Diary - November 2009

Sunday 29th November
Donations arising from our former 250 Club
The team operated a 250 club prize draw for a great many years but recently suspended the draw due to amongst other things the difficulty of administering and keeping records of the 250 club membership.
We have previously directly contacted all members of the 250 Club and also made announcements on this website that the Club has come to a sad end.

Since this time a great many people have continued to make monthly donations to the team rather than suspend their previous 250 Club monthly subscription.

The team would like to extend its thanks to all these individuals who have decided to continue supporting the team in this way.

As a result of this we are happy to announce the recent receipt of £52 in to the team from these collective donations.

We would also like to pass thanks to Mrs J Marsh, the mother of former team member Dave Marsh, who recently donated her 250 Club winnings of £12 to the team.

...also on Sunday 29th...
Retirement of Paul Brain
It is with great regret the team announces today the retirement of experienced team member of Paul Brain

Paul joined us on 1st November 2006 and this year after attending the MREW Party Leaders Course became one of our newest Party Leaders.

Paul was also a recently qualified emergency response driver with the team.

Paul behind the scenes has contributed massive help (along with Steve Fletcher and Dave Healey) with the teams website updates and IT matters.

Paul has left the team to concentrate on a possible house and job move to the Staffordshire area and we all wish him well in the future.

Although Paul has left the team as of today he has very kindly offered to continue to help where he can with the teams website duties.

...also on Sunday 29th...
Latest news on membership recruitment
We are still receiving on line membership applications to join the team for our late January 2010 intake.

To date we have now received 30 completed on line membership applications and 5 letters of application.

So far 10 people interested in joining the team have confirmed they will be present on Thursday evening 21st January and all day Sunday 24th January.

If you have made an on line application and have received an invite to the above sessions the team requests you return your booking form as soon as possible.

...also on Sunday 29th...
David Staff Memorial Charity Fell Race
Today the team provided standby rescue cover for the David Staff Memorial Charity Fell Race.

This fell race takes in a course over 5.1 miles including 1200 feet of ascent, centred on Jubilee Tower, Darwen and Darwen Moor.

The race organised by Jonathan Stubbs of the Darwen Dashers Running Club. (who are long time friends and supporters of the team) has an important aim in raising money for the childrens cardiac charity C.R.Y.

23 Full Team Call Out list members, one member of the Support Group and Paul Lawrence (a friend and supporter of the team) were on hand today along with our 4 team vehicles to provide cover for this event.

The race took place in poor conditions of low cloud and the ever present threat of rain and sleet showers.

149 competitors took part in the race, with one competitor suffering an ankle injury on the course, thankfully nearby to one of our vehicles, which transported him to the finish. A further two competitors received treatment for knee injuries at the event finish. (thanks to runner Mike Eaton of Wakefield, who kindly donated £10 to the team following treatment for his knee injury. The team would like to wish all associated with this event all the best with their fantastic efforts with supporting the charity C.R.Y.

Next years event is scheduled for Sunday 28th November 2010.

Saturday 28th November
Collection day at Tesco Middlebrook Store
Today the team held its last collection day of the year, with thanks to the staff and management of the large Tesco store at Middlebrook, Horwich.

16 call out list members (aided by Molly, the daughter of Team Member Sam McKay) and 9 Support Group members attended this collection, raising the fantastic sum of £546.21.

The team thanks all the shoppers who so gladly supported the team today, particularly in these recession hit times and the upcoming cost of the Christmas festivities.

Friday 27th November
Incident 83/2009
In the early hours of the morning at 03:05 hours our Team Leader received a direct call from Greater Manchester Police requesting urgent search assistance with a missing man in the Bury area.

Establishing this call was in that part of Bury under Rossendale & Pendle MRTs operational area, our Team Leader immediately liaised with Andy Simpson the TL of RPMRT (who appreciated the early morning call!)

In regards to the urgency of this search and the fact that it was a work day it was decided to make this incident a joint response call.

A full team callout was initiated at 03:33 hours resulting in 11 Bolton MRT members responding.

At circa 05:00 hours our team members met up with RPMRT members at the Clarence Recreation Ground RVP in the Chesham area of Bury.

The incident involved a missing 34 year old male with concern for his wellbeing.

BMRT and RPMRT members concentrated in a search of local woodlands, whilst GMP officers conducted search operations nearer the built up areas.

