Diary - September 2009

Wednesday 30th September
Incident 76/2009
Wednesday is our fixed training night but because we had been called out yesterday we all gave ourselves the night off, and it was pouring down with rain, so it was almost inevitable that we'd get called out !

At 19.00hrs a GMP Missing Person Search Manager contacted our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE direct, requesting the teams immediate assistance with a search operation just commencing in the Dunham Park / Dunham Massey area of South Manchester.

A 47 years old woman had gone missing the day previously and her abandoned car had been located this evening by close family members, near to the main entrance to Dunham Massey Park.

Following a brief Standby whilst our Team Leader further liaised with Police, the team was called out at 19.13hrs to RVP at Dunham Massey.

Two visiting Cheshire LSART who were due to meet our Team Leader at our Ladybridge Hall base / HQ were 'volunteered' to assist us, did they have an option ! We also called on our dog handler Husband & Wife team in Bowland Pennine MRT / SARDA, Iain and Alison Nicholson for their assistance.

Commencing around 22.00hrs, alongside the already in place search efforts of the Police, and SARDA, Bolton MRT members were tasked with an intensive search around the vicinity of the missing womans abandoned car.

• Bolton MRT 25x members, including all four team vehicles, our Control and Communications Trailer, and our integral Canoe / Kayak Search Team.
• Cheshire Lowland Search and Rescue Team 2x members.
• Bowland Pennine MRT / SARDA Wales Trail Dog Team, handler Iain Nicholson and Trail Dog Mij.
• Bowland Pennine MRT / SARDA England Search Dog Team, handler Alison Nicholson and Search Dog Floss.
• Greater Manchester Police, numerous resources, including a Missing Person Search Manager, Tactical Aid Unit Officers, Divisional Officers, Traffic and CID.
• Close family members also took part in the search.

Tuesday 29th September
Congratulations to Call Out list member Michael O'Brien on the addition of another family member.
Congratulations to Team Call Out list member Michael O'Brien and his wife Christine, on the birth of their second son Oliver, brother to Thomas now aged 22 months, at 23.26hrs this evening at Wigan Hospital.

For those who will ask, Oliver was a healthy 6lbs 10ozs, and the team is now awaiting Michael buying the traditional 'new father in the team,' round of drinks. Ok so maybe we can dream on !

...also on Tuesday 29th...
Incident 75/2009
At 07.00hrs this morning our Team Leader Garry Rhodes was contacted directly by a GMP Mising Person Search Manager, who is also the GMP Force Search Co Ordinator, regarding the teams help with the developing Police search operation for a missing 81 years old Ashton in Makerfield woman, with concern for her well being.

Throughout the early hours of the morning GMP had already deployed officers in searches around her home, also involving the GMP Air Support Unit helicopter India 99.

It was decided that GMP would continue with their search operation and that our team would deploy early evening if still required.

By lunchtime the teams involvement was confirmed and our Deputy Team Leader Geoff Seddon met up at the Three Sisters Recreation Area Information Centre, early afternoon, to liaise with another GMP Missing Person Search Manager over developing the search strategy.

Prior to this team member Dave Healey had, as is usual on searches involving the team, printed off various different map imagery and aerial photos of the likely search areas to assist in our search planning and to give out to search parties.

At this stage we also requested Search Dog assistance from our colleagues at Bowland Pennine MRT / SARDA, and Cheshire Lowland Search and Rescue Team. With the Police search operation gaining momentum and some search team assets on scene or about to leave their HQ/ Base locations (including our Team) news was received that the woman had been found by a member of the public, and had been admitted to hospital.

This was confirmed with all responding SRT / MRT assets on hold at 18.47hrs, and all involved or responding were stood down. The following resources were either directly involved or deploying to this search at the time of stand down;

• Bolton MRT at least 18x members involved, with our four Team Land Rovers deploying plus our Control and Communications trailer, our Catering Trailer, and our Airshelter tents in their trailer.
• Bowland Pennine MRT / SARDA England Search Dog (air scenting) team Alison Nicholson and Search Dog Floss.
• Bowland Pennine MRT / SARDA Wales Trail Dog team Iain Nicholson and Trail Dog Mij.
• Greater Manchester Police ; Air Support Unit, Divisional Officers, 3x Tactical Aid Units and 3x Missing Person Search Managers.
• Cheshire Lowland Search and Rescue Team, 14x members including a Lowland Search Dog / Cheshire LSART team.

Monday 28th September
End of month Collecting Boxes Report
We are very pleased to announce our month end collecting box income for September 2009 to be £461.79, this brings our 2009 income from Collecting Boxes to a grand total of £2,963.17, this compares respectively with the following figures for 2008, £286.04 and £3,197.46.

We currently have 155 Collecting Boxes in operation, all of which are administered by our Support Group membership.

A huge thanks as ever to all those individuals and establishments that hold a Collecting Box on behalf of the team, and of course to every single person who drops money in those same boxes to support the team.

Sunday 27th September
Edgworth Real Ale Festival comes to an end
As with the past 2 days, today we sent a team vehicle, this time BM 2, to todays event with four members on board, to describe and show the work of the team.

Our favourite photo from the beer festival, Gill stood by her aptly named pump.

...also on Sunday 27th...
Membership news latest
Firstly the news that team call out list member George Pike who joined the team in Febraury 2008 has decided to leave the team, George will be remembered as one of our more senior aged 'new' team members, joining the team following his retirement.

Secondly we are currently reviewing the possibility of holding a recruitment evening and full day session for some of our more recent on line applicants a little earlier than the dates provisionally mentioned in January or February 2010, keep watching this website for news of such taking place.

Saturday 26th September
Edgworth Real Ale Festival enters its first full day.
As with last night, today we sent a team vehicle, this time BM1, to todays event with two members on board, to describe and show the work of the team.

George Pike & Fred Taylor with BM 1 outside the beer festival.....

.... eyes down look in as the Team Callout & Support Group members get busy serving.....


... Team President Bob Hutchinson & Sam McKay pose for a photo before the storm.....

....Bob & Sam in the middle of the storm of serving.....


.... Ana, Gill, Steve, Paul & Chris, have a breather from serving.
We think Ana may have been given the wrong pump !!

Friday 25th September
Edgworth Real Ale Festival commenced tonight, with the team being one of two charities being supported.
This evening saw the start of the weekend long Edgworth Real Ale Festival at the Barlow Institute, Edgworth.

As we are one of two charities that are being supported by Edgworth Real Ale Festival this year, we sent along two of our Team Land Rover Mountain Rescue Ambulances (BM 1 and BM 3) this evening with six team members, led by our Team Chairman Ken Oakes, to show the many visitors to the event what they were supporting.

Much interest was generated from this in the work of the team.

See also news article dated Thursday 20th August 2009

Thursday 24th September
Incident 74/2009
Late this evening at 23.15hrs our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE was contacted directly by the GMP Force Duty Manager for the teams immediate assistance in the search for a 36 years old male in the Sale Water Park area of Manchester, due to Police concerns as to his well being.

At 23.19hrs a full team pager call out was initiated, with our first member Alan James on scene before midnight to join in with GMP Officers in searches of the path network to the north west of Sale Water Park.

Just after midnight, our Team Leader, Deputy Leader and Dave Healey met up with the Police Missing Person Search Manager and formulated an immediate search plan, continuing the searches that the Police had already conducted including the use of their Air Support Unit helicopter India 99.

As more team members were assembling, Police investigations led them to believe the missing man was no longer in the Sale Water Park area, and the need for the team to be involved was no longer required, with us being stood down at 00.52hrs on the early morning of Friday 25th September 2009.

The team left shortly afterwards with GMP Officers continuing their efforts to locate this missing man.

