 'Golden Hour' taskings, Behavioural characteristics and a table top exercise, and that was only the morning sessions!

Monday afternoon presentations included two members of LanConStab Communications Data Investigation Unit giving an excellent overview of Cell Phone (Mobilephone) locating during Police enquires. (Pinging as it is commonly referred to). Search Strategies and more table top exercises rounded off the first intensive day.

Tuesday 13th July, saw Sgt Gary Fretwell of West Yorkshire Police give an excellent presentation on the Shannon Matthews search (Operation Paris), probably now and forever more commonly known as the 'young girl found under the bed' incident.

Other presentations followed throughout the day including Phil Brooks on the work. role, resources and experiences of the Police North West Regional Underwater Search and Marine Unit.

Tuesday afternoon all course participants at Myerscough Livery yard, undertaking a series of practical search exercises in the surrounding grass pastures and woodlands.

Wednesday morning started with Detective Chief Inspector Andy Webster of LanConStab outlining the role of an SIO (Senior Investigating Officer) in a Missing from Home enquiry, and how CID essentially investigate such incidents. His presentation (as with all others on this course) included many examples of Police Operations (which discretion does not allow the reporting of here).

The last morning session of the day included Stela Stansfield and Hazel Lynch outlining the work of the 'Street Safe-Lancashire' initiative and the work of the Children's Society, essentially focussing on why children go missing.

Wednesday afternoon 14th July sessions included the work, role and capabilities of the LanConStab Air Support Unit Helicopter, by Police Air Observer PC Mel Jeffrey, giving the useful tip that cows are so inquisitive they will surround someone in their field, whether that be a missing person wandering about or come to harm or someone engaged in criminal activities! (Thought for the day for the MRT members present on the course, lets invest in Search and Rescue Cows!)

Nick Mattock of Bowland Pennine MRT then gave a presentation on map reading skills and tips, followed by husband and wife duo Iain and Alison Nicholson of Bowland Pennine MRT / Search and Rescue Dog Association, who outlined the work of Mountain Rescue Air Scenting and Trail Dogs. (Somewhat tired, as both had been on early morning standby to assist the Bolton MRT with a missing child search, then gone into work, then attended todays course to give their presentation).

Iain and Alison also gave a very detailed overview of the work and role of Mountain Rescue Teams, expanding upon what they can offer the Police beyond involvement in 'missing from home' incidents.

Thursday 15th July, was totally outdoors, putting theory in to practice within the extensive grounds of Osbaldeston Riding Centre.

As Thursday was outdoors it was inevitable that the clouds darkened and the heavens opened at some stage, but thankfully all managed to stay dry by planning the searches during the rain and going out to search during the drier interludes!

And the results of the day, four MRT members (all expert searchers! - Graham of RPMRT could not attend today) pitted against the best that LanConStab could offer, well Rossendale and Pendle MRT member Gail Todd located the first exercise casualty / missing person, so the pressure was on the 25x Police Officers present to find the next one. (Somewhat uneven odds in this friendly competition, 4x MRT versus 25x Police).

The second 'MisPer' was indeed found by a Lancashire Officer, with the race now on for the 'detailed search' part of the training session, ie locate the 'Mispers' mobilephone in a large field of tall and very wet grass. Full marks to the LanConStab Officer who did indeed find the phone, so the day ended 2 / 1 to the Police / MRT.

The last day of this very informative and interesting course, started with a very comprehensive presentation by Beverley Page - Banks, Branch Manager of the Central Lancashire and Fylde Branch of the Alzheimer's Society, who gave an informed lecture on 'Understanding and respecting the person with Dementia.' This concluded with a very thought provoking for all present DVD on the effects of Dementia, entitled 'the Edge of Darkness.'

The final session of the course was a presentation on the role and work of the Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service USAR Team. (Urban Search and Rescue Team) This culminated in a demonstration of two of the Teams 'New Dimensions' 'Module' vehicles. (Their session ended with them being mobilised to an incident, subsequently stood down responding).

Garry and Elaine (Graham, Gail and Nick) would like to thank Lancashire Constabulary for inviting them to attend and take a full and active part in this course.

Their place on the course and the work of MRTs in Lancashire (echoed by Sgt Gary Fretwell of West Yorkshire Police) was all inclusive of MRTs.

Finally Garry and Elaine would like to extend a very big personal thanks to Inspector Neil Sherry and PC Alison Suffield for putting on the course, their unstinting help and advice and for their warm welcome and inclusivity to what is essentially a Police Course.

And of course we are now happy to report that Garry and Elaine are now Lancashire Constabulary Missing Person Search Managers.

Thursday 15th July
I.S.A.C. Course., Cheshire FRS, Winsford
Today very experienced Team Call Out list member Chris Tennant and Trainee team member Nick Berry, journeyed to Cheshire Fire and Rescue Services HQ and Training School at Sadler Road, Winsford, to take part in an Incident Safety Assessment and Control (ISAC) course, organised and facilitated by ATACC (Anaesthesia Trauma and Critical Care) and Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service.

This is the third time team members have participated in this excellent course, the first being 19th November 2009, when our Team Doctor, Clare Whitney and Steve Nelson attended, with the second being on 22nd April 2010, when our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE and Team Call Out list member (and Regional MR Water Officer) Fred Taylor attended.

Team Call Out list member Alistair Greenough, who in full time employment is an Accident and Emergency Nurse at Warrington Hospital, is an instructor on this excellent recognised course.

The ISAC course concentrates on incident scene safety, the safety of the emergency responders, increasing incident scene awareness and multi agency working.

There follows an account of their day written by Chris Tennant;

On Thursday 15th July, team callout list members Chris Tennant and Nick Berry set out early in BM1 for an 08:30 start at Cheshire Fire & Rescue Service's HQ and Training Centre, in Winsford. This was to take part in an Incident Safety Assessment and Control (ISAC) Course arranged by ATACC (Anaesthesia Trauma And Critical Care) & Cheshire Fire & Rescue Service.

The course is designed for emergency service personnel attending major incidents, providing them with the necessary skills to establish safe working practices and to cooperate safely in multi-agency response environments. Chris and Nick joined with two of our colleagues from Cheshire Lowland SAR Team and eight NHS staff (Doctors and Nurses from Liverpool & Warrington), and gained much valuable knowledge of the varied equipment and protocols used, along with experience of dealing with some very realistic casualties (performed by members of the 'For Real Simulation')

The course commenced with an introduction by Dr. Dave Wilson (ATACC), this was followed with a short talk by the Cheshire Coroner. After a lecture from Dr Jason van der Velde (ATACC and now working in Ireland) on Kinematics (what can result from a given action), there was a session on PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) which the two Bolton MRT team members 'passed' with flying colours having worn all the right kit.

After the first two exercise scenarios, including one with a very stroppy 'bystander', identified the requirement to assess non victims as a potential hazard, a fact noted in the debrief afterwards.

The course continued with a mixture of practical demonstrations and exercise scenarios all followed by 'hot debriefs', along with a welcome tea break. The exercises involved very realistic single and multi casualty situations involving vehicle collisions, a difficult extrication from a building stair-well, and various rescues from confined spaces.

After an excellent and well deserved lunch in the Staff Canteen and now joined by team member Alistair Greenough, wearing his ATACC hat; it was back to work with more exercises and training to reinforce the knowledge gained in the morning.

After a full exercise/demo involving six of the students with the Fire Service in full "cutting mode" i.e. let's get the roof off!

We then proceeded to a multi casualty exercise incident which included one burning building casualty with additional hoax casualties and three victims who had been struck by an emergency vehicle responding to the burns victim. This resulted in one person dead on scene plus one with a very serious injury and one victim that had been thrown over a hedge and down a steep bank. - All good fun!

The day concluded with a debrief, certificate presentation and a last brew.

Chris and Nick would like to thank all the lecturers and their helpers, and also their fellow emergency services colleagues on the course for welcoming them so openly, thanks also to Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service for providing such excellent facilities; they both found it a very enjoyable and highly informative day - despite the odd heavy shower of rain.

...also on Thursday 15th...
Very kind donation from Bolton School Girls' Division
Today the team received a kind and very generous donation from Bolton School Girls' Division, Chorley New Road, Bolton.

In a letter to our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE, Mrs J Sanders, of Bolton School Girls' Division Charities Committee stated; "Recently members of our Year 7 decided that they would like to help the Bolton MRT by raising some money. We decided to organise a sponsored silence."

"We are happy to enclose a cheque donation for £300.00 and wish the bolton MRT continuing success in the future."

The whole team membership would like to extend sincere and very grateful thanks to all at Bolton School Girls' Division Year 7 for this fantastic and much appreciated valued support of the team.

Wednesday 14th July
Guest lecturers from Greater Manchester Police, visit the team for this evenings training session
This evening we welcomed two guest lecturers to the team from Greater Manchester Police, Chris Moody (A long serving former Team member, and retired GMP Officer) who now works for GMP in a civilian capacity, and is a GMP Missing Person Search Manager, and PC Ian Crossley, a GMP Police Search Advisor and Missing Person Search Manager from GMP Specialist Search Unit.

They both attended to give two different presentations to the twenty nine Bolton MRT members present this evening at our Ladybridge Hall Base / HQ.

Chris Moody gave all a very detailed presentation on note taking at search incidents (and indeed at all incidents) and the relevance of these to criminal proceedings should the incident develop in that manner, including the disclosure of unused material in relation to major incidents.

Chris very kindly provides this input to the team on a bi annual basis, as part of our on going search awareness training.

PC Ian Crossley then talked to the assembled team members outlining the latest protocols and procedures regarding Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) within Police Forces nationwide.

The team would like to thank Chris and Ian for their presentations this evening and their support of the Bolton MRT, which further reinforces the many close links we have with Greater Manchester Police.(With similar strong links within Lancashire Constabulary)

...also on Wednesday 14th...
Fantastic donation from St Peter's Church, Halliwell, Wednesday Evening Fellowship Group
Pamela Hardman, representing St Peter's Church, Halliwell, Wednesday Evening Fellowship Group, this morning visited our Secretary Gillian Gregory at her Horwich home, accompanied by a friend of the Group, Roger Howarth, whose role was 'chauffeur'. They brought a fantastic cheque donation for the team of £430.00, which came about from the proceeds of their annual coffee evening, held at the end of their fundraising year, as well as other donations and events throughout the year.

The whole team membership would like to express its sincere and grateful thanks to all at St Peter's Church, Halliwell, Wednesday Evening Fellowship Group, for such a kind and very thoughtful,much appreciated donation.

(Please also see website 'news' entry dated 22nd July 2009, when the same group very kindly donated £395.00 to the team)

...also on Wednesday 14th...
Kind donations of Casualty Care equipment
We are very happy to report this evening the receipt by the team of two separate substantial donations of Casualty Care equipment, including dressings, bandages, and splintage items.

The donators of both of these very kind gifts to the team wish to remain anonymous, which we have respected here in this thanks.

...also on Wednesday 14th...
Visit to Lowton St Mary's Junior School, Leigh, Greater Manchester
On Wednesday 14th July Life Vice President , Tony McNally, was invited to attend the end of term assembly at Lowton St Mary's School along with several other representatives from local and national charities. Each year the school has chosen a charity and throughout the school year has organised a series of events to raise money for their chosen charity. Earlier this year Tony had visited the school along with the Team's Training Officer, Elaine Gilliland to talk to Year 1 about the work of a Search and Rescue Team. Amongst Year 1's fundraising activities was an event where the Year 1 children brought toys into school which then "got lost" with the children having to search to find the lost and missing toys; parents supporting this and other events to help raise money.

During the assembly each charity was presented with a cheque from the year that had supported them. Bolton Mountain Rescue Team received a fantastic cheque for £160.00, a superb amount raised by a group of young people a little over six years of age! The class in return were presented with a commemorative plaque from the Team.