Conditions during the search varied from heavy sleet showers to persistent heavy rain with ground conditions underfoot very wet and muddy.

With daylight the Greater Manchester Police Air Support Unit joined in the search.

With no let-up in the rain by mid-morning the areas tasked to the MRTs were completed and by circa 10:30 our part in the operation was stood down.

Update: On the afternoon of Saturday 28th November following continuing GMP searches both ourselves and RPMRT (with our team working under the direction of RPMRT) were contacted by GMP to search new areas commencing Sunday 29th November. Just shortly after this call came the sad news that the body of the missing man had been located in the Freetown area of Bury outside the actual and planned search areas.

Wednesday 25th November
Another kind donation from Miss Norma Ramm
Today we received our first Team Christmas card of the year from team supporter Miss Norma Ramm of Bolton.

Enclosed with the card was a very kind donation of £50 to the team.

The team would like to thank Miss Norma Ramm for her thoughtfulness at this festive time in supporting the team.

See also news article dated Saturday 29th August 2009.

Monday 23rd November
Visit to Ladybridge Hall Base / HQ by 6th Bolton (1st Eagley) Scout Group
This evening 19x Scouts, their 3x Scout Leaders and two of the Scouts parents, all from the 6th Bolton (1st Eagley) Scout Group, were our guests for a tour of our Ladybridge Hall Base / HQ.

They were met by our Training Officer Andy Ryding, team members Matthew Hailwood, Gillian Leigh and Support Group member Iain Clarkson.

For Iain it was a return to his past, as he is a former member of the 6th Bolton (1st Eagley) Scout Group.

All the Scouts, Leaders and parents thoroughly enjoyed themselves, being shown around our vehicles and taking part in practical demonstrations of our search and rescue equipment.

At the end of their visit the 6th Bolton (1st Eagley) very kindly made a £25.00 donation to the team.

Sunday 22nd November
Mountain Rescue England and Wales Technology and Innovation Day
Today Mountain Rescue England and Wales held the first ever national MR Technology and Innovation day at the excellent venue of the Lancashire Constabulary Headquaters complex at Hutton, Preston.

The day was aimed at providing an event for mountain rescue members to experience items of innovation and technology that others within and allied to the mountain rescue community are developing or utilising at the current time, and to discuss these with relevance to MR operations.

Presentations on the day included communications, the increasing role of IT based solutions in MR including GIS and GPS, incident management, personal locator beacons, and training sotware packages.

The aim of the day was to bring such topics to a wider audience, promote discussion and encourage continuing and future development of such systems. Included in the distinguished list of very knowledgable presenters was our very own Steve Fletcher, who described to the meeting his findings regards 'A trial solution to integrate Smart phones / PDAs MR map.'

Thanks are expressed to Iain Nicholson (of BPMRT, MPSRO Chairman, SARDA Wales) and his helpers for arranging this very informative and useful day, which hopefully will be repeated on an annual basis.

...also on Sunday 22nd...
Membership changes
The team would like to extend its best wishes to team callout list member Mike Higginbottom, who joined the team on the 19th April 2006, but has had to stand down and retire from the team due to family and work commitments.

Mike has been a committed and enthusiastic member of the team over the past 3 and a half years and had recently completed his team vehicle response driver training.

His quiet sense of humour will be missed in the team but he has promised to re-join once his commitments allow.

Trainee team member Marisa Venables, who joined the team in May this year, has had to stand down temporarily from the callout list membership due a foot injury which will require surgery and rest over many months.

During this interim period, Marisa is transferring to our Support Group membership, with the hope to return to active duty in early Summer next year, her recovery from surgery permitting.

...also on Sunday 22nd...
Team membership recruitment latest
Updating previous reports regarding our new member applications for our January 21st/24th 2010 intake sessions, we have now received 29 online initial membership applications and 5 letters of application.

To date we have had 8 positive replies for our January intake, and although the closing date for replies is January 11th 2010, we would encourage all who have made a successful online application to confirm as soon as possible their intention to attend our January intake dates.

Friday 20th November
Team Annual Ceilidh
For the third year running our Annual Ceilidh took place tonight under the organisation of our Support Group, having been organised upto and including 2006 by the call out team members.