The following resources were involved in this search;

• Bolton MRT 14x Team members, two Team Land Rover Mountain Rescue Ambulances and our Control Trailer. Our Canoe / Kayak Search Unit was also mobilised.
• Greater Manchester Police, 1x Missing Person Search Manager, and twelve Divisional Officers, including the on duty Inspector, with a Tactical Aid Unit stood down on route.
• Greater Manchester Police Air Support Unit helicopter India 99

...also on Thursday 24th...
Team Support Group welcomes two new members.
At this evenings monthly Support Group meeting we are pleased to announce and welcome two more potential new members to our Support Group, Andrew Keyworth, aged 21, a student at Bolton University and Andy Murphy, aged 41, an Information Systems Project Manager, who have expressed a positive interest in joining the ten strong exisiting membership of our Support Group.

Tuesday 22nd September
Incident 73/2009
At 14.03hrs this afternoon, very soon after receiving a 999 call, the team was paged by NWAS (Manchester) for its immediate assistance regarding the reports of a 54 year old male, who had fallen over the edge of Cox Green Quarry, overlooking Egerton, Bolton.

An immediate full team call out was initiated with all four of our Team Land Rover Mountain Rescue Ambulances responding very quickly.

Our first team member, Geoff Seddon our Deputy Team Leader, arrived at the Cox Green (North) Road RVP at 14.30hrs to join with two NWAS (Manchester) Ambulance Officers who had arrived minutes earlier. Together they immediately tried to establish the actual casualty location, alongside initial responding GMP Officers - the steep sided quarry is very extensive, open in places, densely wooded in others.

By 14.32hrs our BM1 and BM3 vehicles were at the RVP, followed shortly afterwards by our BM2 and BM4 vehicles and a responding NWAS (Manchester) Emergency Ambulance.

At around 14.50hrs the West Yorkshire Air Ambulance, 'Helimed 99,' arrived overhead and managed to land on the top of the quarry near to the casualty site in the bottom of the quarry, more local Air Ambulances were not available, hence the Leeds Bradford Airport based West Yorkshire Air Ambulance was mobilised.

Helimed 99 arrives at the top of the quarry.....

...cas care at the casualty site...

...joint MR & NWAS & Helimed 99 cas care...

...casualty loaded on the longboard & bell MR stretcher...

...arrives at Helimed 99...

• 14x Bolton MRT members, including our BM1,2,3,and 4 Land Rover Mountain Rescue Ambulance vehicles.
• NWAS (Manchester) 2x Operational Officers who had both solo responded, and an Emergency Ambulance.
• NWAS (Manchester) Belle Vue Emergency Control Room.
• West Yorkshire Air Ambulance 'Helimed 99,' with four crew on board, (one Pilot, two Paramedics and a Doctor)
• Greater Manchester Police, 4x Divisional Officers and CID Officers. Greater Manchester Police Force Control Room.

...and loaded into the air ambulance.

Monday 21st September
Very Special 80th Birthday present for the team.
Today our Team Leader Garry Rhodes received a huge surprise in the post from Derek Bell of Birchgrove Close, Bolton, namely a cheque donation for the marvellous sum of £410.00.

Derek in a letter accompanying his very kind donation, explained that he had recently celebrated his 80th Birthday, and in a thoughtful and extremely kind gesture of support towards the team, he requested that instead of presents donations instead be made to the team.

The whole team would like to thank Derek for this very kind act, and of course wish him a belated happy and healthy 80th Birthday, with thanks also to all who choose to send donations to the team in place of presents for Derek.

...also on Monday 21st...
Bolton's Multi Agency Flood Response Plan.
Today experienced call out list member and MPSRO Water Officer Fred Taylor represented the team at a flood awareness training event organised by Cath Nally, Civil Contingencies Offficer for Bolton Metro, to launch Bolton's Multi Agency Flood Response Plan.

Held at the Friends Meeting House, Silverwell Street, Bolton, this event attracted representatives from the Local Authority, the Statutory and Voluntary Emergency Services and the Voluntary Aid Services, including Bolton Councils Civil Contingencies Unit and other Bolton MBC Departments, Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, North West Ambulance Service, Greater Manchester Police, Bolton Mountain Rescue Team, British Red Cross, WRVS, NHS Trust, RAYNET and the Environment Agency.

The overall aim of the event was to discuss emergency response arrangements in the event of a flood occuring in the Bolton MBC Local Authority area, and how the Emergency and Voluntary Aid Services would respond and cope to such an eventuality.

Amongst the many objectives was the need to raise everyones knowledge as to the flood risks possible in Bolton, an explaination of the multi agency response to such events, roles and responsibilities and making all aware of the dangers of working in flood waters.

Many Mountain Rescue Teams in the UK regularly deploy to assist in flood events, where our specialist resources and equipment can be of considerable assistance, recent examples include MRTs operating in the Carlisle Floods, the Gloucester and Tewkesbury Floods, Boscastle and the Sheffield town centre floods.

All Bolton MRT members are given regular training in working alongside and in still and fast flowing water, with each individual member equipped with a personally issued PFD (Lifejacket) We also have our integral Canoe and Kayak Unit within the team, plus of course our four wheel drive Ambulances, and specialist catering and shelter tent equipment.

There follows Fred Taylors account of the individual presentations at todays event -

We met at the Friends Meeting House, Silverwell Street, Bolton, there were representatives from the Council, Environmental Agency, Police, Fire & Rescue, Raynet, NHS and Health & Safety.

Peter Molyneux (Bolton Metro) opened the meeting with Aims and Objectives and also Domestics.

Then it was Simon Heckles from the Environmental Agency who explained the types of floods and the areas that could be affected and with what type of flood. Simon explained what role the agency would have in prevention, monitoring and course of action if a flood happened. He also informed us how a flood alert was generated by Met Office monitoring systems etc. Simon showed us flood risk areas in the Bolton and surrounding areas and the type of flood that would effect this area.

Next it was Robert wood from Bolton Council who talked about The Bolton Picture, what the council had prepared and what areas where at risk. He told us about the funding and the plan.

Cath Nally gave the next session and went more into the Bolton Multi-Agency Flood Responce Plan in more detail as to what rolls each group of resource personnel were required to do.

After break it was Lucy Kennon from Bolton Council went into the involvement by the Local Authority. Lucy mentioned the Plan again.

Next, Brian Wiggans GMPF&R covered the resources that the Fire & Rescue had at their disposal and how they were deployed. He also covered the Health & Safety side of working in flooded areas: Contamination. Hypothermia, Drowning, Damage to property, Roads, Communications etc. He emphasised this by Power Point presentation of incidents which were discused in detail and the problems encountered.

Bob Cartwright from GMP was next and explained the Police involvement. The main one was a logging system as in the Tsunami incident when they had a logging system for the causalities and the deceased, some with no ID on them. Bob also said they would control the road system, road closures etc.

Lucy closed the meeting by covering in detail how each agency would be deployed including voluntary agencies and then we had an Open Forum with Q & A.

...also on Monday 21st...
NWAS staff in 3 Peaks Challenge for Bolton MRT, update to previous reports.
As reported in March 2009, several members of staff from NWAS (Manchester) undertook the gruelling UK "3 Peaks" challenge recently, ascending Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike, and Snowdon in one continuous 24 hour period.

On Wednesday 26th August 2009, the team received two fantastic amounts of money; firstly, £55.00 collected from the charity box which was setup for the team at the NWAS (Manchester) Belle Vue Emergency Control Centre. Secondly a sum of £110.00 was received, in donations pledged to Alex Taylor, who is the daughter of Team member Fred Taylor, an Emergency Medical Dispatcher at the centre.

The team also received a fantastic £250.00 in donations for the same event from Andy Stant, who works at the NWAS Emergency Control Centre.

Today we are very happy to report the receipt of a further £135.00 donation from Charlotte Baker, an Emergency Medical Despatcher at NWAS (Manchester) Belle Vue Emergency Control Centre, arising from the same event, which now takes the grand total raised by NWAS (Manchester) Belle Vue staff for the team to a fantastic £550.00.

It goes without saying that the team is very grateful for the sponsorship raised by all who undertook the walk and of course the money pledged by NWAS colleagues, friends and family of those who took part in this challenging event.