The school made presentations to six other charities with a total of over £2,400 being donated to the school's chosen charities,

The Team wishes to thank Headteacher Mrs Lynne Baker, Class Teacher Mr Connor Glyn and of course all the Year 1 children for their kind and substantial support for the Bolton MRT.

...also on Wednesday 14th...
Incident 69/2010
At 03.26hrs in the early hours of this morning the GMP Force Duty Manager contacted our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE directly, regarding the teams immediate assistance with reference to a missing 10 year old boy.

The missing boy had been reported missing by his mother, the previous evening, with at that time the last confirmed sighting of the young boy having been outside his school that morning.

GMP investigations brought new information that the missing boy had left a friends house in the Walkden area of Worsley, Greater Manchester on the evening of Tuesday 13th July, presumably to then go to his home address in the Little Hulton area of Worsley.

With growing concerns for the childs welfare, a major Police search operation was put into place focused on all routes the child may have taken, which was planned to take in the area of Blackleach Country Park and lake at Walkden, Whittle Brook lakes, Walkden, and a large number of disused railway lines / linear walkways in the area.

An immediate full team call out was instigated, alongside the call out of two MR Search Dogs, with the GMP Air Support Unit helicopter also lending its support to the search.

Our Team Leader, who lives near to the areas in question, (and also knew the areas very well from his childhood living in that same area) was on scene very quickly to liaise with GMP Officers, when thankfully news was received by GMP and acted on immediately that the missing child had been located in the central Manchester City area, safe and well. (Trying to make his own way to contact a close family member)

At 04.26hrs the team was stood down, alongside all GMP resources.

The following resources were known to be involved at this stage of the search ;

Bolton MRT, 20 x team call out list members responding, three of whom were stood down on scene. All five of our Team Vehicles were mobilising, alongside our Control Trailer and SAR Boat.

Bowland Pennine MRT / SARDA Wales Mountain Rescue Trail Dog Team, Handler Iain Nicolson, Trail Dog Mij. (On immediate home standby ready to deploy) Bowland Pennine MRT / SARDA England Mountain Rescue Air Scenting Dog Team, Handler Alison Nicholson and Search Dog Floss. (On immediate home standby ready to deploy)

Greater Manchester Police, 1 x Missing Person Search Manager, 1 x Tactical Aid Unit with Officers, 3 x Divisional Patrol Vehicles, 1 x Traffic Unit Patrol, GMP Air Support Unit Helicopter.

Tuesday 13th July
Visit to JIGSAW - Bolton Area Stroke Group
"Our Team President, Bob Hutchinson and Secretary, Gillian Gregory, journeyed to Little Lever to talk to the forty members of JIGSAW - The Bolton Area Stroke Group. After a welcome cup of tea and biscuits, Bob gave a brief outline of the history and work of Bolton Mountain Rescue Team and then invited questions from the members. There were lots of interesting questions, and it turned out that Debbie Smith, the daughter of one of the members, Joyce Smith, was a member of the Team many years ago and Bob remembered her well.

Some members were able to go outside to have a look at the Landrover Ambulance and the equipment carried aboard, and it was clear from chatting to them that several had been keen walkers in their fitter days and showed great interest in our work.

Bob and Gillian would like to thank JIGSAW for their warm welcome and hospitality and interest in Bolton Mountain Rescue Team."

Footnote; On Wednesday 14th July our Secretary Gillian Gregory received a very kind letter off JIGSAW, saying how much they had enjoyed the talk on the team, commenting; "You all do a marvellous job and to think it's all voluntary - amazing!" Attached with this letter was a very kind donation to the team of £25.00.

Saturday 10th July
Community Safety Day / 999 Emergency Services Day, Darwen Town Centre.
Thankfully the cloudy skies did not turn to rain, and the sun came out to make today's Community Safety Day / 999 Emergency Services Day held in Darwen Town Centre a complete success.

• North West Ambulance Service (Lancashire) with an Emergency Ambulance and crew attending from Darwen Ambulance Station.
• Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service, with Darwen Fire Station being represented by their Pump Appliance and Land Rover defender Personnel Carrier, and the Service as a whole being represented by a Mobile Fire Station / Incident Control and Command Vehicle.
• RNLI in the guise of Peter Charnock, who is an Education Presenter for the RNLI.
• Blackburn with Darwen Council who kindly provided many fun activities.
• Lancashire Constabulary and Darwen based PCSOs, who provided public safety and other related advice.
• British Army Careers advisor / display.
• The team attended with
  • all four of our Land Rover Mountain Rescue Ambulances,
  • Our Minibus,
  • Search and Rescue Boat,
  • Catering Trailer and
  • Control Trailer.

Friday 9th July
New Stairwell carpet for our Ladybridge Hall Base / HQ, with grateful thanks to GP Trade Carpets of Bury
We have now been in residence at our Ladybridge Hall, Chorley New Road, Bolton Base / HQ for over 6 years, following our Official Opening on Sunday April 24th 2004.

At the time our Base / HQ was fully carpeted with thanks to Milliken Industrials Limited of Wigan, who supplied carpet tiles for all our upstairs rooms.
Woodheads Carpets of Bury with thanks at the time, supplied all the carpeting for our stairwell and landings.

Since this time we have managed to keep our carpets as clean as possible, achieved through the early decision to have a 'house' rule that all team members (and most visitors) to our premises always wear protective 'use once' plastic overshoes, thus ensuring muddy boot prints, etc have never blighted our Base / HQ.

Despite this measure though, our entrance stairwell carpet has inevitably suffered over the last six years, with much dirt and wet damage occurring, particularly over the December 2009 / January 2010 period, when we were very active with snow / ice call outs, and despite our very best events to keep the stairwell carpet clean, it suffered badly from trodden in snow, salt, grit and damp.

As we take great pride in our premises, quick carpet washes were carried out, but we decided in order to keep up our standards to replace all the stairwell and landing carpets as soon as we were able.

Today with very grateful thanks to Graham Parry, Proprietor of GP Trade Carpets of Bury, (www.gptradecarpets.co.uk) our Ladybridge Hall Base / HQ was fully fitted out with brand new entrance stairwell and landings carpet, donated completely free of charge including all the fitting time. (with grateful thanks to Mark the carpet fitter)

Graham Parry is the father of long serving Team call Out list member Mark Parry, and the whole team is very grateful to Graham Parry of GP Trade Carpets of Bury for this kind donation.

On a related theme Team Trainee Team Member Martin Banks, recently had new curtains made up (donated by his mother) for the large window to our Toilet and Shower block building at at Ladybridge Hall Base / HQ.

(In order to maintain our premises in a clean and tidy condition at all times, which is commented on very often by visitors, sponsors and benefactors to the team, we vacuum all the carpets after every use of the building - another 'house' rule, and brush down the stairwell and landings. On the last Sunday of every month, a full Base / HQ valet takes place)

Thursday 8th July
Visit to team by members of Friendship Lodge 2488 RAOB GLE Ltd
This evening the team was pleased to welcome to our Ladybridge Hall Base / HQ nine members of the Friendship Lodge 2488 RAOB GLE Ltd.

Meeting them and giving them a full insight into the workings of the team, inclusive of a full tour of our Base / HQ were Team Call Out list members Chris Tennant, Ana Toole and Mark Parry, alongside Team Trainee Member Helen Rigby.

The Friendship Lodge 2488 RAOB GLE Ltd, have been appreciated supporters and friends of the team for a while now, and held their latest fund raising event for the team, a Charity Prize Bingo Night, on Tuesday 6th July 2010 at the Crown Hotel, Horwich. (See website 'news' article dated the same for a full report on this excellent and fun evening)

Team member Mark Parry commented after the visit, that our guests made for a very interested group, and asked many in depth questions about the team, and to a person they all commented that they did not realise how much we do within the local community regards our search and rescue work.

Another 'guest' this evening was Mark Parry's wife Gill, who kindly turned up to help, or was it that she was trying to find out what her husband actually gets up to in the team?

(Please also see website 'news' articles dated 13th November and 23rd December 2004, 10th March and 3rd April 2007, 9th November 2008, 11th February 2009 and 11th March 2010)

...also on Thursday 8th...
Donation from Darwen Dashers Running Club
Following our involvement with the provision of Standby Rescue Cover for the Darwen Dashers Running Club 'Aggies Staircase Fell Race' event on the evening of Thursday 24th June 2010, we are very pleased today to announce the receipt of a kind £50.00 donation from Darwen Dashers R.C. by way of thanks to the team.

The team enjoys a long and continuing association with providing support for Darwen Dashers Running Club events on the local moorlands, and is grateful to all at Darwen Dashers Running Club for their appreciated support of the Bolton MRT.

Wednesday 7th July
Mayoral Reception at Bolton Town Hall to give thanks to those involved in the Armed Forces Day / Help for Heroes events on Saturday June 26th 2010
This evening our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE and Training Officer Elaine Gilliland attended a Mayoral Reception at Bolton Town Hall to give thanks to representatives of all the many organisations involved in the Bolton Armed Forces Day / Help for Heroes events on Saturday 26th June 2010.

As regular readers will know the team was fully involved in the 30 mile and 6.9 mile running events for the Help for Heroes Charity, with Elaine being the first home runner in the 30 mile event. (See website 'news' entry for Saturday 26th June 2010)

The Mayor and Mayoress of Bolton, Cllr John Byrne and (His wife) Cllr Lynda Byrne welcomed all present to the Mayors Chamber, with the Mayor Cllr John Byrne giving his thanks to all for the undoubted success of the day.

Sgt Stephen Baldam of Greater Manchester Police, the organiser of the 30 mile and 6.9 mile running events, as well as being a successful participant in the 30 mile event, then presented jointly with the Mayor, framed Photographs of the runners to all the groups that had taken part in the runs, including Greater Manchester Police, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, the British Army, and Bolton MRT (We had three runners involved)

Our framed photographs were accepted with thanks by our Team Leader, and will now be placed on the walls of our Ladybridge Hall Base / HQ.

...also on Wednesday 7th...
Very kind donation from Gregson Lane Dog Training Club
We are very pleased to report today the receipt of a generous and kind £200.00 donation from Gregson Lane Dog Training Club. The Club meets on a weekly basis at Gregson Lane Community Centre, Hoghton, Lancashire, and amongst other training provides for the Good Citizens Dog Training Test.

In a conversation with the Clubs Treasurer, Mrs J. Williams, of Euxton, our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE heard that the Club regularly donates any 'surplus' funds within the Club to local charities, which have included the Bolton based charity 'Paws for Kids,' which provides foster homes for family pets when family relationships break down.

All members of the Gregson Lane Dog Training Club are walkers, so Mrs Williams explained to our Team Leader that their support of Mountain Rescue on a local basis was an easy one to make. The Club have also very kindly similarly supported our colleagues in Bowland Pennine Mountain Rescue Team.

The whole team membership would like to take this opportunity to thank all members of Gregson Lane Dog Training Club for their very kind and much appreciated support of the Bolton MRT.

(Please also see website 'news' article dated Friday 5th September 2008, when we reported on a previous donation from this same Club)

Tuesday 6th July
Donation of old Radio Mast to Cheshire RAYNET
Tonight, Team Radio Communications Officer, Dave Healey, received an email of thanks from Nick George on behalf of Cheshire RAYNET.

Dave had recently donated a very old & rusty pump-up radio mast to Nick after a request came in via the MR Radio community.

We should point out that Nick is ex Duddon and Furness MRT & webmaster of the MRMap website - MRMap deals with GPS tracking for MRTs - so he still counts as a MR radio person.

Nick wrote -

Hi Dave, Thank you again for the mast I collected a few weeks ago, I have now become a chap with a cupboard full of Clark spares, so it is looking good!

Thanks once again.
Nick

...also on Tuesday 6th...
The Friendship Lodge, 2488 RAOB GLE Ltd Charity Prize Bingo Evening, The Crown Hotel, Horwich
It was with great anticipation that Team Members and Family attended the Charity Prize Bingo Evening at the Crown Hotel in Horwich this evening.