Taking place at the excellent venue and usual team Ceilidh location of St Mary's Church Hall, Horwich, all present were yet again entertained by the fantastic 'Toll Bar Band.' (who like last year had a few surprises up their sleeves with the introduction of some more new dances into the evening)

With numbers present reaching almost 100 a fun time was had by all, with team member Matthew Hailwood continuing to improve his dance technique whilst team member Paul Brain still maintains his usual two-left-feet attitude to all dances.

A raffle held on the night raised £137.50 for the team, thanks to the team Support Group 'Sales Team'. (Many thanks to all who supplied the many raffle prizes)

The team would like to thank all those who attended this annual event for their support (and sheer entertainment value of watching some people try their best to follow the dance moves!)

We would also like to yet again thank Hazel Kennedy of our Support Group for organising this year's event, and her Support Group colleagues Iain Clarkson, Gillian Gregory, Johanne Lamb, Andy Murphy and Julie Thompson for their work selling tickets on the door, raffle ticket sales and dishing out the 'pie and peas' supper to all present. (big thanks to callout list member Gillian Leigh who got the prize this year for the most tickets sold, bringing along her family and a large number of friends).

Next year's date is provisionally organised for Friday November 26th 2010 at the same venue, so here's an invitation in advance for you all to join in the fun. (and do not worry if you cannot dance, no matter how bad you are Support Group member Gillian 'two left feet and one minute behind everyone else' Gregory will make your attempts look good!)

...also on Friday 20th...
Cumbria Floods
At 07:45 this morning our Team Leader Garry Rhodes was contacted directly by the Greater Manchester Police Force Duty Officer to put the team on immediate standby & readiness should the need arise for the team to mobilise in support of the severe flooding in Cumbria. (Cumbria Constabulary had been in contact with GMP)

Greater Manchester Police also placed specialist officers within their own force on standby alongside liaising with the response to this incident by Greater Manchester Fire & Rescue Service, and Greater Manchester-based elements of NWAS.

Our Team Leader was requested by the GMP Force Duty Officer to contact and also place on standby the Rossendale & Pendle MRT and Oldham MRT.

All three MRTs remained on standby throughout the morning but their services were not required.

A number of Bolton team members were involved in preliminary preparations should the call have come to mobilise the team.

This stand-by has not been recorded as an incident by the team and is reported here for information only.

A major mobilisation of Cumbrian MRTs, backed up by colleague MRTs from Northumberland and North Yorkshire took place, including specialist members from all of these teams in swiftwater search & rescue and their rescue boat assets as well as the normal resources of all the MRTs involved.

(Bolton team member Andy Kench, in his full-time capacity as an RSPCA Inspector and member of the RSPCA Flood Response Team was mobilised to Cumbria)

The team's condolences are expressed to PC Bill Barker's family, colleagues and friends. PC Barker was sadly killed during the floods.

Thursday 19th November
ISAC Course (Incident Safety Assessment and Control)
On Thursday 19th November, team callout list members Dr Clare Witney and Steve Nelson travelled to the HQ and Training Centre of Cheshire Fire & Rescue Service to take part in their Incident Safety Assessment and Control (ISAC) Course.

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.

The course commenced with an introduction from Dr. Mark Forrest, Medical Director of Cheshire Fire and Rescue Service. The course was a mixture of lectures, practical demonstrations and exercise scenarios. These exercises involved very realistic multi casualty situations involving vehicle collisions, collapsed building extrications, and rescues from confined spaces, all based at the excellent training facilities at Cheshire Fire & Rescue Service HQ.

...also on Thursday 19th...
Incident 82/2009
Late afternoon today at 16:51, GMP paged the team for assistance in a search for a missing 14 year old girl in the Lilford Park area of Leigh.

A team stand-by page at 16:54 was followed by a full callout page at 17:05, for all members to RVP at our Ladybridge Hall Base/HQ.

The young girl had gone missing in the park in the mid-afternoon and with darkness falling was giving police cause for concern.

Along with responding Police resources, at least 20 team members were en-route either direct or to our Base/HQ when the excellent news was received by our Team Leader via Greater Manchester Police, that at circa 17:25 a member of the public, walking their dog in Lilford Park had located the young girl safe & well. (The team's response to this included mobilising our Aireshelta tents, our Catering trailer and Control trailer. Support Group members were also involved in our initial response).

Our Team Leader Garry Rhodes also liaised directly with SARDA Trail Dog Handler Iain Nicholson of Bowland Pennine Mountain Rescue Team, requesting him and his Trail Dog Mij, alongside Iains wife, Alison and her Search Dog Floss, also of Bowland Pennine MRT. Both Iain and Alison were stood down with the news that the young girl had been found.