...also on Monday 21st...
Fantastic donation from St John's Men's Fellowship of Hindley Green.
Today we are very pleased to announce the receipt of a £265.00 donation from the St John's Church Men's Fellowship of Hindley Green, raised during a Crown Green Bowling Charity Fundraising day, at which we were the beneficiaries, at Brunswick Bowling Club, Leigh Road, Hindley Green on Saturday 12th September 2009. See news item for this date.

On the day of this marvellous event, it was thought and reported on our website that £250.00 had been raised, so to now find out its £265.00 is an even bigger surprise.

The whole team extends its thanks to the St John's Men's Fellowship for their very kind and much apprecaited support of the team.

Sunday 20th September
Incident 72/2009
Whilst returning from the visit to City Airport Manchester, and very close to our Ladybridge Hall base/HQ, our BM3 vehicle and its two man crew at 16.43hrs chanced upon a two car, multi casualty, road accident at the junction of Beaumont Road A58/Victoria Road A58 and Chorley New Road A673 in the Markland Hill area of Bolton.

• Bolton MRT, 7x team call out list members, BM1,2,3 vehicles.
• A GMFRS Leigh Fire Station based, off duty Firefighter who was a Fire Service Trauma Technician.
• NWAS (Manchester) two Emergency Ambulances.
• NWAS (Manchester) Belle Vue Emergency Control Centre.
• Greater Manchester Police, 3x Traffic Units, a divisional van and patrol car and their Accident Investigation Unit.

...also on Sunday 20th...
Team visits Fire and Rescue Service, City Airport Manchester (Barton)
Today seven team members in three of our Team Land Rover Mountain Rescue Ambulances, visited City Airport Manchester, fomerly known as Barton Aerodrome, to view the work of the Airport Fire and Rescue Service.

Airport Firefighters Iain Keogh and Mike Hodgkinson were our excellent hosts for the afternoon, and we began with a look around their Rescue One Toyota HiLux Rapid Response fire vehicle, one of two at the airport.

Air Traffic Control and City Airport Rescue 1

Air Traffic Control

Helimed 72 returning from a job....

Oh well at least Garry & Ged could have a little rest and catch some sun

Helimed 72 arriving back, before it get's sent off again......l

Saturday 19th September
Incident 71/2009
Whilst providing standby rescue cover for the SAAB SALOMON Trail Running Series 2009, Rivington Trail Half Marathon event, a 38 year old male entrant was reported unwell at one of the checkpoints in Lever Park on the return section of this event.

A Team Landrover Mountain Rescue Ambulance attended, and due to the mans condition an NWAS Emergency Ambulance was requested, which took the man to Royal Bolton Hospital.

...also on Saturday 19th...
SAAB SALOMON Trail Running Series 2009, Rivington Trail Half Marathon
Today the team provided full standby rescue cover and assisted with the marshall provision for the SAAB SALOMON Trail Running Series 2009, Rivington Trail Half Marathon event.

This event held for the first time in the Rivington area, in association with 2:09 Events, has involved the team in planning for its participation since February of this year.

We were first approached by 2:09 Events requesting our involvement through a local runner who was aware of the team, and how we can provide standby cover on events of this nature.

A number of routes had been planned and investigated before the final Trail Half Marathon route was settled upon, taking in the slopes of Rivington Pike and then heading north alongside the Rivington Reservoir chain to White Coppice before returning to Rivington.

279 Senior entrants took part in the event commencing at 10.00hrs with two junior entrants in an event which started at 10.30hrs.

23x Call Out list members, 3x Support Group members and two team supporters provided our participation, with members meeting for the 08.30hrs event briefing, and with all entrants having completed the event by 13.00hrs.

A small number of minor injuries were dealt with alongside one competitor who required being taken to hospital, (see Incident 71-2009)

The team would like to thank Jackie Waterman of 2:09 Events and team friend Andy Staveley of Rivington for their co operation with the team over the planning of this event.

Special thanks to team friend Carl Silver who accompanied the team thoughout this event to provide a photographic record of our involvement, a selection of his photos are shown below.

Start finish after the storm of runners have left.....

,,,it's lonely being a Marshal....

....running through the village of Rivington...

.... Bolton Mobile 1 escorts the last 2 runners through the finish line.

...also on Saturday 19th...
Another wonderful donation from Accrington and Blackburn (C.H.A. 1921) Walking Club
Regular readers will recall that the members of Accrington and Blackburn (C.H.A. 1921) Walking club are fantastic supporters and valued friends of the team.

Today we are very pleased to announce the receipt of a £25.00 donation from the club, alongside a kind letter highlighting the worthwhile work which the team carries out.

...also on Saturday 19th...
Equipment donations by former team call out list member Peter Heeley
Former team member Peter Heeley today kindly donated to the team a number of small items, including Harveys Maps of Skye, a portable vehicle spotlight, climbing helmet and a multi person casualty survival shelter.

Thanks Peter from all your team colleagues.

Friday 18th September
Bolton U3A make donation to the team.
This afternoon Team President Bob Hutchinson, visited Bolton U3A (University of the Third Age) at their Bolton Parish Church Hall premises, to give a presentation on the work of the Mountain Rescue Team.

Following Bob's presentation and the many questions that followed afterwards Bob was kindly presented with a £25.00 donation for the Bolton MRT.

Thursday 17th September
After 25 years our 250 Club comes to an end
It is with regret that we publicly announce that the team (after much deliberation) has now ceased to operate its 250 Club monthly fundraising draw, with effect from October 2009.

Started in October 1984 by Team member at the time (and Team Supporters Group group member as it was then called) Dave Dorgan, with the first draw taking place in December 1984, our 250 Club started out as the Bolton Mountain Rescue Team 100 Club.

Drawn every month since, and expanded in the 1990s to become our 250 Club, each month 50% of the total income goes out in prize money, with the results published within the fundraising area of our website.

The team retains the remaining 50% of the income on a monthly basis, with individuals paying £1.00 per number per month to take part in the draw. Over the years a great many supporters have remained with our 100 / 250 Club including many original members, our Team Leader Garry Rhodes and President Bob Hutchinson amongst them.

Due to changes in the statement information we now receive from our bank, and increasing difficulties in the administration of our 250 Club, it was decided recently to wind up the 250 Club.

Our Treasurer Johanne Lamb is currently trying to contact as many members as possible to inform them of our decision, and to thank them for their valued and much appreciated support of the team over the years.

If you are a member of our 250 Club, then our Treasurer kindly requests that with effect from October 2009 you cancel any standing order / debit arrangement you have with regards to our 250 Club.

It remains to thank Dave Dorgan for coming up with this fundraising idea which has served the team very well over the years, and for all those Team Treasurers since 1984 who have administered and overseen the success of our 250 Club, amongst them being (in no particular order) Diane Blakeley, Ann Shaw, Ged Clarke, Mark Scott and Joanne Stones.

Wednesday 16th September
Peter Heeley leaves the team
With a third baby due soon in the family and the increasing demands of shift work, it is with reluctance that team call out list member, Peter Heeley, aged 26, a roofer from Breightmet, has decided to leave the team.

Peter joined us in February 2007 and regularly attended all team activities plus played a big role behind the scenes with all the 'unseen' administration work that goes on.

As well as attending nearly all call outs in his two years plus with us, Peter also excellently organised our 2008 and 2009 Annual Team Dinners, (perhaps he might consider being taken on as a Consultant Team Dinner Organiser now he's left? - webmaster)

All your team mates wish you and Laura and your children all the best for the future and heres to the patter of more tiny feet in the Heeley household soon.

...also on Wednesday 16th...
Congratulations to Team member Dave Carter
Congratulations to team member Dave Carter on becoming a Call Out List Full Team Member with effect from late August 2009, after successfully completing his one year trainee team membership period with us.

...also on Wednesday 16th...
Exam success for Team members on our Casualty Care Course
We are very pleased to announce the completion of our 2009 Mountain Rescue Casualty Care Certificate course, run to a national standard and curriculum. This Mountain Rescue 'standard' course has to be retaken every three years, but within our team we endeavour to run a course approximaely every two years, it being a Bolton MRT team requirement for all call out members to maintain a current certificate.