Organised by The Friendship Lodge, 2466 RAOB GLE Ltd, in aid of the Bolton Mountain Rescue Team, Medical Officer Dr Clare Whitney and her parents Magdalen and Dave Heywood, Training Officer Elaine Gilliland and her parents Teresa and Howard Gilliland, Reserve Team Member Dave Marsh and Trainee Team Member Martin Banks were welcomed by members of the Friendship Lodge, including Norman Pendlebury, Treasurer, Tom Farmer, Chairman, Roy Priestley, Secretary, Harold Garland, Gofer (in his own words), but all round Lodge Organiser and Carol Walker.

Inexperienced in ‘all matters Bingo’, team members were understandably nervous about how many tickets to buy, and how the evening would progress......but as soon as expert Bingo Caller Carole commenced proceedings things went swimmingly.

Dave ‘I’ve never played this before’ Marsh won the first line game and Teresa won the game. Heckling started ‘fix’, all shouted in fun at the team members and their families....... A member of the public won the second line game, which eased the situation somewhat, but.....wait for it, Elaine won the second game. Oh no, it didn’t look good.

Dave Heywood then won the next line game.....yet again, more heckling.....eased again by another member of the public winning the next game......and on and on it went.

Throughout the evening it became evident of the competitiveness of Dr Clare (a number of ooohhh’s and aaahhh’s coming from her corner as her numbers came up), and Dave Marsh’ addictive nature as he started to ‘enjoy’ the game and reminisce about the Two Ronnies bingo sketch – 4 and 8...........number 12.

The time flew past with team members, their families and members of the public winning alternative lines and games, tickets being adjudicated by Friendship Lodge Member Norman Pendlebury – stand in Ticket Checker. Jovial comments passed back and forth between the groups and fun was had by all.

By the end of the evening, all team members had won a prize with Howard ‘scooping’ the overall end prize (for someone who doesn’t ‘do’ Bingo, a fair scoop).

We left The Crown having thoroughly enjoyed the evening and would like to express a big Thank You to Victoria and Lynette, serving rapidly behind the bar during the short breaks, Bev and Gary, Landlady and Landlord of The Crown Hotel for hosting the event and all who joined in with the event to raise money for the team. The whole team membership would like to especially thank all members of the Friendship Lodge for organising and running the event in aid of Bolton Mountain Rescue Team and we look forward to seeing them on the evening of Thursday 7th July 2010, when members will be coming to our Base HQ at Ladybridge Hall for a tour of premises and equipment demonstration.

...also on Tuesday 6th...
Team Eagley Bank Fund Raisers send another fantastic donation to the team
At the Help for Heroes / Armed Forces Day event in Bolton Town Centre on Saturday June 26th 2010, our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE had the pleasure of meeting members of Team Eagley Bank Fund Raisers at their Charity Stall, where they were busy raising funds for ourselves and the Help the Heroes Charity. (Other team members present at the same event also visited Team Eagley Bank Fund Raisers stall to personally thank them for supporting the team, as their Charity of the Year 2010-2011)

Today we are very pleased to announce that Team Eagley Bank Fund Raisers have donated to the team £205.00 from their fundraising on Saturday 26th June, with a similar amount having been raised for the Help for Heroes Charity.

This now means that to date Team Eagley Bank Fund raisers have donated the huge sum of £1,931.00 to the team as part of their Charity Year 2010-2011 support of the team.

Please also see website 'news' articles dated 3rd/13th/25th February, 31st March, 2nd/11th May, 12th/25th/26th June 2010.

Sunday 4th July
Horwich Carnival.
The team today attended Horwich Carnival, with two of our Land Rover Mountain Rescue Ambulances, BM2 with Neil Warburton and Mark Parry and BM3 with Elaine Gilliland and Diane Blakeley, actually taking part in the Carnival Procession through the crowded streets of Horwich. As with the recent Bury Carnival, we were positioned at the rear of the Procession, and yet again to much applause Mark Parry made full use of the vehicles public address system !

...also on Sunday 4th...
Belmont Primary School Sponsored Walk.
Today Belmont Primary School successfully completed their Annual Sponsored Walk to benefit this years Charity of choice for the school. (Last year we benefitted from the kindness of the school) The walk started from Belmont School, taking the Wrights Arms track to Winter Hill Summit, dropping down to Coal Pit Road, across to Horrocks Fold, then down to Longworth Clough before returning to Belmont School.

Saturday 3rd July
Tockholes Village Gala and Tockholes Fell Race 20
Very warm and dry conditions mixed with brilliant summer sunshine greeted this years Tockholes Village Gala and Annual Fell Race, attracting a very large number of visitors to this delightful village, nestling on the edge of the moors.

The team had been invited to attend and display our vehicles, search and rescue equipment and also to provide Standby Rescue Cover provision for the annual Tockholes Fell Race.

Fifteen Call Out list members were present, kindly joined by Support Group members Teresa and Howard Gilliland and Heather Jackson.

...also on Saturday 3rd...
Thanks to Team Trainee Member John Fletcher
Recently Team Trainee Member John Fletcher carried out some electrical works at our Ladybridge Hall Base / HQ , installing some additional exterior lighting to our courtyard area to aid us during night time call outs and operations.

John, of Buckshaw Village, Chorley, who has his own Electrical Engineering company, JF Electrical, carried out these works on Monday afternoon, 28th June, donating his time to the team and very kindly also donating all his material costs to the team, (His modesty prevents the cost being publicly mentioned here, but it was not minor)

The team is very grateful to John for carrying out this work for the team at no cost to the team.

This story is but one example of the many people both within and outside the team who regularly kindly support the team in a great variety of ways, freely giving up their time (and materials as in John's case) to assist the team.

Friday 2nd July
How big is the teams Primary Operational Area?
On Monday evening, 28th June 2010, we reported that our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE met with his colleague Team Leaders from Bowland Pennine MRT and Rossendale & Pendle MRT to determine their respective teams primary operational boundaries.

Bolton MRT Team member Steve Fletcher was also involved in the meeting drawing up a definitive overall map.

As part of this exercise Steve Fletcher has now determined just how big our Team Primary Operational area actually is.

In essence our Team Primary Operational area includes all parts of Greater Manchester west of a line from Manchester Airport in the south to Bury in the north, thence to Peel Tower, Holcombe, across to Bull Hill, north to Hog Low Pike, thence bounded by the M65 Motorway, across to Abbey Village, south to Belmont, with the western boundary being Redmonds / Spitlers Edge, then from Belmont over towards Rivington Village and the Rivington Reservoir complex, then over to the Greater Manchester boundary formed by the Wigan, Trafford and Manchester District boundaries, back to Manchester Airport.

This gives a total land area (Inclusive of water bodies) of 203,265.56 acres / 317 square miles / 822 square kilometres. So next time you are in a pub quiz and the question comes up of how big our team area is, well you now have the answer!

Thursday 1st July
Fantastic donation from Amber Gibson astonishes team
Our regular readers will recall that young teenager Amber Gibson of Darwen, was crowned Rose Queen of St Cuthbert's Church, Earnsdale Road, Darwen in June last year, and immediately and very kindly pledged to raise money for the Bolton Mountain Rescue Team and the RNLI in her Rose Queen Year of Office 2009-2010.

Since this time her mother Gill Gibson has kept the team up to date with her daughters fantastic fundraising events, which we have featured on this website.

Unfortunately due to other team commitments we were unable to attend the year end celebrations of Ambers year in office on June 12th last month, and in place invited Amber, her mother Gill and their friends and supporters to our Ladybridge Hall Base / HQ for an evening as our guests.

We were very pleased when this evening, Amber, her mother and other guests turned up to be met by representatives of the team at our Base / HQ.

Amber aged 14, who is a member of Springvale Ramblers, and her mother Gill, were joined by fellow St Cuthbert's Church, Darwen, members Lisa Nightingale and her daughter Briony Nightingale, Justine Moorhouse and her daughter Mollie Moorhouse and Shirley Speakman and her grand-daughter Caitlin Glover. (Briony, Mollie and Caitlin all having formed Amber's Rose Queen Retinue during her year of office)

...also on Thursday 1st...
Collection Box latest news
At tonights Support Group monthly meeting (attended by eleven of our Support Group members and Team President Bob Hutchinson- who attends as a link between the Support Group and the operational team membership) Gillian Gregory of the Support Group announced that our June 2010 collection box total was £77.72p, this low figure reflecting more the timing of when boxes are collected and their contents counted rather than any reduction in what we collect. This brings the year to date figure from our (Current) 150x Collection box sites to £2,012.17p. (Figures for 2009 were respectively £155.34p and £1,747.20p)

Thanks as ever are expressed publicly here to all who host a Collection Box and to all who contribute to the fantastic success of our Collection Boxes.

Diary - June 2010

Tuesday 29th June
Husband and Wife Mark and Gill Parry in superb fundraising effort for the team.
We are very pleased to announce this evening that team Call Out list member Mark Parry and his wife Gill, who live in Bury, have raised through sponsorship the fantastic amount of £201.00 for the Bolton MRT, after running in the Sunday May 23rd 2010 Great Manchester 10km Run. (Both finished in a very creditable time of just over an hour)

From all your team mates Mark, not forgetting Gill of course, a big thank you for your much appreciated joint donation to the team.

Monday 28th June
Team Leaders meet at our Base / HQ to determine Team Area Operational Boundaries.
Following the lead taken by Mountain Rescue Teams in North Wales and Cumbria in association with their respective Police Forces, an IT based GIS call out system for MRTs in Lancashire is being actively considered by Lancashire Constabulary, which as with the system in North Wales and Cumbria will also contain a database reference on the capabilities and resources of MRTs in the Lancashire Constabulary Force area.

Known as SARCall, a basic requirement is very accurate operational area boundaries for MRTs wishing to utilise and operate within the system, something which has never been fully determined within Lancashire, with each team having variations in what it considers to be its primary operational area.

This evening, the Team Leaders of Bolton MRT Garry Rhodes MBE, Bowland Pennine MRT Phil O'Brien and Rossendale & Pendle MRT Andy Simpson, all met at our Ladybridge Hall Base / HQ to mutually agree and accurately determine the operational boundaries between our respective team areas.

Bolton MRT team member Steve Fletcher did a sterling job at the PC translating all three Team Leaders ideas as to their team areas into one working map, with definitive boundaries established, based on historical boundaries with some changes to reflect the response times of MRTs to some parts of their area, and how some teams may mutually assist each other.

All three Team Leaders also agreed on the creation of some joint response areas, to better serve the need of casualties in rescue situations, whilst not changing teams primary operational area boundaries as such.

This information will now be forwarded to Simon Harris of Bowland Pennine MRT who is liaising with Lancashire Constabulary regarding the implementation of this system, the boundaries will also be informed to NWAS (Lancashire) who will be able to use such information when directly calling out MRTs, by local arrangement.

On a related note, Garry and Andy also agreed to jointly respond to some areas in Greater Manchester which currently sit entirely within either the Bolton or the Rossendale & Pendle MRTs primary operational areas.

Sunday 27th June
Incident 68/2010
No sooner had members got home from the previous incident when the pagers went off again from NWAS (Manchester) this time at 01.56hrs, requesting the teams attendance at an incident at Thicketford Brow, Winchester Way, Bolton, with the report of a person injured near the bridge over Bradshaw Brook.

As team members were responding to this incident, to which GMFRS and NWAS (Manchester) were also attending, the team was stood down as no longer required at 02.07hrs, so off we all went back to our beds.

Saturday 26th June
Incident 67/2010
At 23.43hrs late this fine summers evening, the pagers went off with a request from NWAS (Manchester) to assist them regarding the reports of an unconscious young male in woodlands in the vicinity of High Rid Reservoir, Heaton, Bolton. With members already responding to our team vehicle garage locations, a full team call out page with more incident details was sent at 23.54hrs.