Lilford Park is a familiar location to the team for both searches and the occasional rescue.

...also on Thursday 19th...
Donation from St Margaret's Church, Bolton
Today the team is pleased to announce the fantastic and very kind donation of £110 from St. Margaret's Church, Lonsdale Road, Bolton.

St Margaret's Church have been supporting the team for the last few years with such thoughtful support much appreciated by the team membership.

All the membership of the team extends its thanks to the members of St Margaret's Church, Bolton for their very generous continuing support of the team.

Please also refer to previous 'news' items dated Tuesday 2nd December 2008 and Saturday 15th December 2007.

Wednesday 18th November
Sad news and good news from our valued friends at Accrington and Blackburn CHA Walking Club.
Today in the post we received the sad news that our very valued supporters and friends at Accrington and Blackburn CHA Walking Club, have decided to disband their walking club.

In a letter to the team, their Secretary Margaret Barnes explained that the disbandment is, “due to a reduced number of members, their age and infirmity.”

Margaret went on to explain in her letter that the Accrington and Blackburn CHA Walking Club had kindly and very thoughtfully decided to distribute their remaining finances to the charities they have supported over the years.

With the letter was a very generous ‘final’ donation of £100.00 to the team.

The whole team as ever expresses its thanks and appreciation to all the members, past and present, of Accrington and Blackburn CHA Walking Club, who over a great many years have very kindly and faithfully supported the Bolton MRT.

Tuesday 17th November
Team visits St John’s Ladies Group, Top o’th’ Moss, Bolton.
The team has a very busy ‘lecture’ programme to a wide range of different groups, with most coming along to see us, (the easiest option for the team) but on occasion we will still visit groups who may have difficulty in visiting us at our Ladybridge Hall Base / HQ.

This evening Team Chairman Ken Oakes, Stephen Kenworthy, and Team Catering Officer Elaine Gilliland, all Call Out list members, took a team Land Rover Mountain Rescue Ambulance to visit the ladies of St John’s Ladies Group, Top o’th’ Moss, at St John the Evangelist Church Hall, Breightmet Drive, Bolton.

Ken, Elaine and Stephen reported an excellent reception from the ladies who were very interested in the work we do in the local community.

At the end of the visit the trio were happy to receive on the team's behalf a very kind donation of £40.00 from St John’s Ladies Group, Top o’th’ Moss, Bolton.

Sunday 15th November
Visit to team by members of 25th Warrington East (St.Wilfreds) Grappenhall Scouts.
This morning the team welcomed to its Ladybridge Hall Base / HQ some very special visitors from the 25th Warrington East (St.Wilfreds) Grappenhall Scout Group.

Regular readers may recall that way back in April 2008, the Scout Group visited the team on an evening trip to our Ladybridge Hall Base / HQ to find out about the work and role of the team.

This visit resulted in the Scouts deciding to fundraise for the team, which culminated in the presentation of an amazing £615.31 donation to the team at the Scouts Grappenhall Village HQ on 12th December 2008.

As well as presenting at the time to all the Scouts who had taken part in this very kind fundraising for the team with a Certificate of Thanks, the team offered to give the three Scouts who had raised the most money a 'Grand Day Out with the Team.'

For various reasons it has taken over 11 months to arrange this, but today two out of the three Scouts who had raised the most for the team visited the team along with their parents, and two other Scouts (and their parents) who represented the other members of the 25th Warrington East (St.Wilfreds) Grappenhall.

With ten team Call Out list members on hand, all the Scouts and their parents were met by Team Training Officer Andrew Ryding, who introduced them to the other members present, and then gave all a conducted tour of our Base / HQ. This was followed by a look over our Team Vehicles and the search and rescue equipment carried on board, then some practical stretcher handling for the Scouts and their parents in the grounds of Ladybridge Hall.

After lunch, it was off to Anglezarke Quarry, with the Scouts in our Team Land Rover Mountain Rescue Ambulances and the parents following in their own cars and yes they were envious of their children being in the team vehicles.

At Anglezarke Quarry, Scouts and parents had a number of go's at abseiling, using the teams specialist 'Pro Allp' descenders,all of course on back up safety lines.

All then returned to Ladybridge Hall Base / HQ for a debrief on the day, tea and cakes.