The comprehensive course content starts with a CPR / Basic Life Support test, followed by lectures and practical sessions culminating in a written exam, and practical medical and trauma scenerios.

10x Team Call Out list members suceesfully passed their 8th September 2009 written examination, with two team members unfortunately not making the pass grade and having to re sit this written part in three months time. (good luck for then)

11x Team Call Out list members sucessfully passed their pratical medical / trauma scenerios this evening, with no failures from all taking part.

Due to holidays at the time of the exams, 1x Team member has still to take her written and practical exams, whilst another team member just has his practicals to do. (good luck to you both)

The team would like to thank Dr Emily Bayne, an experienced A&E Doctor, for carrying out all the practical medical and trauma assessments this evening on the eleven team members who were being examined.

Apart from the two team members who have to complete their examinations, this now means that every person on our current Call Out List has a current Mountain Rescue Casualty Care Certificate, a standard we are proud to announce. (and work hard to maintain, having been in a similar position since the mid 1980s, with the forerunner to this course, Diagnosis in Mountain Rescue First Aid, which evolved in to the Casualty Care Course)

Tuesday 15th September
Donation from Team supporter.
Every now and then we get various donations which we are asked not to question why we have received.

One such donation of £30 has arrived, via Dave Healey, from a work colleague of Daves and previous Team supporter Nick Barran.

The whole Teams thanks are expressed to Nick for his continuing support.

...also on Tuesday 15th...
Team sells pram on ebay - Bolton Mobile 69
After the success of our Spring Fair organised by our Support Group, we, or rather our Support Group was left with an unsold donated Baby Buggy.

Thanks to the wonders of ebay we managed to sell the buggy for £30.26p to a buyer from Ashton in Makerfield. Thanks to Support Group members Hazel Kennedy and Gillian Gregory for their part in this sale.

...also on Tuesday 15th...
Amber Gibson of Darwen in personal support of the team.
Today we can announce the very kind promise of fundraising support by 13 year old Amber Gibson of Darwen, Lancashire.

Amber was crowned Rose Queen at St Cuthburt's Church in Darwen, and as part of her Rose Queen year she has very kindly decided to fundraise for two charities, ourselves and the RNLI. Amber is a member of Springvale Ramblers.

The whole team wishes Amber every success with her wonderful fundraising, the first event being at St Cuthbert's Primary School on Tuesday 22nd September, where the children will enter a colouring competition.

The second event planned is a coffee morning on Saturday 26th September. From all in the team, thanks Amber.

Sunday 13th September
Incident 70/2009
Whilst responding to the previous incident our Team Leader was contacted by NWAS (Manchester) at 17.34hrs, regards this second concurrent incident, with the report of a woman having fallen from a rope swing in the Kersall Vale area of Kersall Dale, Manchester, an area of dense woodland on steep ground alongside the River Irwell.

A second call out page was made at 17.38hrs with responding team members now split between two incidents. Arriving on scene, off Bury New Road, Kersall Vale, at 17.52hrs, our Team Leader met up with responding NWAS (Manchester) personnel who had splinted the 25 year old womans suspected spinal injury and administered pain killing drugs.

A joint Bolton MRT / NWAS stretcher party evacuated the woman on our Troll Alphin MR stretcher to the waiting Ambulance at 18.21hrs for onward transfer to hospital.

The following resources were involved in this incident;

• Bolton MRT, 5x Team members and our BM3 vehicle.
• NWAS (Manchester) HART 1 response vehicle, 2x Emergency Ambulances and an Area Operations Manager.

...also on Sunday 13th...
Incident 69/2009
NWAS (Manchester) contacted our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE at 17.26hrs regards the teams assistance at an off road incident on a golf course in Whitefield, where a 37 years old women had fallen dislocating her left knee. As our Team Leader and our Chairman Ken Oakes was at our Ladybridge Hall base / HQ at the time of the call, an immediate team vehicle response was made, followed by a full team pager call out at 17.30hrs.

En route at 17.34hrs NWAS (Manchester) Control contacted our Team Leader again directly, to inform him of another request for the teams assistance, with Garrys and Kens vehicle diverting to this second incident.

By 17.58hrs our first team member, Andrew Livesey was on scene at Stand Lane Golf Club, Whitefield, establishing that the newly in service 2nd North West Air Ambulance, Helimed 72, from City Manchester Airport, Barton, had landed near to the casualty and along with the responding NWAS (Manchester) Emergency Ambulance crew, had splinted the womans injured knee and administered appropriate drug treatment.

Andrew assisted with the short stretcher evacuation to Helimed 72 as four more team members arrived at this incident, in our BM1 and BM2 vehicles. The injured woman was airlifted to hospital by Helimed 72. incidentally this incident represents the first time we have worked with the 2nd NWAA Helimed 72.

At the request of the ambulance on scene our vehicles waited until the ambulance had left the golf course, just in case it got bogged down on the soft ground.

Saturday 12th September
St John’s Church Men’s Fellowship – Crown Green Bowling Fundraising Day at the Brunswick Bowling Club, Leigh Road, Hindley Green
In January 2009, the St John’s Church Men’s Fellowship visited Bolton Mountain Rescue Team (27/01/2009) and during that visit invited us to a Crown Green Bowling Fundraising Event where all proceeds from the event would be donated to the team.

Today was the big day and five team members, Mike Marsh, George Pike, Marisa Venables, Elaine Gilliland, Dr Clare Whitney and Clare’s husband Pete Whitney ventured to Brunswick Bowling Club in Hindley Green to participate.

A large group of experienced Crown Green Bowlers welcomed our ‘very’ inexperienced team and after a brief demonstration/training session each team member was allocated to a group of four players, two on each opposing side.

On a beautiful, sunny afternoon, chaos reigned on the green as the well versed tried to show team members the technicalities of Crown Green Bowling, although after a few goes, some shining stars emerged in the form of Mike, Marisa and Pete

Marisa Venables delivering the jack


if there was a dressage event for bowls, Claire Whitney would take first prize...

Friday 11th September
Surprise donation from the Long Distance Walkers Association
This morning, amongst the usual bills and birthday cards for his partner, Team Radio Communications Officer Dave Healey, was extremely pleased to open an envelope addressed to him.

Inside the envelope was a letter and a fantastic cheque for £200 from Katie Hunt of the Long Distance Walkers Association.

In Katie's letter she explains that '...a member of the LDWA, Geoff Saunders, was to be rewarded with a gift for going beyond the call of duty as a volunteer of the LDWA.'

The letter continues 'The LDWA wanted to give Geoff a gift to thank him for all his hard work he has done for the LDWA, but he did not want anything for himself. Instead he asked that the LDWA made a donation to Mountain Rescue.'

As Bolton MRT was the closest to Geoffs home, the LDWA thought that we would be the most suitable Team to send the doantion to. Katie continued 'We know that Mountain Rescue has helped many of our members over the years. Geoff did express the hope that he actually never needs to use your services himself!'

So, from all of us at Bolton MRT can we express our thanks to the LDWA and especially Geoff Saunders, for this fantastic donation received today. We hope that Geoff and his colleagues enjoy the long walks, they currently enjoy now, for years to come.

Thursday 10th September
Belated congratulations......
...to Iain Ashcroft & Becky Waudby, our dear friends from North East Wales Search & Rescue Team, on the birth of their first daughter Eleri, born on 29th August 2009 weighing in at 8lb 6oz.

Iain and Becky have been long term friends of Bolton MRT, and also for some of the older members, for many years. We generally meet up with Iain or Becky on the Joint Foundation Course, when they travel over with their trainees.

Now we have asked if they'll be a MR Babysitting element of the course so that Becky can attend.

All the very best to the three of you from all your friends in Bolton MRT.

Saturday 5th September
Team collection day - Morrisons, Harwood
Today, team callout list members and members of the Bolton MRT Support Group were out with the collection tins at the Morrisons store, Harwood, Bolton.

A grand total of £640.16 was raised in loose change donations during the day.