At 00.02hrs, on Sunday 27th June, our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE, and our BM3 Land Rover MR ambulance arrived together at the Old Kiln Lane junction with the track to High Rid Reservoir, with our Deputy Team Leader Geoff Seddon arriving at the same time at the opposite end of the same track, where he quickly met up with responding NWAS (Manchester) resources. (A solo crewed RRV and an Emergency Ambulance)

Our BM1, 2 and 4 vehicles all arrived by 00.14hrs together with other responding members to learn that Geoff Seddon and the NWAS crews had located the youth involved, (an intoxicated 16 year old) who with assistance was able to walk out of the woodland and to the waiting NWAS (Manchester) Ambulance.

GMP also dispatched two Officers to this incident, as it was initially considered that the Greater Manchester Police Air Support Unit helicopter may be needed to assist with a search of the woodlands to locate the injured youth. (in the event the services of the helicopter were not required)

All MRT resources, GMP and NWAS left the scene by 00.40hrs, with 12 Call Out list members having responded to the scene, and a further 6 stood down responding to the incident.

...also on Saturday 26th...
Team Collection Day at Morrisons, Atlas Mill, Bolton.
With the team Call Out list membership already committed to the Help the Heroes events today, it fell largely to our Support Group to hold our Collection Day at the Atlas Mill, Bolton, Morrisons store today.

In total Marcin Zadlo of the Call Out list membership attended, our President Bob Hutchinson, nine support group members and former team member Jonathan Whiting all gave up their time to shake and rattle the tins, collecting a fantastic £443.46, meeting with much appreciated support from shoppers.

Andy Murphy & Bob Hutchinson man the buckets

...also on Saturday 26th...
Yet another marvelous donation from our friends and supporters at Team Eagley Bank Fund Raisers.
Only yesterday we reported a large donation from our friends and supporters at Team Eagley Bank Fund Raisers, to find out today that they have raised a further £55.00 for us via their involvement in the Rotary Club of Turton Duck Race 2010. This now means that to date Team Eagley Bank Fund Raisers have donated the very considerable sum of £1,726.00 for the team, as part of their Charity Year 2010-2011 support of the team.

At the Help for Heroes / Armed Forces Day event in Bolton Town Centre today, our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE had the pleasure of meeting members of Team Eagley Bank Fund Raisers at their Charity Stall, where they were busy raising funds for ourselves and the Help the Heroes Charity. (Other team members present at the same event also visited Team Eagley Bank Fund Raisers stall to personally thank them for supporting the team)

Please also see website 'news' articles dated 3rd/13th/25th February, 31st March, 2nd/11th May, 12th/25th June 2010.

...also on Saturday 26th...
Kind donation from competitor in Help for Heroes running event today.
At the conclusion of the 6.9 mile run today (See below article) team members including our own runner Fred, were asked to first aid the blistered feet of a small number of the runners who had suffered such on their run.

One runner Adrian Taylor of GMFRS Bolton Fire Station, kindly donated with thanks £5.00 to the team after team member Mark Scott dressed his blistered feet.

...also on Saturday 26th...
Team plays a full part in events linked to Help for Heroes Charity and Armed Forces Day in Bolton
Today team members were out in force to support two charity runs organised and co-ordinated by Greater Manchester Police to raise funds for the Help for Heroes Charity.

The team had previously taken part in a similar event on Saturday 7th November 2009 (See website 'news' item) but the running events today were on a much larger scale, which has involved our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE in regular planning and liaison meetings with the overall organiser Sgt Stephen Baldam of GMP, Brain Wiggans of GMFRS, W/O Peter Rhodes of the British Army and Sally Hayes of Bolton Council.

The team provided Standby Rescue Cover, moorland checkpoints, catering points (Joint with GMP and GMFRS) and marshalling for two runs today, both linked to Commando Training activities in the Second World War.

The first event, with 19 competitors from GMP, GMP PCSO, British Army, and our Team, started off at Fulwood Barracks Preston, taking in Great Hill and Winter Hill on the local moors and culminated in Bolton Town Centre to much applause from the crowds gathered at the Armed Forces Day event.

Leading group of the 30 miler

Team members congratulate Elaine

Team member Fred, enjoying the sun & his music ......

... and Brian enjoying the weather

Fred & Brian looking rather relaxed after the run .....

... Elaine receiving her champagne

...also on Saturday 26th...
Team called to assist our colleagues at Bowland Pennine Mountain Rescue Team.
At 09.36hrs this morning the team was paged directly by the Deputy Leader of Bowland Pennine MRT requesting the teams assistance with a search for a missing child in the Lancaster area.

Our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE answered the pager call, informing BPMRT that the Bolton MRT was already committed to a local event, (See article on Help for Heroes events) but would be able to lend its assistance from early afternoon onwards.

Our Team Leader then paged the Bolton MRT membership to inform them to be prepared to assist BPMRT later in the day.

Shortly after this at 09.49hrs we received a pager call from BPMRT that Lancashire Constabulary Officers had thankfully located the missing child at a friends address safe and well.

This call on the teams services has not been logged as a team incident, and is recorded here for information purposes only.

Friday 25th June
Another fantastic donation from our valued friends at Team Eagley Bank Fund Raisers.
On Saturday June 12th this month our valued friends at Team Eagley Bank Fund Raisers, who have made us their Charity of the Year 2010-2011, held their Annual Charity Garden Party, to which the team sent some members and one of our Land Rover Mountain Rescue Ambulances.

Today we can announce the receipt of an absolutely fantastic grand donation of £1,219.00 arising from the Garden Party, (With Maureen Heggie of Team Eagley Bank Fund Raisers reporting that possibly a few more donations from the day may filter through yet)

This now means that Team Eagley Bank Fund Raisers have raised so far this year the marvelous sum of £1,671.00 for the Bolton Mountain Rescue Team, for which the entire team membership is truely grateful.

Team Eagley Bank Fund Raisers can be seen tomorrow, Saturday 26th June, in Bolton Town Hall Square, where they will have a fundraising stall for Bolton MRT and the Help for Heroes Charity as part of the Armed Forces Day events being held there, why not call by and support their stall.

Please also see website 'news' articles dated 3rd/13th/25th February, 31st March, 2nd/11th May and 12th June 2010.

...also on Friday 25th...
Further donation in relation to 'A celebration of St. George's Day' donation reported on Sunday 2nd May 2010.
On May 2nd 2010, we reported on Ann Nightingale of Bolton, (and her sister Jean Richardson) who together every year arrange a charitable event to celebrate St George's Day, this year choosing our team as the beneficiary.

In total we reported their event raised the fantastic sum of £284.00 for the team.

We are very pleased tonight to report on a further £10.00 donation to be added to this amount, from a friend of Ann and Jean who could not attend their St George's Day Evening event this year, so the total now raised for the team is a very gratefully received £294.00.

Please also see website 'news' item dated Sunday 2nd May 2010.

Thursday 24th June
Provision of Standby Rescue Cover, Aggies Staircase Fell Race.
This evening 27x Team Call Out list members, and former team member Paul Brain, in our four Land Rover Mountain Rescue Ambulances and our minibus, provided standby rescue cover for the annual Aggies Staircase Fell Race, organised by Darwen Dashers Running Club, which takes in a route over Darwen Moor, including the very steep path section above Stepback Brook, known as Aggies Staircase.

Just like last years event, excellent very dry ground conditions, sunny skies and a wind just breezy enough to keep the midges at bay gave an excellent race for the 126 x competitors taking part, in an event which passed both quickly and thankfully without incident.

Wednesday 23rd June
Incident 66/2010
Whilst enjoying a post climbing evening pint at the Wilton Arms Public House at circa 22:20, long serving team member Louise Jorgensen and former (experienced) team member Neil Ramsbottom heard a loud crash and witnessed a vehicle leaving the road (Scout Road, Horrocks Fold) and then rolling down the steep hillside below Scout Road, coming to a rest half-way down the slope.

Whilst Neil immediately ran up the hillside to the incident scene, team member Louise Jorgensen contacted Greater Manchester Police whilst Neil contacted NWAS (Manchester). They both suggested in their phonecalls the immediate callout of the team.

In the event, our Team Leader, at the request of the first responding Police and Ambulance crews, was contacted directly via Louise Jorgensen at circa 22:34 to respond to the incident. A full team pager call was made at 22:43, by which time some team members had already commenced a response.

Vehicle RVP on Scout Road; the incident location was below the road to the right of this picture

The incident scene, NWAS personnel treating the casualty and GMFRS personnel are extricating him from the car

BMRT, GMFRS and NWAS personnel prepare to carry the casualty out of the car

Back at the roadhead with the casualty in the waiting Ambulance

• Bolton MRT
  • 21 team callout list members and one former team member
  • 3 LandRover Mountain Rescue Ambulances
• NWAS (Manchester)
  • One RRV (solo-crewed)
  • One Emergency Ambulance
  • Three Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) vehicles
  • Eight HART team members
  • One Sector Manager
• GMFRS
  • Three pump appliances from Bolton Central and Bolton North Fire Stations
  • One aerial ladder platform appliance from Bolton Central Fire Station
  • Three incident officers
• Greater Manchester Police
  • Local divisional officers
  • CID staff
  • Traffic section officers
  • Air Support Unit helicopter India 99

...also on Wednesday 23rd...
Team new vehicle fleet latest news. Three ***Brand new Land Rover mountain rescue Land Rovers*** ordered by the team
Today marked a very special moment for the team when for only the second time in the teams history, we placed an order for three brand new Land Rover Mountain Rescue Ambulances, at an estimated total purchase price of some £130,000.00, the culmination of some major fundraising that has taken place within the team over the recent last two years, aided by a truely wonderful single donation of £40,000.00 from the East Lancashire Mark Benevolent Fund.

Seven team members consisting of our Team Chairman Ken Oakes, President Bob Hutchinson, Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE, Training Officer Elaine Gilliland, Vehicles Officer Chris Greenhalgh, Neil Aspinall and Trainee Team member Martin Banks all journeyed in our BM5 Minibus to the Greenod, Cumbria, workshops of Crake International, part of Lakeland Land Rover, Torver, Coniston, to place the order.

At Crake International we were met by Colin Todd, Special Vehicles Manager and Paul Smith, LakeLand Land Rover Sales Manager, who both made us truely welcome.

Colin Todd astounded us with his very intimate and comprehensive knowledge of all things Land Rover, particularly with regards to Mountain Rescue Land Rovers. (Two new vehicles for Swaledale MRT were in build in his workshops, as well as the many vehicles he has built for Lake District Mountain Rescue Teams) The group present, after much discussion within the team, also discussed and finalised the exact vehicle specifications, fixtures and fittings we required, with Colin Todd of Crake International offering much advice.

The team placed a deposit with Lakeland Land Rovers for the supply of three new Land Rover Defender 110 Utility vehicles which will then undergo a major internal and external conversion programme to create the latest generation of Mountain Rescue vehicle.

All three vehicles are due to be delivered into Bolton MRT team service around February 2011, keep watching the website for news updates on the build progress of our new vehicles.

On the way up to the Lake District the group also took the opportunity to call in at the Garstang Base / HQ of Bowland Pennine MRT, where we were met by BPMRT long serving member Simon Harris, who demonstrated their new Control Vehicle, which is to the same overall specification we require, and have decided to purchase as part of our new team vehicle fleet.

Simon very kindly offered to send to the Bolton MRT their detailed working drawings and specification details for their Control Vehicle to assit us in our purchase and commisioning of such a vehicle.

again keep watching our website for news of this exciting development.

(Please also see website 'news' items dated Sunday 13th June and Monday 14th June 2010)

Tuesday 22nd June
Edgworth Real Ale Festival Committee members in 'Official' handover of Team Boat and Water Search and Rescue Equipment
This evening four members of the Edgworth Real Ale Festival Committee were our special guests at our Ladybridge Hall Base / HQ when they visited to preside over their 'Official' handover to the team of our semi rigid inflatable boat and six sets of water search and rescue equipment.

All of this was kindly provided by the ERAF Committee members through a very generous donation of £6,000.00 to the team arising from the 2009 Edgworth Real Ale Festival.