By all accounts, the Scouts (and their parents !) had a fantastic day out with us, happily filling in our Base / HQ Visitors book with some very kind comments. The following Scouts from the 25th Warrington East (St.Wilfreds) Grappenhall Scout Group visted us today,

• Hannah Whiteley, Assistant Patrol Leader, Hawk Patrol.
• Sarah Whiteley, Scout, Cobra Patrol.
• Ross McKinnon, Assistant Patrol Leader, Bulldog Patrol.
• Ellie McGann, Patrol Leader, Eagle Patrol.
• And of course not forgetting the parents, Mum and Dad, Andy and Chris Whiteley, and Dads Andy McKinnon and Alan McGann.

...also on Sunday 15th...
Team Life Vice President Tony McNally visits the Greenbank Calendar Girls !
Readers may recall that the young lady residents (aged 64 to 85) of Greenbank Sheltered Housing in Horwich decided to 'bare all' recently for a 'Golden Oldie Girls' 2010 Calendar, very tastefully done of course.

All the proceeds from the sale of this excellent calendar are being very kindly donated to the Bolton Mountain Rescue Team, and the 'Bolton News' in particular has been very supportive giving some excellent publicity.

Recently, on Friday 6th November, our Life Vice President Tony McNally, himself a spritely 68 year old ! surprised all the 'Calendar Girls,' by making an unannounced visit to Greenbank Sheltered Housing in Horwich to personally thank all the young women for baring all to raise funds for the team.

Thursday 12th November
Visit to Ladybridge Hall Base / HQ by the Thursday Group, United Reform Church of St.Andrew and St.George, Bolton
This evening the Thursday Group of the United Reform Church of St.Andrew and St.George, Bolton, visited our Base / HQ where they were met by experienced Team Call Out list member Ged Clarke, and Trainee Team member Marisa Venables. Ged and Marisa gave this ladies group (along with their husbands) an introduction to the work of the team and our wide operational role within the local community in support of the Police, Ambulance and Fire Services. Their visit also included a look at our wide range of search and rescue equipment and the two Land Rover Mountain Rescue Ambulances which are based at our Ladybridge Hall premises. (two other vehicles being based at Bolton Central Fire Station)

At the conclusion of their visit the members of the Thursday Group, United Reform Church of St.Andrew and St.George, Bolton, kindly presented to Ged and Marisa on behalf of the team, a £20.00 donation.

...also on Thursday 12th...
Kind donation from Chorlton Methodist Church in respect of Incident 38-2009
We are very pleased to announce today the very kind donation of £125.00 from the members of Chorlton Methodist Church, Manchester Road, Chorlton, Manchester.

In a letter accompanying this very kind and thoughtful donation, Lyn Gallimore of Chorlton Methodist Church explained;

• "Your Team came to the rescue of a member of our walking group after they fell on a walk at Rivington, back in May, 2009"
• "We held a fund raising event to show our appreciation of your help and have divided the monies between yourselves and the North West Air Ambulance who also attended this incident."

...also on Thursday 12th...
Membership recruitment latest news for our January 2010 members intake
To date we have received an amazing 27x on-line initial application enquiries to join the team since we announced we were reopenning recruitment again for Call Out list members a short while ago.

We have also received a further 6x letter applications from people interested in joining the team.

All in turn have received a reply with more details about our two session January 2010 recruitment intake.

So far from these 33x total initial applications, six persons have confirmed to date that they wish to attend the Thursday evening January 21st, and all day Sunday January 24th 2010 recruitment sessions.

Details on our 2010 Call Out List membership recruitment sessions can be found by following the link on the 'Home Page' of our website, or by visiting the 'Membership' area of our website at www.boltonmrt.org.uk

Wednesday 11th November
Collection evening at Barton Grange Garden Centre, Bolton
This evening Team Call Out list member Chris Tennant along with Support Group members Tina Tennant (his wife), Ali Shepperd and Gillian Gregory, held a team collection at Barton Grange Garden Centre, Bolton, raising £42.95.

The team would like to thank the management of Barton Grange Garden Centre for allowing us to collect on their premises, and all their customers who so kindly supported the team on the evening.