The team would like to thank the staff at Morrisons for allowing us to host the collection there, and of course thanks to all the members of the public who donated their spare change in order to raise a fantastic amount of money for the team.

Friday 4th September
Donation arising from Incident 31 this year
On Friday 17th April 2009 we were called out to rescue a 12 year old boy who had fallen from a rope swing in the Monton area of Eccles, on the linear walkway.

Today we recieved a very kind donation of £50.00 from Steve Clare, the father of Alex, the boy involved.

In a letter accompanying this kind donation, Steve explained that he had recently walked the 3x Peaks Challenge for various charities, our team being one of the many beneficiaries.

The whole team would like to thank Steve for his kindness in supporting the team. See news item dated 17th April 2009, Incident 31

Tuesday 1st September
Incident 68/2009
At 17:15 this evening the team was contacted by Greater Manchester Police to discuss a possible search for a missing vulnerable male in the Hawkshaw area (Northwest of Bury).

Due to the concern for the welfare of the missing male it was decided that a search would be conducted and the team assembled in Hawkshaw at 19:00.

A search involving two GMP Missing Person Search managers, GMP Divisional officers, and the GMP Air Support Unit helicopter and 28x Bolton MRT team members began shortly after our arrival.

BMRT members gathered at the search RVP in Hawkshaw

Diary - August 2009

Monday 31st August
Team Collection Boxes
The monthly collecting box total income for August was £377.31, bringing the total for 2009 to £2,501.38.

This is an important source of regular income for Bolton Mountain Rescue Team, and we are continually grateful to the generous members of the public who drop their change into our tins, and to the 155 locations kindly hosting the tins.

Sunday 30th August
Mark Fellowship Family Fun Day
Today the team attended the Mark Fellowship Family Fun Day in Middleton with two of our Landrover ambulances and eight team call-out list personnel.

A display of team equipment was given (unfortunately we were rained off later in the afternoon!), and many visitors to the day talked to the team members present about the work that we do in the community.

As ever the team is very grateful for the support received from the East Lancashire Mark Benevolent Fund and to all who contribute to their fundraising.

Saturday 29th August
Team Collection at Morrisons, Blackhorse Street, Bolton
Today the team were in attendance at one of our supermarket collections, this time at the Morrisons Store, Blackhorse Street, Bolton.

During the morning, whilst our volunteer collectors were on duty, a lady stopped for a chat and wanted to make a postal donation to the Team. She was given the telephone number of Gillian Gregory, our Team Secretary, who received a phone call within an hour from the lady, promising to send a cheque towards our work. Gillian was delighted to receive by the next post a cheque for £50 from Miss Norma Ramm of Bolton, with an accompanying letter sending "all my Best Wishes to all that work with The Bolton Mountain Rescue - they all do a wonderful job".

The team would like to thank all the many people who donated their spare change towards the teams activities, and would like to thank the staff and management of the store who allowed the team to raise the fantastic amount of £328.27.

A special thank you to Miss Ramm for your generosity and kind comments which are much appreciated by all members of the Team and their Support Group.

Wednesday 26th August
NWAS staff in 3 Peaks Challenge for Bolton MRT
As previously reported in March 2009, several members of staff from NWAS (Manchester) undertook the gruelling UK "3 Peaks" challenge recently, ascending Ben Nevis, Scafell Pike, and Snowdon in one continuous 24 hour period.

Today the team has received two fantastic amounts of money; firstly, £55.00 collected from the charity box which was setup for the team at the NWAS (Manchester) Belle Vue Emergency Control Centre. Secondly a sum of £110.00 has been received, in donations pledged to Alex Taylor, who is the daughter of Team member Fred Taylor, an Emergency Medical Dispatcher at the centre.

The team also received a whopping £250 in donations for the same event from Andy Stant, who works at the NWAS Emergency Control Centre.

It probably goes without saying that the team is very grateful for the sponsorship raised by all who undertook the walk and of course the money pledged by NWAS colleagues, friends and family of those who took part in this challenging event.

With a few donations still to come in, the staff have already raised £415.00 for the team. We will report the final amounts our website when they are known.

...also on Wednesday 26th...
Donation from Darwen Dashers
Today the team is pleased to announce the receipt of a donation of £40 from our long standing supporters, the Darwen Dashers Running Club, in respect of the standby rescue cover that the team provided at the Aggies Staircase Fell Race on the 25th June 2009.

(See previous news article for details of the team's involvement in this fell race)

...also on Wednesday 26th...
Horwich Carnival Races Committe donation
Regular readers will be aware that every year the team provides a full day standby rescue cover and casualty care provision for the Horwich Carnival Races, for a report on this year's races, see our news entry dated Sunday 21st June 2009.

This evening at our Ladybridge Hall Base we welcomed Councillor Barbara Ronson, as a representative of Horwich Carnival Races Committe, who came along to kindly present us with a fantastic £500 donation arising from our involvement on the day.

...also on Wednesday 26th...
Aireshelta donation
At the Darwen Gala, on Saturday 22nd August 2009, Jim Hogan of Radford Street, Darwen, approached team member Chris Tennant asking whether the team would be interested in the donation of an Aireshelta, inflatable, shelter tent.

Our Team Leader, Garry Rhodes was quick to follow up this kind donation offer with Jim Hogan, establishing that Jim used to be a sales rep for an Aireshelta company and he was kindly offering to donate to the team an ex-demonstration model.

This evening Jim Hogan, along with his wife Kath kindly journeyed from their Darwen home to deliver this fantastic kit donation to the team.

Jim not only handed over the Aireshelta tent, he also kindly provided instruction and a demonstration on its erection and more importantly showed us how to fold it all away into a manageable package.

Tuesday 25th August
Incident 67/2009
At 18:35 this evening the team was contacted by Greater Manchester Police regarding a major multi-agency search and rescue operation which was in its early stages, for a young boy reported missing in a body of water in the Trafford area of Manchester.

A full team pager call was initiated at 18:40 by which time the rendezvous point had been determined in the vicinity of the Chill Factor^e Ski Centre, Manchester.

Our first member Alan James arrived on scene at 18:50, closely followed by our Team Leader Garry Rhodes at 18:55, who immediately took on the responsibility of Mountain Rescue Incident Manager.

They both arrived to meet a major Police, Fire and Ambulance search and rescue operation which was gaining steady momentum, based around the initial 999 reports of 4 children in water, with 3 of the children having been safely accounted for by the time Alan and Garry arrived on scene.

The GMP Air Support Unit helicopter had previously hovered over the water body where the 11 year old boy had disappeared under the surface - the helicopter was trying to locate the child using its on-board thermal imaging camera.

GMF&RS personnel worked alongside GMP officers in carrying out a search of the water margins, including members of GMFRS Water Incident Unit entering the shallower parts of the water body.

Bolton MRT members and our 4 team Landrovers continued to arrive over the next 15 minutes, joining other emergency resources parked along Trafford Way opposite the Chill Factor^e in the Dumplington area of Trafford.

In liaison with the Police officers in charge on scene, team members redeployed to the Barton Embankment area opposite the David Lloyd leisure centre with all the GMFRS resources on scene being stood down and leaving the scene.

Team members were deployed in three main groups to undertake different taskings. One group conducted a search of the wooded margins and open grassland around the water body, to discount the possibility of the child having left the water and then collapsing on open ground.

• Bolton MRT, 28x callout list members (inclusive of our Canoe and Kayak Water Search Unit), and one Support Group member
•  (including our four team Landrover Mountain Rescue ambulances and our Control trailer, with our Catering and Aireshelta stood down en-route)
• SARDA Handler Alison Nicholson and Search Dog Floss from Bowland Pennine MRT
• Greater Manchester Police, major deployment of divisional officers, Police Community Support Officers, Traffic division, Tactical Aid Unit(s), CID and CSI officers
• Greater Manchester Police Air Support Unit Helicopter India 99
• North West Regional Police Underwater Search and Marine Unit (based at Runcorn), 1 member on scene, rest of team stood down en-route.
• Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, one pump appliance from from Sale fire station, two pump appliances and one hydraulic platform from Stretford fire station, one pump appliance and the Water Incident Unit from Eccles fire station, and the Water Incident Unit from Heywood Fire Station (we believe stood down en-route)
• Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service, officers in command including two station commanders and one group commander.
• North West Ambulance Service (Manchester) Belle Vue Emergency Control Centre staff
• North West Ambulance Service (Manchester): Two solo response vehicles, two HART unit solo response vehicles, one USAR solo response vehicle, three emergency ambulances, three HART-USAR incident units, one officer in charge.