On hand to meet and thank our honoured guests were Team Chairman Ken Oakes, Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE, Deputy Team Leader Geoff Seddon, Training Officer Elaine Gilliland, Equipment Officer (and Regional MR Water search and Rescue Officer) Fred Taylor and nine other team members.

...also on Tuesday 22nd...
'Final' press photo launch for Help the Heroes, Bolton Commando Run and associated events on Saturday 26th June 2010
This afternoon Team representatives met up with other representatives taking part in the above events for a press photograph as part of the final advance publicity for Saturday 26th June.

Meeting up first for an audience with the Mayor and Mayoress of Bolton, Cllr John Byrne and his wife Lynda Byrne in the Mayoral Chambers, Bolton Town Hall, all present then went on to Bolton Town Hall Square for the press picture for the Bolton News.

Our representatives, Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE (Co-ordinator of the teams major involvement in this event) and Training Officer Elaine Gilliland (Running in the 30 mile Preston to Bolton part of the event, and like all others taking part, doing it whilst carrying a 32lb rucksac and in boots!) took the opportunity to thank the Mayor and Mayoress for their recent very kind personal £20.00 donation to the team when they attended the Team Eagley Bank event on Saturday 12th June 2010. (See news item dated the same)

Present at the press picture alongside Garry and Elaine were;
Warrant Officer Peter Rhodes, British Army, Sgt Stephen Baldam of GMP (The overall organiser of this event and runner in the 30 mile part of the event), the Clown Fish Mascot from Blue Planet Aquarium, John Edwards from the Royal Artillery Association (Bolton Branch) and Brian Wiggans GMFRS, alongside of course the Mayor and Mayoress of Bolton.

Come along and cheer on the runners from the Preston to Bolton and Winter Hill to Bolton events as they enter Bolton Town Hall Square on Saturday afternoon, June 26th 2010.

Monday 21st June
Incident 65/2010
At 20.55hrs this fine and sunny evening, GMP contacted our Team Leader Garry Rhodes for the teams immediate assistance in the developing search for two young children missing together in the Tonge Moor area of Bolton.

A team standby page was made at 20.59hrs closely followed by a full team call out page at 21.03hrs.

Our Team Leader responded directly to the Police RVP next to the Matalan Store on Folds Road / Tonge Moor Road, Bolton, arriving at 21.20hrs to meet the GMP Missing Person Search Manager.

The two young children involved, aged 6 and 8, had last been seen together playing outside their home addresses on the same street in the Tonge Moor area in mid afternoon, with Police being made aware of the missing children in the early evening, prompting an initial search by Divisional Police Officers.

As the search area contained open and dense woodland, grassland and Eagley Brook / River Tonge, as well as many industrial units, and considering the children's young age, as time went on there was growing concern for their well being.

Joining the GMP search were the families of the two boys involved and many local residents, with the GMP Air Support Unit Helicopter not only involved in the search but also using its 'Skyshout' public address system to ask members of the public to look out for the missing children.

As team members were arriving at the Search RVP and with search plans being formulated to increase the search areas, Police Officers in response to reported sightings of the children near to some industrial units on Union Road, Back o' th' Bank / Tonge Moor, safely located the two children at circa 21.45hrs.

The following resources were responding to or directly involved in this search operation:

• Bolton MRT; 23x Team members stood down on scene at the search RVP, 4x other team members stood down responding to the RVP. 5x Team Vehicles, our Control Trailer, one Team Kayak Unit, our team Semi Rigid Inflatable Boat (And Team Water Search and Rescue personnel)
• Greater Manchester Police ; Divisional Officers, a Missing Person Search Manager, 1x Tactical Aid Unit on scene and two others stood down responding, GMP Air Support Unit Helicopter 'India 99.'
• Family members of the two missing boys and local residents.

Sunday 20th June
Standby rescue cover and casualty care provision at Horwich Carnival Races
Held for the last nine years and with continuous team involvement since 2004, the Horwich Carnival Races are a day long culmination of running and cycling events over the previous week, held within Horwich Town Centre which uniquely is completely closed to traffic for the day in order for the races to be run in safety.

Races around the town centre circuit included road walking and running events, fun runs, various youth and senior cycle races, and the Horwich Town Council British Cycling National Paracycling Circuit Race Championships.

In total 21 team members were present around the course, in four team Land Rover Ambulances, and the teams minibus, (Appropriately equipped for the event). Our involvement was co-ordinated from our Control trailer, with direct links to the Races Marshal Team. (With very experienced team member Mike Marsh in charge of the team)

Lucky for all, the morning sunshine stayed with the event throughout the day, with the spectators present being treated to some fantastic athletes in a very varied selection of events.

Thankfully all the events largely passed without any requirement on our services, except for a young 11 year old girl cyclist who suffered grazes and bruises in a fall, and a 21 year old male cyclist who fell in the last race. (Neither have been recorded within our Incident listings, these incidents are listed here for information only)

The organisers and co-ordinators of this annual event, Horwich Carnival Races Committee, Lostock Athletics Club, Horwich Cycling Club and Horwich RMI Harriers and Athletics Club alongside Horwich Town Council and the event sponsors are to be congratulated on their skills and abilities on putting on such an event within their local community that attracts a great gathering of renowned sportsmen and women. (not forgetting all the Junior Athletes)

The team welcomes the opportunity to be associated with this local event and looks forward to next year's Horwich Carnival Races.

See the link to Horwich Carnival Races for more information.

...also on Sunday 20th...
Team member news
Trainee Team member Dean Mellor, who joined the team in January this year, has now sadly had to leave the team due to his business commitments taking him increasingly away from the team area.

All the team membership wishes Dean all best wishes for the future.

Saturday 19th June
Incident 64/2010
At 23.35hrs late this summer evening we were paged by NWAS (Manchester) Emergency Control for the teams assistance at an incident in Haigh Hall Plantations, involving the report of a teenage girl having fallen down a gully.

A full team call out page was made at 23.47hrs by which time members were already responding to our team vehicle base locations.

Our first member at the RVP, Elaine Gilliland (Our Training Officer) arrived at 00.16hrs at the main entrance on Wigan Lane to Haigh Hall Plantations, and met up with a responding NWAS (Manchester) RRV crew member and established that an Ambulance crew was already on scene with the 16 year old girl, who had apparently fallen some 20 feet according to her friends, whilst out camping with a mixed group of youths ranging from teenagers to their early twenties.

GMFRS were called to gain access through the locked main entrance gates, with our first team vehicle arriving on scene at 00.18hrs and our Team Leader at 00.19hrs.

With access gained to the track network of the Haigh Hall Plantations, our BM3 Land Rover Mountain Rescue Ambulance, the NWAS (Manchester) RRV and our Team Leaders vehicle all drove into the plantations, and were able to park near to the incident location.

By this stage other responding team members and team vehicles were all held at the Wigan Lane RVP along with responding GMP Officers.

For our five team members and the NWAS RRV Paramedic in the 'rescue' party it was a simple matter of locating the injured girl (Who following her fall had immediately been cared for by two First Aiders in the camping group) and the two NWAS crew members treating her in the dense woodlands, and providing lighting and an escort back to the RRV vehicle, and our vehicles.

The girl was driven back to the main RVP in the RRV vehicle, with our Team Leader transporting two of her friends in his car back to the RVP.

By 00.50hrs the girl involved was placed in the responding Emergency Ambulance for the very short trip (Almost across the road!) to Wigan Hospital.

All team members had left the scene by 01.20hrs.

The following resources were involved in this incident;

• Bolton MRT; 15x Team members, and our BM1,2 and 3 Land Rover Mountain Rescue Ambulances.
• Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service; 1x Pump appliance from Wigan Fire Station.
• North West Ambulance Service (Manchester); Emergency Control, an Emergency
• Ambulance from Wigan Ambulance Station, and a solo crewed (Paramedic) Rapid Response Vehicle.
• Greater Manchester Police; Divisional Officers.

...also on Saturday 19th...
Belthorn Village Party
This afternoon the team attended the Belthorn Village Party with five full team call out list members, consisting of our Chairman Ken Oakes, Training Officer Elaine Gilliland, long serving team member Mike Marsh, Steve Nelson and Trainee team member Judith Waltho, together with support group member Iain Clarkson, along with two of the teams Land Rover Mountain Rescue Ambulances.

The Party has become an annual event, incorporating many popular events and attractions.

The team have been attending this event for a number of years now. Belthorn is also home of "The Shed", who in Jim, the owner of The Shed, together with contributions from the village, donate a large sum of money to the team each year.

.

Belthorn Annual Village Party in the Park – Saturday 19th June 2010

A breezy, overcast day saw 5 team members and 1 support member of Bolton Mountain Rescue Team arrive at the Belthorn Annual Village Party in the Park.

Travelling in two team vehicles, BM3 and BM1, Chairman, Ken Oakes, Team Members Mike Marsh and Elaine Gilliland and Trainee Team Member Judith Waltho, met with Team Member, Steve Nelson and his son Ethan, and Support Group member Iain Clarkson at the Park.

The music rang out across the park from Skippy’s Roadshow as team members demonstrated equipment and vehicles to the people of Belthorn Village and as events commenced, the sun came out and more and more people arrived.

There were a number of stalls at the Party in the Park, including The Belthorn Village History Society, Bric-a-Brac, Nail Painting Stall, Bat the Rat and the obligatory Beer Tent and a number of events / competitions took place such as ‘The Dog with the Waggiest Tail’, Welly Throwing (child and adult), and Tug of War.

Two and a half hours of fun in the sunshine passed extremely quickly and at 16.30 hours the team packed up the equipment and left the Villagers of Belthorn and Visitors to carry on with the enjoyment of the events of the party.

The whole team membership would like to take this opportunity to thank the residents of Belthorn for their continued support and the invitation to their ‘Party in the Park’.

...also on Saturday 19th...
Kind donation from Burnden Road Runners
We are very pleased today to have received a £50.00 donation from Burnden Road Runners Club, following our provision of standby rescue cover on Sunday May 30th 2010, for their second 'Smithills Serpent' 5 mile running event based on the fringes of Smithills Country Park, Bolton, see news report dated Sunday 30th May 2010.

Burnden Road Runners in a letter accompanying their kind donation outlined that they hope to stage this same event next year and the team has again pledged its future support of such by offering to continue to provide standby rescue cover.

(Please also see website 'news' article dated Sunday 30th May 2010)

Friday 18th June
'Second' sponsorship monies received following walk undertaken by Jayne Bayliss in aid of the team
Regular readers will be familiar with the walk from Adlington to Haworth recently undertaken by Jayne Bayliss in the company of two friends, to raise money for the Bolton MRT.

Today we are very happy to have received from Jayne the 'second' batch of sponsorship monies she has collected in, amounting to the fantastic sum of £178.00.

With this latest amount Jayne has now passed over to the team a very much appreciated grand total of £403.00

The team would like to thank Jayne for undertaking her walk and we also extend our sincere thanks to all who have sponsored Jayne in aid of the team.

(Please also see website 'news' articles dated Wednesday 9th June, Monday 7th June, Saturday 30th May, Wednesday 5th May and Sunday 28th February 2010)

Thursday 17th June
Standby Rescue Cover - Two Lads Fell Race.
Organised by Horwich RMI Harriers and Athletics Club, and forming part of the Horwich Carnival Race Series, this annual Fell Race takes in a course that commences in Horwich, ascends through Wilderswood and Wilders Moor onto Adam Hill and White Brow, thence to Two Lads summit and descends back into Horwich.

The race, commencing at 19:30 attracted 76 runners, all of whom completed the event without incident. As in previous years the Team was on hand to provide back up to the marshal’s at the various marshal’s points and to provide standby rescue cover in case of any incident.

Twenty eight team members attended tonights standby rescue cover event, together with our four Land Rover Mountain Rescue Ambulance vehicles, with our involvement co-ordinated from our Control Trailer.

The event on this very warm evening combined with excellent dry running conditions, gave some very fast running times for the runners taking part.

On Sunday 20th June, the team will be on hand for the all day long Horwich Carnival Races, which is the culminating event of the Race Series.

Wednesday 16th June
Congratulations to Roger Jones of Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation on becoming a MBE
The Bolton MRT wishes to pass on its best wishes and congratulations to Roger Jones, aged 65, of Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation on his becoming a MBE in the latest Honours Listing for services to Mountain Rescue.

Roger has been in mountain rescue for some 49 years now, all with the Ogwen Team and its forerunners, and was up to this year when he stood down from the position, a very long serving Team Leader with the OVMRO.

Roger is still actively involved in the Ogwen Team. (Further details may be found within the 'news' pages of the Mountain Rescue England and Wales website, accessed from our links page)

...also on Wednesday 16th...
Kind donation from Ryan Kinnear of Sefton
We are pleased to announce the receipt today of a £2.00 donation from Ryan Kinnear of Sefton, Liverpool.

Ryan raised this money for us during a one mile run at the Hugh Baird College, where he is studying on the Pre-Uniform Course, NCFE Certificate in Volunteering.

Ryan in a letter to the team stated; "I realise the money is not a lot but put the money to good use."

The team appreciates all donations of whatever value, it is the support of us that counts and the sentiments behind such support.

Tuesday 15th June
Multi Agency Introduction to Civil Contingencies course attended today by our Team Leader
Today our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE attended at the kind invitation of Bolton Council a day long course regarding Multi Agency Introduction to Civil Contingencies.

Held at the excellent venue of the Bolton Council Castle Hill Training Centre, Castleton Street, Bolton, the course attracted 30 participants including the course facilitators and session presenters.

The course objectives included;

• To understand the context and implications of the Civil Contingencies Act 2004 and the statutory duties it places on Category 1 and 2 responders.
• To become familiar with the role of all agencies involved in planning, preparing for and responding to emergencies.
• To share knowledge and understanding with other local agencies.
• To learn from previous experiences of responding to emergencies.

• Ros Baxter, Head of Civil Contingencies, Bolton Council.
• Inspector Paul Murphy, Greater Manchester Police (Bolton).
• Station Commander Steve Parkinson (Bolton) Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service.
• Operational Manager (Bolton group of Ambulance Stations) Graham Barton, North West Ambulance Service (Manchester).
• Jimmy Tunn, Head of Emergency Planning, Royal Bolton Hospital.
• Stephen Kirkley, Emergency Planning Manager, Primary Care Trust.
• Kate Marsh, Counter Terrorism Security Advisor, Greater Manchester Police Counter Terrorism Branch.

Monday 14th June
Team receives a major very substantial donation (The biggest donation received in our history) from the East Lancashire Mark Benevolent Fund Limited
Today we are extremely pleased to publicly announce a major donation to our team, the largest ever received by us in the entire teams history, and directly linked to donations in the same amount to two of our colleague Mountain Rescue Teams, all by the same body.

For over a year now senior team members, principally our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE, our Deputy Team Leader Geoff Seddon, Chairman Ken Oakes, President Bob Hutchinson and Vice President Tony McNally have been in regular meetings with members of the Executive Committee of the East Lancashire Mark Benevolent Fund Limited, principally John Crawford, Treasurer of the Executive Committee of the East Lancashire Mark Benevolent Fund Limited.

The East Lancashire Mark Benevolent Fund Limited is the Masonic Charity of the East Lancashire Mark Freemasons, representing some 96 Masonic Lodges. The reasons for the meetings have been to discuss with the team how the East Lancashire Mark Benevolent Fund Limited could be used to help and assist the team in celebration of the 2010 Centenary Year of the East Lancashire Mark Freemasons.

Within the team the meetings were held on a regular and confidential basis, and soon after the first meeting ideas revolved around help towards purchasing a new team Land Rover Ambulance.

With each meeting between the Executive Committee members of the ELMBF Ltd and the team, including a great deal of telephone conversations, the amount of the donation increased steadily in value as we reported our plans to the Executive Committee.

At an early stage we realised that the value of the donation being discussed would be major in nature and would enable us to actively consider the replacement of our existing vehicle fleet, the donation effectively substantially 'kick starting' our plans in this direction.

We can now reveal this evening the total amount that has been donated to us by the East Lancashire Mark Benevolent Fund Limited, it is an absolutely amazing and very substantial £40,000.00 (Forty Thousand Pounds).

This will be utilised in full to purchase one brand new Land Rover Mountain Rescue latest specification Ambulance Vehicle, with this vehicle being dedicated to the East Lancashire Mark Benevolent Fund Limited.

The kindness of the Executive Committee of the ELMBF Ltd following their meetings with the Bolton Mountain Rescue Team and their growing awareness through our meetings of the needs and plans of neighbouring teams, plus how we all work together within the wider local community, directly led to the ELMBF Ltd firstly approaching the Oldham MRT early this year, closely followed by a similar approach to Rossendale and Pendle MRT, resulting in an offer to support both Oldham MRT and Rossendale & Pendle MRT in the same manner as their support to us, again in direct celebration of the 2010 Centenary Year of the East Lancashire Mark Freemasons.

We can also publicly announce today (With their permission) the fantastic donation of £40,000.00 each to Oldham MRT and Rossendale & Pendle MRT by ELMBF Ltd, and as in our teams case, each team will use these substantial donations to purchase new vehicles. (In Oldham MRTs case the donation will enable them combined like us with other financial assets, to purchase two brand new Land Rover Mountain Rescue latest specification Ambulance vehicles, with RPMRT still considering the vehicle type they wish to purchase).

The overall donation of £40,000.00 to all three MRTs including ours, making a total donation of £120,000.00 to mountain rescue, represents what we believe to be one of the largest single donations to Mountain Rescue in England and Wales of recent years, and is certainly the largest single donation ever made to MRTs operating in the Greater Manchester and surrounding areas.

The generosity and kindness of the East Lancashire Mark Benevolent Fund Limited has enabled ourselves, OMRT and RPMRT to immediately put in hand plans to obtain new vehicle fleets in varying degrees (combined with the existing financial assets of each team) which will keep all three teams to the forefront of modern mountain rescue operations, by purchasing and operating the very latest generation of mountain rescue vehicles.

To say our team membership is very pleased at this huge donation is a undestatement, we all all over the moon with such generous and major support, (As are the members of OMRT and RPMRT).

The team would like to express its sincere and heartfelt thanks to the East Lancashire Mark Benevolent Fund Limited and their Executive Committee, particularly their Treasurer John Crawford, for their very much appreciated support of the Bolton Mountain Rescue Team.

Obviously as matters progress with the purchase of our new Land Rover (Linked to other vehicle purchase plans, see our website article dated Sunday 13th June 2010) we will continue to report such through the medium of our website.

The team is very honoured to be receiving the continuing support of our friends at the East Lancashire Mark Benevolent Fund Limited, and in turn we will be present with our team vehicles and a search and rescue equipment demonstration , as per 2008 and 2009, at the East Lancashire Mark Fellowship Day at Middleton Masonic Club, Manchester Old Road, Middleton, M24 4DY on Sunday 29th August 2010, from 12.00 noon onwards.

Please also see website 'news' articles linked to this donation, dated Wednesday 6th February and Sunday 24th August 2008, Thursday 20th August, Sunday 30th August and Wednesday 2nd December 2009.

Sunday 13th June
Plans for new Vehicle fleet for Bolton Mountain Rescue Team announced.
With three of our Land Rover Mountain Rescue Ambulance vehicles approaching eleven years old this August, and our fourth Land Rover MR Ambulance approaching seven years old, the team has been anticipating and investigating their replacement for a couple of years now.

This has included looking at what our future team transport needs actually are, much informed crystal ball gazing!, how our current vehicle fleet has met the teams needs over the last decade, and the very important issue of how much such plans might cost.

Linked directly to this has been the teams long term aim to operate a Control Vehicle rather than the Control Trailer we currently operate. The second such dedicated purpose built control trailer we have operated.

Various team vehicle fleet options were investigated and discussed, alongside their likely costs to the team. before finally consolidating our thoughts this spring.

Due to a large number of donations and bequests, the team by spring this year found itself in the enviable position where our plans now seemed feasible, and with the consolidation of our thoughts we moved on to the next stage, including firming up priced options and looking at vehicle types and specifications. Thanks must be registered here to the considerable help in this matter that we have received from our colleagues at Oldham MRT who are involved in a similar exercise, and have very kindly openly shared their findings with us.

A small number of team members also visited Langdale Ambleside MRT to look at the general type of vehicle and specification we are considering, their team having recently purchased four new vehicles. We have also spent some considerable time web browsing at other MRT websites looking at their vehicle purchases, talking to other teams and mulling over much information.

With approval to our plans gained at Team Council level, under our constitution the whole team was invited to attend a General Meeting on Wednesday 9th June 2010, to give its approval or otherwise to the future vehicle fleet proposals proposed by our Team Council.

Such approval was forthcoming with all present at the meeting being in favour of our plans.

Our vehicle replacement plan can now be made public, which entails the following;

• To move to the future operation of a five vehicle fleet,
  • consisting of three, brand new purchase, coach built Land Rover Defender 'Mountain Rescue Ambulance' specification vehicles, all to be operated within the team to the same standard and same team equipment fit. (Each vehicle is costed in the region of £44,000.00)
  • We will also purchase a Control Vehicle, based upon a standard commercial van, costed in the region of £40,000.00, with our colleagues at Bowland Pennine MRT who have just put into operation a similar vehicle kindly offering to share their specification details.
  • To continue operating our 2nd hand donated, ex GMP, minibus, but to look to its replacement with a similar vehicle at an as yet unspecified point in the future.

Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE. 38 Heathfield Drive, Tyldesley, Manchester, M29 8PW or email TL@boltonmrt.org.uk.

Saturday 12th June
Team Eagley Bank Fund Raisers - Annual Garden Party.
With most of the team at Bury Carnival, team call out list members Louise Jorgensen, Michael O'Brien and Stephen Kenworthy in our BM4 Land Rover Mountain Rescue Ambulance vehicle, joined by Support Group member Iain Clarkson, attended the Annual Garden Party at Eagley Bank organised by Team Eagley Bank Fund Raisers, who have made us their Charity of the Year 2010-2011. (Having raised a fantastic £452.00 for the team so far, and its only the start of their fund raising year for us !)

Opened by the newly installed Mayor and Mayoress of Bolton at 12.00 noon, the day was by all accounts a total success with Louise, Michael, Stephen and Iain all commenting that they had been made most welcome and had thoroughly enjoyed their day out as invited guests of Team Eagley Bank fund Raisers. (the cakes and drinks they were plied with helped as well !)

There follows a report on the Garden Party by Louise Jorgensen.

As we turned the corner into the close, thinking we'd gone wrong in our directions, it became immediately apparent that we hadn't! We were suddenly plunged into the middle of the Garden Party. Most of the houses in the close had one, if not more, stalls on their front lawns! Amongst the stalls was some brilliant reminders of my youth - throw a ring over the bottle, a Lucky 7 tombola, hook a duck, roll a 10p (it was an old penny in my day!) plus plants for sale, brik a brak, a book stall (I managed to aquire a copy of the 1960 Good House Keeping Annual so beware Paul - I shall be polishing your shoes with newspaper and killing you with suet puddings) and an incredibly perceptive fortune teller who got me down to a tee on a reading based on my handwriting. A back garden was converted into a tea garden ( it was fun trying to watch people match up their almost-identical-but-not-quite loaned garden furniture at the end) and hot dogs were being liberally distributed. It was brilliant. Not wanting to miss out, we were joined by Mikes wife, chris and his 2 boys for the afternoon.