...also on Tuesday 25th...
Joint emergency services liaison day hosted by C Flight 22 Squadron RAF Valley
Today callout team members Mark Scott, Fred Taylor and Chris Tennant attended a Joint Emergency Services Liaison day hosted by "C" Flight 22 Squadron RAF Valley. The meeting was attended by a diverse range of providers of emergency services for North Wales and the Northwest of England. As well as representatives of "C" Flight 22 squadron, SARTU (Search and Rescue Training Unit), 230 (R) Squadron (the Sea King operational conversion unit), also in attendance were representatives of Mountain Rescue (Bolton, Llanberis, RAF Valley & Ogwen teams), Greater Manchester Police (including Missing Person Search Managers), Merseyside and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Services, the Search and Rescue Dog Association, and a number of representatives from the Maritime and Coastguard Agency.

Sunday 23rd August
Incident 66/2009
At 11:42 this morning, whilst the team was still at Moses Gate packing up from the previous incident, we received a call from NWAS (Lancashire) to an incident in the Winter Hill area.

Our Deputy Leader Geoff Seddon contacted NWAS Lancashire control to ascertain more details and established that a 35 year old male walker had sustained a suspected dislocated shoulder in a fall, and that the team was required to meet at the hillside property of Grange Lodge, situated overlooking the San Marino restaraunt and Belmont village.

An obvious immediate response was possible with the team split into two responding parties, one going to the summit area of Winter Hill, and another going to the Grange Lodge area. The 14 members en route, with two team vehicles, were stood down by NWAS (Lancashire) at 11:55 whilst responding with the news that the injured walker had managed to walk to the ambulance with assistance.

...also on Sunday 23rd...
Incident 65/2009
At 10:40 this morning we were paged by NWAS (Manchester) regarding an incident in the Moses Gate Country Park area of Farnworth, Bolton.

NWAS (Manchester) Control had received a 999 call regarding an injured mountain biker with a serious leg fracture.

After a futher call from NWAS updating our Team Leader with more information on this incident, a full team pager call was made at 10:48. At circa 10:55 our Team Leader arrived at the Loxham Street main entrance to Moses Gate Country park to meet the responding NWAS emergency ambulance which could not access the main country park due to the height restriction barrier.

Our Team Leader transported the two ambulance crew to the farthest roadhead possible by the "Red Bridge" over the River Croal, at the rear of Rock Hall information centre.

Our Team Leader, Garry Rhodes and the two ambulance crew, who had been directed to this RVP by one of the injured mountain biker's colleagues then walked to the incident site in the wooded tracks on the opposite bank of the River Croal.

An NWAS response Paramedic who had arrived earlier had splinted the injured mountain biker's very seriously fractured right leg and all awaited the arrival of the main MRT response, following which a half kilometre stretcher evacuation took place, with the casualty arriving at the emergency ambulance by 11:31.

The 38 year old very experienced mountain biker from Swinton had been riding with his brother and a mutual friend, both also very experienced mountain bikers, when he had this serious accident.

...also on Sunday 23rd...
Donation from Darwen Gala committee
Further to our article yesterday, today we are pleased to announce a cheque donation of £50.00 from the Darwen Gala committee in respect of our presence at the Darwen Gala and associated fell race on the 22nd August.

Darwen Gala committee have been very long standing supporters and friends of Bolton MRT, and their continued support is very much appreciated.

...also on Sunday 23rd...
Lancashire Constabulary driver awareness training
Over the course of this weekend, team member Elaine Gilliland attended a two day driver awareness course held by Lancashire Constabulary at their force HQ in Hutton, Preston, with a view to introducing Elaine to the techniques used in "blue light" driving.

To date the following Bolton MRT team members have attended the same course, Steve Fletcher, Paul Brain, Peter Heeley & Mike Higginbottom. Other emergency response drivers in the team have under taken similar training in the past with Greater Manchester Police.

On arrival at the Force HQ at Hutton, Elaine was met by PC Dave Bishop, the Instructor for day one of the course. Also attending were Keith Hotham, team member from Rossendale and Pendle MRT and Roy Rigby, team member from Bowland and Pennine MRT.

The following is Elaine’s report on the weekend:

After introductions, we immediately went into the first session which consisted of presentations about safety, leaving nothing to chance and hazards, a huge amount of information to take in with lots of questions asked by us ‘trainees’.

Next we moved on to the ‘system’ of driving used by the police to ensure the most appropriate approach is taken. After 2 ½ hours of presentation and discussion, it was now time for a demonstration where Dave took the wheel providing constant commentary on what he was looking for and at, and the systematic approach.

After a short lunch break, it was our turn.

We all tentatively volunteered to go ‘first’, but as Rossendale and Pendle had provided the vehicle for our use this time, Keith was initially pushed to the forefront and took the first ‘stint’.

Old habits die hard......the afternoon allowed us two practice runs each and not only trying to recall all of the information we had been provided with that morning but trying to apply the system to our habitual way of driving proved challenging. By the end of the day, we had all successfully applied the ‘system’ and had also noted areas that we needed to work on.

DAY TWO

After practising on the way home and on the way back to Lanconstab Force HQ, we all met with our instructor for day two, PC Andy Wild.

Again, the morning consisted of presentations and discussion on Emergency Response Guidelines and a demonstration with continuing commentary by Andy on a ‘blues and twos’ run. Fabulous........

The afternoon was over to us once again and unfortunately for Keith, he again took the first ‘stint’. We all again had the ability to the practice the application of what we have been made aware of, each of us taking the wheel twice.

All in all the weekend was hugely successful with all of us gaining a Certificate of Achievement. A lot was learnt and a lot of fun was had in the process.

Bolton Mountain Rescue Team would like to take this opportunity to thank Lancashire Constabulary for giving our team members the ability to access the Driver Awareness Training Course and I would like to give a huge vote of thanks to PC’s Dave Bishop and Andy Wild for their patience and commitment and their excellent teaching over the weekend.

Saturday 22nd August
Incident 64/2009
Whilst the team was providing standby rescue cover at the Darwen Gala Fell Race today, we were called upon to assist one of the competitors who had suffered severe injuries to both of his heels, after completing the race and collapsing in severe pain at the race finish.

Four team members were immediately on hand to offer assistance to the 16 year old male casualty, whose main concern (notwithstanding the severe pain he was in) was whether or not he would be fit for his next fell race in October!

The casualty's heels were dressed by team members and pain relief was given in the form of Entonox and Fentanyl. Following the arrival of an NWAS RRV Paramedic from Blackburn, Morphine was also administered intravenously.

With his pain now at manageable level, and upon the arrival of an NWAS Emergency Ambulance from Accrington, the casualty was taken to Royal Blackburn Hospital for further treatment.

This incident again illustrated the close working relationship between Bolton MRT and our NWAS colleagues.

...also on Saturday 22nd...
Team provides standby rescue cover to Darwen Gala fell race
Today the team provided standby rescue cover to the annual Darwen Gala fell races, held during this very sunny day in conjunction with the Darwen Gala, now in its 44th year, and which attracted many hundreds of visitors and families.

Friday 21st August
Kind donation from Mrs P. Holker of Edgworth.
On the evening of Tuesday 14th July this year we were called out to the vicinity of Red Earth Farm, Edgworth, where farmer Clive Holker had collapsed and died at the wheel of his tractor.

In a sad operation, alongside NWAS (Manchester) personnel we helped recover his body back down the hillside to where the Ambulance was waiting.