You couldn't escape the over-whelming feeling of a great community spirit and hospitality. On our arrival, We were immediately handed a £5 donation from Steve, a resident, before we even had the chance to all get out of the vehicle who then proceeded to take who took our brew orders. People were only too willing to chat and we made a lot of new friends during the afternoon. One poignant meeting was with the mother of Adam Littleford (incident 93/2009 ) who tragically drowned in December of last year. A stall was being run to 'Buy a Star for Adam' and his mother picked the winning star for which a cottage holiday in the lakes had been donated. We were also privilidged to meet the Mayor and Mayoress of Bolton, who also made an individual donation to the team.We were spoilt to the very end when we were lured (resisting I hasten to add!) into the tea garden for a full cream tea ...mmmmmm !

We cannot start to thanks the residents and friends of Eagley bank for their over whelming generosity, hospitality and friendship shown to us at the Garden Party. Thank you for making it a very memorable day.

...also on Saturday 12th...
Team attends Bury Lions Club Bury Carnival.
Today at the very kind invitation of the Lions Club of Bury, the team joint with our colleagues at Rossendale and Pendle MRT attended the Bury Lions Club Bury Carnival.

Sunshine and hot weather greeted us and stayed with us all day, resulting in a very busy, well attended carnival.

In total 10x team call out list members attended and 1x team Support Group member, along with our BM1, 2 and 3 Land Rover Mountain Rescue Ambulances, our BM5 Minibus, our Search and Rescue Boat and our Control Trailer.

As well as the above we put on a mountain rescue search and rescue kit display, our full team display panels were on show and we operated a second hand book stall.

Team Leader Garry Rhodes starts his recruitment drive for 2025.

Friday 11th June
Incident 63/2010
At 14.50hrs on this very warm sunny afternoon, we were paged by Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service to respond on a joint agency basis to an incident at Belmont, in the vicinity of Wards Reservoir.

The initiating call out page was answered by team call out contact Mike Marsh, who via GMFRS was asked to contact Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service for further information on the incident and location, who in turn obtained more information from Lancashire Constabulary.

This enabled Mike Marsh to send a full team call out page at 14.59hrs, with team members co-incidentally at our Bolton Central Fire Station vehicle garage at the same time undertaking some works on our vehicles, being able to make an immediate response in our BM2 and BM4 vehicles.

Our first member on scene, Trainee Team member John Fletcher who arrived at 15.05hrs established the location was actually High Brow Car Park, overlooking Wards Reservoir, Belmont.

A 48 years old male had fallen some 5 metres down the steep slope surrounding the edge of the car park.

At the time of Johns arrival GMFRS and NWAS (Manchester) personal already on scene were in the final stages of a stretcher evacuation of the injured man back to the top of the car park, and with the arrival of our Deputy Leader Geoff Seddon at 15.07hrs a team stand down message was paged at 15.16hrs, by which time our BM2 and BM4 vehicles had arrived on scene.

The following list is not comprehensive, but lists to the best of our knowledge the resources involved in this incident.

• Bolton Mountain Rescue Team;
  • 7x members stood down on scene,
  • including two Team Land Rover Mountain Rescue Ambulances,
  • and 12x members stood down whilst responding to the RVP.

• NWAS (Manchester);
  • 1x Emergency Ambulance.

• NWAS HART Team,
  • 2x vehicles and crew.

• GMFRS;
  • Control Room,
  • 1x Pump Appliance and
  • 1x Aerial Ladder Platform,
  • both we understand from Bolton Central Fire Station.

• LFRS;
  • Control Room.

• Lancashire Constabulary;
  • Various Divisional Officers
  • the Force Incident Manager.

...also on Friday 11th...
Team attends the funeral of the late John Edwards of Oldham Mountain Rescue Team.
This morning our Team Training Officer Elaine Gilliland and Reserve Team member Diane Blakeley represented our team at the funeral of the late John Edwards, a long serving member of Oldham MRT and a well known figure in local, regional and national mountain rescue circles.

Elaine and Diane journeyed to the Clarence Hotel, Chew Valley Road, Greenfield meeting point in our BM5 Minibus, which then took on mourners to join the large funeral cortege of other mountain rescue vehicles, under Police escort to the funeral service at Hollinwood Cemetery, Oldham.

A large wake involving a great many representatives from the UK and Irish Mountain Rescue Services then took place.

A full account of this day which was a wonderful celebration of Johns life appears here by Dianne & Elaine. Please also see website 'news' article dated Sunday 6th June 2010

Diane Blakeley's account

Team Training Officer Elaine Gilliland and Reserve Team Member Diane Blakeley represented the Bolton Team at John’s funeral. John aged 58 was a member of Oldham Team for over 20 years, during which time he had a number of roles including being the Team Chairman for the last five years.

The funeral was one of those extremely sad occasions but it was also very enjoyable to see how in times of sadness the Mountain Rescue Family pulls together to support and care for each other. Obviously the entire Oldham Team attended but it was wonderful to see the number of other teams that sent representatives to pay their respects and show their admiration of John.

Elaine and I took BM5 to help transport the many mourners and be part of a cortege which drove from Clarence Hotel, Greenfield to Hollinwood Crematorium. The convoy must have been 30 vehicles long. We were led off by a Police vehicle, followed by the Oldham Team van which was used to transport John’s body. Once the family had passed, the long line of MR vehicles proceeded.

Teams represented included
• all the teams from the Peak District Mountain Rescue Organisation:
  • Oldham,
  • Glossop,
  • Buxton,
  • Derby,
  • Edale,
  • Woodhead
  • and Kinder.
• MPSRO teams who attended included
  • Bolton,
  • Rossendale and Pendle,
  • Holme Valley
  • and Calder Valley.
• SARDA were represented including a number of search dogs.

Some of our colleagues from further afield included
• Peter Bell National MREW Representative, in his capacity as President of MREW,
• Ray Griffiths Patterdale MRT,
• Richard Terrell Central Beacons MRT
• and from even further afield Derek Keegan who flew in that morning from Dublin representing the Irish MR Association.

As the cortege proceeded from Greenfield we came to several road junctions where Police Officers and PCSO’s had stopped the traffic, forming very large queues to allow the cortege to pass. As we passed the officers who stood saluting every vehicle, I think we all had a very large lump in our throats as the once chattering voices fell silent and many sets of eyes began to well up.

Once at the crematorium, all members from the MR Teams went ahead of the family where we made two lines to form a Guard of Honour. There must have been over 70 people and at least 3 search dogs. By the response from John’s family and friends it must have looked wonderful with Oldham Team all wearing their black polo shirts, followed by members from the other teams and the search dogs who all wore their red MR jackets. John’s coffin was carried by members of Oldham Team and as his family and friends followed behind through the Guard of Honour, Boney M’s Rivers of Babylon was played, which brought a smile to peoples faces as the music blasted out.

There was not even spare standing space for everyone inside, even the centre aisle was three deep, with a mass of red jackets. The entire funeral had been organised by Oldham Team including building the coffin. The service was no different, ex Team Leader Jim Duffy acted as a Master of Ceremonies for this celebration of John’s life. Everything had been highly planned and it was a wonderful service which saw us one minute laughing at things John did or said before another minute shedding a tear. We sang some of John’s favourite songs including Zulu Warrior. The most moving part was John’s wife Mary, who shared with us very personal thoughts about life with John and some things we did not know. There could not have been a person in the building who was not moved by her bravery, honesty and the clear devotion and love she had for John. One of the most poignant points was when she acknowledged that she had on many occasions cursed the pager going off on those important days like their son Bob’s fourth birthday, followed by John dashing off to another call out, but now after the way Oldham Team had pulled together and supported her and her children, that in fact the team was a part of John’s family, an important band of brothers. Who from us could disagree when you looked around at the many faces, for me many I had known for 25 years, people whom I have known since I was only 17 and even though I have not been an active team member for many years, there was something extremely moving to see us all there together supporting John’s family and members of our own extended family Oldham Team.

After the service we all returned to the Clarence Hotel in Greenfield where we celebrated John’s life in a way he would have enjoyed – lots of friends together chatting about the old days sometimes sad stories but many happy, whilst sharing a beer. The weather was kind which allowed us to fill the beer garden at the front of the pub and enjoy the sunshine as we reminisced. As the afternoon progressed into evening we moved inside where Jim Duffy again led this celebration of John’s life, this time we sang some of the many songs that John had loved including the Oldham Team song and Climbing Up The Sunshine Mountain which saw us all stood on chairs as we sang.

As early evening moved on to late evening we left Oldham Team to continue their celebration. Although many tears had been shed it was a day that John would have enjoyed, a fitting tribute to a dedicated MR man of 20 years. A man I had known for nearly as long, sharing a drink, a story and joke with at numerous MR Conferences. He will be missed.

It was with great sadness that Diane Blakeley and I travelled, today, to the funeral of the late John Edwards, Chairman of Oldham Mountain Rescue Team.

On arrival at the Clarence Hotel in Greenfield, Oldham, the respect held for John was evident in the number of people already congregated and the ongoing arrival of friends of John and his family, and mountain rescue team members from Ireland, Wales and England.

Once all attendees had arrived at the Clarence Hotel, a procession of both mountain rescue vehicles and family and friends followed John (secured in an Oldham Mountain Rescue Vehicle), travelling through the streets of Oldham to Hollinwood Cemetery, this being a very moving cortege with traffic being held at junctions by saluting Police Community Support Officers.

At the Cemetery, at the request of John’s family, all members of mountain rescue provided a ‘Guard of Honour’ at the entrance to the Crematorium whilst John was carried through to the Chapel of Rest followed by his family and friends.

The funeral service was initiated by Jim Duffy, Oldham Mountain Rescue Team Member, who gave an overview of John’s time with the team, John’s Daughter then read a moving tribute to her Father and finally John’s Wife bravely thanked the congregation for the support and love given to her and her family, and read of John’s devotion to his family and to Oldham Mountain Rescue Team. During the service two of John’s favourite songs were sung by the assembled group.

After the service, everybody travelled back to the Clarence Hotel where one and all spent time reminiscing about John and his love of life in general.

A celebration of John’s life then ensued with John’s favourite sayings, songs and actions (involving a number of bent trays) being quoted, sung and acted out.

It was an absolute honour and privilege for Diane and I to attend John’s Funeral on behalf of Bolton Mountain Rescue Team and the condolences of the full team membership go to John’s Family.

Garry,
Just a quick line on behalf of the Team & John’s family to thank you & your members for the support in Johns send off. We can only hope that we all get a send off like that.

With help of the staff at Oldham Crem we were able to get him back & on the bar for 6:30. Some doing to be at your own wake.

Once again many thanks & lets hope it’s a long time till the next.

Kind regards
Mick

...also on Friday 11th...
Boat engine donation gratefully received.
Thanks to the kindness of Allen Matthews of Holland Street Motors, the team now has a 4hp outboard motor for our new semi rigid inflatable team boat.

Allen who is a diving buddy / friend of long serving team member and Team Equipment Officer Fred Taylor, donated the engine to the team when he heard from Fred that we wanted an engine for our new boat. (Allen also kindly donated a metal stand for the engine)

The whole team would like to thank Allen for this very kind and important donation.

Wednesday 9th June
Kind donation from team friend and supporter Mrs Yvonne Knight-Gregson
Today we received a very kind £30.00 donation (which will be gift aided) from team friend and supporter Mrs Yvonne Knight-Gregson of Urmston, Manchester.

In a letter to our Team Leader accompanying her very kind donation Yvonne explained;

"The £30.00 donation is in honour of a friends 70th Birthday who wished no presents, but as he lives in Belmont I thought it an ideal way to mark his Birthday by making a donation to the Bolton Mountain Rescue Team. I am aware of the great work that you do all over the area, keep up the good work!"

Yvonne is a valued friend and supporter of the team, and we wish her friend a very happy albeit belated 70th Birthday.

(Please also see website 'news' articles dated Tuesday 19th September 2006 and Saturday 12th April 2008)

...also on Wednesday 9th...
'First' sponsorship monies received following walk undertaken by Jayne Bayliss in aid of the team
Regular readers will be familiar with the walk from Adlington to Haworth recently undertaken by Jayne Bayliss in the company of two friends, to raise money for the Bolton MRT.