Today we have received a very kind card of thanks from Mr Holkers' wife Patty Holker, thanking the team for going to the assistance of her husband, and enclosing a thoughtful £100.00 donation.

The whole team expresses its condolences to Patty Holker and her family over the death of Clive her husband, and thanks her for her very kind support of the team at this difficult personal time. Please see Incident 59, Tuesday 14th July 2009.

...also on Friday 21st...
It's an exercise, no it's not it's for real
Two days late in reporting but at least we can report on their state of recovery!

On our routine Wednesday evening exercise this week all was progressing well with the two 'exercise' casualty scenerio within the Wilderswood area on the moors above Horwich, ie, the exercise organisers Fred Taylor, Michael O'Brien and Peter Heeley were trying to outsmart their team member colleagues with a devious and somewhat difficult exercise incident, whilst our Team Leader Garry Rhodes was yet again allowed by all present to think he was actually in charge.

Amidst all the 'play acting' came a radio report that team member Neil Aspinall had gone over on his ankle (clumsy boy!) and may need stretcher evacuating. On establishing this was a real injury, there was a brief halt to the exercise proceedings, whilst team members debated their willingness to carrying the not inconsiderable size of Neil back to the vehicles RVP for some tender loving care and treatment.

Guess what, Neil had to hobble back to the vehicles as we were having too much fun on the exercise, amidst many comments of "whats wrong Neil at least you've got one good leg left !" (yes we really are a caring team).

Not to be outdone, our youngest team member Matthew Hailwood decided he would get in on the act, and promptly fell awkwardly with his full weight on to his knee, and in considerable pain yet not wishing to suffer the agonies of asking his team members for help also hobbled back to the vehicles RVP. Well the worsening pain and rapidly swelling knee resulted in a decision to quickly get him to hospital, as a possible fractured kneecap was suspected! (ouch)

Matthew Hailwood recieved some immediate care from team member Ana Toole, a Physiotherapist at Royal Bolton Hospital, who fortunately for Matthew is something of an expert on knees!

Arriving at the Royal Bolton Hospital Matthew was treated very quickly, and thankfully X Rays revealed no breaks although a very serious soft tissue was diagnosed.

For the curious the yellow sticker says 'I've been very brave' - aww bless.

Thursday 20th August
Latest news on Edgworth Real Ale Festival
Over the weekend of Friday evening 25th September through to Sunday 27th September 2009, the 4th Annual Edgworth Real Ale Festival is taking place at the Barlow Institute, Edgworth.

We are very fortunate to have been chosen by the organisers as the joint charity beneficisaries alongside Derian House.

On Saturday afternoon through to Saturday evening, 13x team call out list members and Support Group members are actually pulling the pints with a stint as the bar staff, meanwhile on both Saturday and Sunday team vehicles and their respective search and rescue equipment will be on show at the Barlow Institute.

More details on this event can be found at www.eraf.org.uk and you can download the festival poster here.

...also on Thursday 20th...
Meeting with East Lancashire Mark Benevolent Fund Limited. (Executive Committee)
This evening senior team members had the pleasure once again of meeting up with members 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 96x Masonic Lodges.

Readers may recall that in 2008 on two seperate occasions the East Lancashire Mark Benevolent Fund Limited very kindly donated to the team the fantastic total amount of £2,500.00.

Present at tonights meeting from the team were our Honorary Team President (and former Team Leader) Bob Hutchinson, Team Chairman Ken Oakes, Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE, and long serving senior team member Mike Marsh.

Members of the Executive Committee of the East Lancashire Mark Benevolent Fund Limited attending were Chairman Philip Conn (A Boltonian), Treasurer John Crawford, and Secretary George Davis.

George informed us he was no stranger to mountain rescue having been a volunteer 'exercise' casualty on many rescue practices in the Saddleworth, Holmfirth and Edale areas of the Peak District with various Peak District MRTs.

The reason for tonights visit was for the representative members of the East Lancashire Mark Benevolent Fund Limited to discuss with our team representatives how they can further help and support the team with particular regards to linking such support to their 2010 Centenary Year.

Following this very important meeting, the three were given a tour of our Ladybridge Hall Base / HQ and based vehicles, with Chairman Philip Conn recalling from personal recollection our previous considerably smaller premises at New Overdale Youth Training Centre, Bolton.

The team is very honoured to welcome 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 last year) at the East Lancashire Mark Fellowship Day at Middleton Masonic Club, Manchester Old Road, Middleton, M24 4DY on Sunday 30th August 2009, from 12.00 noon onwards.

Please also see previous 'news' articles dated Sunday 24th August 2008 and Wednesday 6th February 2008.

Wednesday 19th August
Donation from Mr Bamford via Charity Aid Foundation
A short while ago we received a very kind donation through the Charity Aid Foundation of £50.00 from team supporter Mr Bamford of Bath.

Unfortunately due to an addressing error we recieved this donation at a point in time when the cheque had expired.

With thanks to the Charity Aid Foundation our Treasurer Johanne Lamb managed to get in contact with Mr Bamford who made the original donation and he very kindly agreed to send out another donation.

To our grateful surprise Mr Bamford not only sent out another donation to cover the time expired donation he also very kindly doubled the amount to a fantastic £100.00.

The kindness of our supporters exemplified by acts such as this always amazes all of us in the team, we are indeed very fortunate to have such thoughtful friends and supporters.

Tuesday 18th August
Incident 63/2009
At circa 21.30hrs this evening our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE was contacted direct by NWAS (Manchester) Control regards the teams assistance at an incident involving two casualties in the Hall i' th' Wood area of Bolton, with the initial report of a youth fallen down a steep slope.

A full team call out page was made at 21.38hrs, resulting in 17x team members in our Bolton Mobiles One, Two and Three vehicles responding to the incident location, which was on a steep slope in the Eagley Brook valley area, with the Ambulance and MRT RVP situated at the head of Green Way at the junction of Green Way Close and the Stray.

Our first two members Dave Carter and Peter Heeley arrived at the RVP at 21.55, joining various ambulance crews already at the casualty site and on route to the casualty site, closely followed by our Team Leader at 21.56 and another responding NWAS unit.

At 22.10hrs all three of our Land Rover Mountain Rescue Ambulance vehicles were on scene together with most of our responding team members.

By this time the first casualty a 40 year old female, had walked with assistance to one of the NWAS Emergency Ambulances present and had been taken to Royal Bolton Hospital.

The second casualty, a 19 year old male, had fallen down a steep wooded slope, composed of loose soil, and had suspected spinal injuries.

He was made secure, treated and immobilised on site with some difficulty due to the steep and slippy nature of the slope, by a combined party of NWAS personnel and team members, whilst other team members provided lighting for the incident scene.

His suspected spinal injuries were treated by placing him into a spinal splint and then onto a specialist stretcher, which was then pulled up the slope with the team providing an assisted rope haul.

He was then evacuated some 200 metres across fields in a mountain rescue stretcher to the waiting 2nd NWAS Emergency Ambulance, where he was transferred for onward transport to Royal Bolton Hospital.

By 23.16hrs all NWAS and Bolton MRT members had left the scene.

The following resources were involved in this rescue incident;

• 17x Bolton MRT members on scene. (including one of our two team Doctors, Clare Whitney)
• 4x Bolton MRT members stood down responding.
• 3x Bolton MRT Land Rover Mountain Rescue Ambulance Vehicles.
• 2x NWAS (Manchester) Emergency Ambulances, and four crew members.
• 2x NWAS (Manchester) HART vehicles and their solo drivers / Paramedics. (HART = Hazardous Area Rescue Team)
• 1x NWAS (Manchester) USAR vehicle and its solo driver / Paramedic. (USAR = Urban Search and Rescue)
• NWAS (Manchester) Belle Vue Emergency Control Centre.

Sunday 16th August
Sunday steep ground stretcher training
Today a number of team members took part in a training session, specifically to familarise our newer members with steep-ground stetcher handling prior to their attendance on the Foundation Course, being held in October.

Assembling at the Noon Hill Gulley area, below Noon Hill near Rivington, a carry up to the bottom of the main gulley began, and thereafter practice of various techniques used to lower and raise stretchers from steep-sided ravines, followed by a demonstration and practice of "sledging" the stretcher down less-steep grass slopes.

Thursday 13th August
Incident 62/2009
This evening at circa 20.17hrs our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE was contacted directly by NWAS (Manchester) Control regards the teams assistance with a report of a youth who had fallen from a rope swing in the Worsley Woods area of Salford, Manchester.

Living close by Garry was able to make a quick response to assess the situation, with a full team pager call out being initiated at 20.26hrs, just after which whilst still on route to Worsley, NWAS (Manchester) Control informed Garry of another request for the team, this time in the vicinity of Rivington Pike Cottage on the moorland track of Georges Lane. This second call was passed by Garry to the Teams Deputy Team Leader Geoff Seddon, who lives close to this location.

Upon arrival in Worsley village centre at circa 20.29hrs, Garry met up with the adult informant who had been with the male youth when he had his accident, and she led Garry to the accident location, just as the responding NWAS (Manchester) Emergency Ambulance also arrived.

The youth had fallen from a rope swing in the Old Warke Dam area of Worsley woods, sustaining a serious lower arm fracture. As the NWAS crew and Garry made their way to the scene they were met by the youth in considerable pain walking out to meet them. He was led into the Ambulance for onward transfer to hospital.

Meanwhile Geoff Seddon having liaised further with NWAS (Manchester) Control regarding the Rivington incident established that NWAS (Lancashire) had dealt with it, with the team not being required.

In total 21x members responded to the Worsley incident, with Garry on scene, 3x other team members on hold nearby in Worsley Village at the pager stand down at 20.38hrs and a further 17x team members on route.

...also on Thursday 13th...
Kind donation from valued team supporter David Bissett.
Today we received a very kind £75.00 donation from valued team supporter and friend David Bissett, of Turton, Bolton.

David has been very generously supporting the team for a number of years now following a climbing accident to his son Iain, in Ousel Nest Quarry overlooking Jumbles Reservoir on Sunday 7th August 2005. See 'news' article dated the same, our Incident 73-2005

David in a letter accompanying his kind donation passes on his usual good wishes to the team, and gives us the news that his son Iain is now studying at University in South Africa for a Diploma in Humanitarian Assistance, to which all the team wishes Iain all success in completing his studies.

Please also refer to the following previous articles; Wednesday 17th June 2009, Thursday 7th August 2008, Thursday 25th October 2007, Wednesday 22nd August 2007, Tuesday 6th March 2007, Monday 11th December 2006, Thursday 24th August 2006, Monday 15th August 2005 and Sunday 7th August 2005.

Wednesday 12th August
Donation from The Cafe, Lostock Parish Centre. (St Thomas & St John's Church)
Today we are very pleased to announce the fantastic donation of £500.00 from The Cafe, Lostock Parish Centre (St Thomas & St John's Church). The cafe is a voluntary run church venture, and any profits are donated to charitable causes. They like to support local charities and we are the latest beneficiaries of such thoughtful kindness.

One of the cafe organisers, Katy Morley, is a friend of Gillian Gregory our Team Secretary and Support Group member, and hence was aware of the work of the team. A letter accompanying the cheque stated "I enclose a cheque for £500 to help with the valuable work of the Bolton Mountain Rescue Team".

The whole team wishes to extend its very grateful thanks to all the volunteers at The Cafe, Lostock Parish Centre (St Thomas & St John's Church) for their appreciated and very much valued support of the Bolton Mountain Rescue Team.

Our Secretary Gillian Gregory will be extending an invitation to all the volunteers at The Cafe, to come and visit the team at our Ladybridge Hall Base / HQ.

Sunday 9th August
Incident 61/2009
At 21.27hrs this evening Greater Manchester Police paged the team to provide assistance with the recovery of a 35 year old deceased male from dense woodland in the Atherton Wood area of Howe Bridge, Leigh.

At the time of call the team was put on standby at our Ladybridge Hall base / HQ whilst our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE established the exact location of the GMP RVP and the nature of what we were being requested to do.

By 21.49hrs it was decided to locate the team in the vicinity of Howe Bridge Leisure Centre whislt our Team Leader and a team member who lives nearby, determined the best access points in liaison with GMP Officers involved.

The team met in the area of Long Causeway off Old Mill Lane, Leigh, to access Atherton Wood, with the body of the man being stretcher evacuated back to the GMP RVP just after 23.00hrs to await the arrival of the undertakers vehicle.

We understand that this man had been the subject of an earlier GMP search operation, which did not involve the team, to determine his whereabouts.

In total 18x team members responded to this incident, all returning home just after midnight on Sunday 9th August. At the time of our involvement a small number of GMP Divisional Officers and GMP Traffic were also present.

The team is frequently requested to recover bodies from difficult to access or 'remote' locations and carries appropriate equipment to undertake such taskings.

Thursday 6th August
Donation from Horwich RMI Harriers and Athletics Club, regards Jubilee Road Races 2009.
Today we received a very kind £50.00 donation from Martin Banks of Horwich RMI Harriers and Athletics Club. Martin is the race organiser for the Horwich RMI H & AC Jubillee Series 2009, a series of road running races held around the Horwich area on Wednesday evenings throughout the summer months.

Accompanying this kind donation from Horwich RMI H & AC was a letter from Martin Banks, which read; "Although the Bolton MRT does not directly support the Jubilee Races held by Horwich RMI H & AC I recognise your continued good work within the community and support for many other Horwich RMI H & AC events. As race organiser for the Jubilee Series 2009 I am in a position to be able to donate £50.00 from this years events proceeds as a thank you gesture in recognition of your good work in the community and support for Horwich RMI H & AC other events."

The team would like to take this opportunity to express its thanks to Martin and all at Horwich RMI H & AC for their very much appreciated continuing support of the Bolton MRT and we wish all at the club a successful 2010 Jubilee Race series.

...also on Thursday 6th...
A big thank you to Jordan Kennedy.
As regular readers will be aware our team collection boxes generate a large amount of donations for the team, and our many collection boxes are hosted by a variety of shops, pubs, clubs, hotels, garages and individuals.

Jordan Kennedy, the twelve year old nephew of team Support Group member Hazel Kennedy, recently asked if he could have a collection box to raise money for the team, by way of donating his spare pocket money.

The whole team extends a big thank you to Jordan for this very thoughtful and kind act in supporting the team.

Last night Jordan helped the team in another way, when he played the role of an 'exercise casualty' on our Wednesday evening exercise on the slopes of Rivington Pike. Jordan received excellent coaching from his auntie, Hazel Kennedy, who works full time for NWAS as an Emergency Ambulance Technician, so Jordans pretend groans and moans were even more realistic based on Hazels tutoring !

Tuesday 4th August
Collection box total to date
At this evenings Support Group meeting, the July month end collection box totals were announced. To date this year our Collection Box total amount raised is £2,124.07 (Compared to £2,298.19 last year at this time). Within July we raised the fantastic total of £376.87 (Compared to £342.67 for July 2008)

Our Support Group currently maintains 150x Collection Boxes in a wide variety of locations including some lodged with individuals, all having a common interest in fully supporting the team.

As ever a huge thank you to all our supporters out there who so freely give their loose change to support the team.

...also on Tuesday 4th...
Bolton and District Round Table get on their Mountain Bikes to raise funds for the team
Back in February this year the team hosted a visit to our base / HQ by seven members of Bolton and District Round Table, to receive the excellent news from their Chairman Craig Knights that we had been selected as his Chairmans' Charity for this year.

Today Craig Knights contacted our Team Leader Garry Rhodes to inform him that Bolton and District Round Table members will be undertaking a sponsored mountain bike ride to raise money for the team, on an event to be held in the Brecon Beacons on September 13th this year.

All the team wishes Craig and his colleague Bolton and District Round Tablers good riding conditions and excellent weather for a safe mountain bike event in September raising funds for our team.
(See also related news item dated Thursday 19th February 2009)