Today we are very happy to have received from Jayne the 'first' batch of sponsorship monies she has initially already collected in, amounting to the fantastic sum of £225.00, with as Jayne reports; "More on the way."

The team would like to thank Jayne for undertaking her walk and we also extend our sincere thanks to all who have sponsored Jayne in aid of the team.

(Please also see website 'news' articles dated Monday 7th June, Saturday 30th May, Wednesday 5th May and Sunday 28th February 2010)

Tuesday 8th June
More news about the South Lancashire Section of the Caravan Club Charity Year 2010 - 2011 in aid of Bolton MRT; Sponsored Parachute Jump
Further to our website article dated Sunday 6th June 2010, we have now received more details on the Sponsored Parachute Jump undertaken by SLSCC member Brian Needham from his wife Lynne Needham. Lynne has proudly informed us that her husband Brian raised £254.50 for the team through his sponsored parachute jump (having paid for the jump himself) This fantastic amount raised for the team by Brian Needham will actually go into the total monies being raised over 2010 - 2011 by all the members of the South Lancashire Section of the Caravan Club.

Brians own account of his tremendous achievement (for the SLSCC newsletter) is kindly reproduced here ;

"I would like to say a special thank you to all of you who kindly sponsored me for the Parachute Jump. I did it on my 60th birthday Saturday the 5th June 2010 for the current Charity of the Caravan Club, Bolton Mountain Rescue. The total that I raised for them is £254.50.


Brian Needham & Team member Chris Tennant.
What did I think of the jump? Well, I was rather nervous as the plane climbed to 14,000 feet. Then my instructor who I was jumping with said “let’s go!” We were the last ones to go out of the plane door and it looked a long way down, well it was!!! We free fell at 120+ mph for about six seconds and then he pulled the parachute. It felt like my insides were going to come out but it was enjoyable once the parachute was open. After gently descending down to earth it ended in a nice landing. Would I do it again? Yes. "

...also on Tuesday 8th...
Another kind donation from Ismail Momoniat.
Today we are pleased to report another appreciated very generous £50.00 donation from Mr. Ismail Momoniat of Bolton, who sent his donation to us via the Charities Aid Foundation.

The whole team extends its thanks to Mr. Ismail Momoniat for his continuing support of the team.

Please also see website 'news' item dated Saturday January 16th 2010

...also on Tuesday 8th...
Very kind donation from the Inner Wheel Club of Horwich. District No.128.
Today we are pleased to report the receipt of a very generous £300.00 donation from the members of the Inner Wheel Club of Horwich, raised via their fund raising activities during 2009 / 2010.

In a letter accompanying their very kind donation, Mrs Josette Walsh, Honorary Secretary of the Inner Wheel Club of Horwich stated;

"We are delighted to support your organisation in your excellent work."

Monday 7th June
Mrs Jayne Bayliss completes her fantastic sponsored walk in aid of the team
Today our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE, received an update from Jayne Bayliss of Adlington, who successfully completed her challenging moorland walk last week from Adlington to Haworth in Yorkshire in aid of the team.

Jayne in the company of close friends, husband and wife couple Cath and Haydn Whittle, set off 07.30hrs on Monday morning 31st May last week, taking in on their first day the challenging and gruelling 'Three Towers' route of Rivington Pike, Darwen Tower finishing for the day at Peel Tower, Holcombe above Ramsbottom.

Sunday 6th June
Team expresses its condolences regards the late John Edwards of Oldham MRT.
The whole team membership wishes to extend its condolences to the family, friends, and members of Oldham MRT on the death of valued Oldham MRT team member John Edwards.

John, aged 58, collapsed and died whilst at work as a self employed decorator, on Friday 28th May 2010.

The Late John Edwards was a very experienced member of Oldham MRT for 20 years. latterly serving as the Chairman of Oldham MRT, besides posts in the Peak District Mountain Rescue Organisation, and representing Oldham MRT at a great many meetings and events over the years.

John was well known to the Bolton MRT, from joint incidents, training exercises over the years, Mountain Rescue Conferences and liaison meetings with amongst others Greater Manchester Police.

Our Team Leader Garry Rhodes has the following to say about John, "It is fair to say John was a 'bit of a character,' with an often funny wry comment for many occasions and always a kind word of support, advice or encouragement for all he came across."

John is survived by his wife Mary and two sons aged 17 and 21 years. Johns funeral is on Friday 11th June 2010, at Hollinwood Cemetery, Roman Road, Oldham, OL8 3LU, 13.00hrs.

For those in the mountain rescue community wishing to attend from the home address, the meeting point is the Clarence Hotel, Chew Valley Road, Greenfield, Oldham, OL3 7DD at 12.00hrs for a 12.10hrs departure. (Dress code is team kit)

Our team is obviously being represented at the funeral, with our BM5 Minibus attending to help Oldham MRT with transport for the many mourners expected.

...also on Sunday 6th...
Membership matters.
Trainee Team Members Hannah Zadlo and Heather Jackson, who both joined the team in January 2010, have both recently stood down from the Call Out list membership of the team, transferring across to our Support Group membership.

For Hannah its a spot of maternity leave from the Call Out List (Congratulations to Hannah and proud dad to be Marcin, who is also a Trainee Team Member), whilst in Heathers case, job promotion combined with the need to go back to college for the immediate future, means there is not enough time to commit to the Call Out Membership part of the team.

Both will return to the more 'active' part of the team when their personal circumstances allow.

...also on Sunday 6th...
South Lancashire Section of the Caravan Club formally launches their Charity Year 2010-2011 in aid of Bolton Mountain Rescue Team
Today experienced Team Call Out list member Chris Tennant, accompanied by his wife and Support Group member Tina Tennant, journeyed to the Longridge (Preston) Show Ground meeting of the South Lancashire Section of the Caravan Club, to represent the team at the SLSCCs formal launch of their Charity Year 2010-2011 in support of the team.

Team Support Group member Iain Clarkson also attended, and together with Chris and Tina, demonstrated the contents of our Land Rover Mountain Rescue Ambulance to the assembled caravaners in particular their children.

Chris was kindly invited to address all present (via the public address system!) about the valuable work of the team, being thanked by Gerry Lunn, (of Halliwell, Bolton) Charity Chairman of the South Lancashire Section of the Caravan Club.

Some fundraising has already taken place by the SLSCC in support of the team, in advance of today's formal charity year launch, including we understand a sponsored parachute jump by a SLSCC member on Saturday June 5th 2010.

The team wishes to extend its full thanks to all at the South Lancashire Section of the Caravan Club for so kindly offering to support the team throughout 2010-2011 as its charity year beneficiary.

(Please also see website 'news' articles dated Wednesday 17th February and Thursday 4th March 2010)

Friday 4th June
Very kind donation from the Manchester Pedestrian Club.
On Saturday 20th March 2010, we were called out to rescue a member of the Manchester Pedestrian Club, who whilst out hill walking with fellow members fell fracturing his leg, on the slopes of Winter Hill.

Today we received a very kind £105.00 donation from the Manchester Pedestrian Club in relation to our attending this incident.

We understand from Arthur Marsh, Honorary Treasurer of the Manchester Pedestrian Club, that this donation was raised from both Club funds and private donations.

The whole team membership would like to thank all the members of the Manchester Pedestrian Club for their kindness in making this donation and supporting the Bolton MRT.

Please also see 'news' items dated Monday 12th April and Incident 48 / 2010 Saturday 20th March 2010

...also on Friday 4th...
Kind donation from Kathryn Hollinworth via the Charities Aid Foundation.
Today we are extremely pleased to announce the receipt of a very kind £100.00 donation via the Charities Aid Foundation by valued team friend and supporter Kathryn Hollinworth, made through the BUPA Matched Giving Scheme.

Kathryn visited the team recently in her capacity as Manager of Westpark, attending to kindly hand over donations from the residents of Westpark, alongside representatives from Goldsborough Estates, a member of the BUPA Group.

The whole team membership extends its sincere thanks to Kathryn for so kindly supporting us in this much appreciated way.

Please also see 'news' item dated Wednesday 26th May 2010

Thursday 3rd June
Hendersons End Fell Race, Provision of Standby Rescue Cover.
This evening 26x team members (plus our five team vehicles and our Control trailer) provided Standby Rescue Cover for the fourth year running for the Hendersons End Fell Race which takes in a large circuit of the Rivington and Winter Hill moorlands.

This annual event organised by Lostock Athletics Club attracted on this excellent sunny summers evening 8x entrants in the Junior Race event and 75x entrants in the Senior Race event.

The sunny and very dry conditions on the event made for some quick race times and even the usually abundant local biting midges stayed away, so nothing spoilt this evenings event.

Thankfully we had no incidents arising on this event, and with only one retirement from the race, all entrants completed the race.

Wednesday 2nd June
Wednesday evening training exercise report.
The team trains throughout the year every Wednesday evening, come rain or shine, in a wide variety of locations testing all aspects of our search and rescue skills.

This evening saw us at Moses Gate Country Park, Farnworth. (with thanks to Bolton Countryside Ranger Service for giving permission to exercise here) Moses Gate Country Park and its associated woodlands, trails, riverside rock faces and water bodies, including the River Croal, is a regular 'incident' venue for the team, so we train here for good reason.

This evening the scenerio involved three young adults who through misfortune had all fallen down a wooded rockface immediately by the 'Red Bridge' on the River Croal. (These things tend to happen on exercise !)

Two seriously injured 'exercise' casulaties were lay against trees amongst the steep sandstone rockfaces in the area, with a third having fallen down the rockface, and then rolled over a 2m drop and onto boulders in the River Croal.

25x Team Call Out list members attended this exercise, along with all five of our Team Vehicles, our Search and Rescue Boat and Water Team.

The whole exercise was concluded, including immediate casualty care, difficult evacuation from the rockfaces and stretcher evacuation back to the RVP at Rock Hall Information Centre car park, within 1.25 hours, being followed as usual by an immediate post exercise debrief.

We were joined this evening by Simon Watson, North West Ambulance Service HART (Hazardous Area Response Team) Training Manager, who had come along as an observer as part of the teams on going liaison with the NWAS (Manchester) HART Team. (See also website 'news' article dated Wednesday 28th April 2010)

Thanks are extended to our excellent 'exercise casualties' for the evening, who played out their parts a little too convincingly ; Vicky Edgerton, Paddy Confrey and Rob Edgerton, all three having journeyed a fair distance for the pleasure of being covered in fake blood, simulated serious wounds and injuries, then asked to lie very uncomfortably in two cases wrapped around trees on a rockface and in one case on wet boulders alongside a river ! (amazingly they all said they had enjoyed it so much they want to come out with us again !)

...also on Wednesday 2nd...
dabs.com choose Bolton MRT as charity of the year
Today we are very pleased to announce that a Bolton-based company, dabs.com, have announced that they have named Bolton MRT as their charity of the year for 2010/2011.

dabs.com is one of the UK's most successful online IT retailers with over 11 years of online retail experience. The company is headquartered at Wingates Industrial Estate in Westhoughton, Bolton, and is a wholly owned subsidiary of British Telecommunications plc (BT).

Over the coming 12 months, dabs.com's 300 members of staff will donate money during dress down days, raffles, and other events with all proceeds going to Bolton MRT.

Over the past few weeks the staff held a vote to name their company charity for the coming financial year.

Included in the 300 members of dabs.com staff is Bolton MRT member Steven Fletcher. Speaking of the decision to name Bolton MRT as dabs.com’s charity of the year, Steve said "it was fantastic to see such support for Bolton MRT by my colleagues from around the company, and a great reflection of the high regard in which Bolton MRT is held by the public in the Bolton area."

With the team having to fund the replacement of three vehicles this year, plus of course the team’s ongoing equipment replacement programme and running costs, the additional funds raised by the staff at dabs.com will be put to very good use.