(See also 'news' entry dated Wednesday 12th November 2008)

Sunday 8th November
Remembrance Sunday Service at the Bomber Memorial, Lead Mines Valley, Anglezarke
In the early hours of the cold winters morning of Tuesday 16th November 1943, a Wellington Mk 1c twin engined bomber of 28 OTU (Operational Training Unit) Royal Air Force, crashed with the sad loss of all aircrew onto Anglezarke Moor north of Bolton, in the area now designated the West Pennine Moors. The Wellington, serial Z8799, had originally taken off at around 22.50hrs on the late evening of Monday 15th November 1943, from its base at RAF Wymeswold, Leicestershire, with its full compliment of six crew members for a routine night training / navigation exercise. (Code named a Bullseye Exercise).

For reasons unknown the aircraft went into a steep uncontrollable dive, resulting according to the Court of Inquiry in structural failure of the airframe and its subsequent terrible impact onto remote moorland. None of the six aircrew survived the impact, they were the 1st pilot, Flight Sergeant Joseph Banks Timperon, aged 24yrs, from Australia, 2nd pilot Sgt E.R. Barnes, Navigator, Sgt J.B. Hayton, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner Sgt R.S. Jackson, Wireless Operator / Air Gunner Sgt G.E. Murray and Rear Gunner Sgt M. Mouncey.

In June 1955, members of The Rotary Club of Horwich (a nearby town nestling in the foothills of the moors) had a Memorial erected a short distance away from the actual crash site, on a hillside overlooking the beautiful moorland stream and valley known as Lead Mines Valley.



The Memorial itself consists of a former gritstone gatepost, surrounded by stone steps forming a base plinth. Confusingly the Memorials plaque bearing all the names of the aircrew killed, lists the date of the crash as November 12th 1943 rather than the actual date which was November 16th 1943. For a number of years afterwards, and to date we understand the local Air Cadets have held a wreath laying service the 2nd Sunday after each Remembrance Sunday.

In 1993, a local man, Eric Unsworth, a member of the nearby Chorley Ramblers Group, and also of the Long Distance Walkers Association, had the notion to hold a small service at the Bomber Memorial to honour the six airmen on Remembrance Sunday 1993. The following year a few more people joined in the Remembrance Sunday 'informal' Service at the Memorial, and as each year passed its popularity amongst a small band of local hill users increased.

Eric Unsworth ended up researching the tragic crash and contacting surviving relatives of the pilot Joe Timperon in Australia. Through his researches he obtained a copy of a letter written by the mother of Flt. Sgt. Joe Timperon after she had learnt of his death, and it is this letter that is read out now at each years service to all the assembled crowd paying their respects. Erics contacts resulted in we believe the attendance one year of a representative of the Royal Australian Air Force, as all the aircrew were we believe Australians serving in the Royal Air Force.

At the Bomber Memorial Service, the National Anthem is played and it was thought fitting that the Australian National Anthem should also be played, but Erics problem was where to obtain a recording. Here the Royal Australian Air Force stepped in, recorded their National Anthem and posted a copy to Eric! and to this day both the National Anthem and the Australian National Anthem are played at the Remembrance Sunday Bomber Memorial Service.

In 2000, we in Bolton Mountain Rescue Team started attending the Remembrance Sunday Service, and have done so ever since, joining other regulars which have included in the past attendees from such organisations as Chorley Ramblers, Bolton Ramblers, Bolton Holiday Fellowship Walking Group, Bolton Cyclists, the Long Distance Walking Association and other walking groups and individuals.

In 2006 Eric Unsworth who with help from his colleagues in Chorley Ramblers had almost single handedly organised and presided over each Remembrance Sundays Service, decided to hand over the running of the service due to his health and increasing age, to other members of Chorley Ramblers.

This year saw over 120 people attend the hilltop Remembrance Sunday Service at the Bomber Memorial, including 17 Full Team Callout list Bolton MRT members and one Reserve Call Out list member, Bob Hutchinson our President,(along with his wife and team helper Janet), Team friend and supporter Paul Lawrence, and the children of team members Samantha McKay and Steve Nelson. As ever events followed those at the London Cenotaph Service, linking those on the moors with proceedings via a radio, broadcasting the start of the two minutes silence.

This year also saw for the first time the displaying of the Australian national flag at the service, with thanks to former Bolton MRT team member Peter Heeley who especially purchased it for use at this years service alongside the Union Jack. (Both adhorned the actual base of the Memorial)

Our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE, reports how special it is when the two minutes silence falls upon the crowds gathered at the Memorial, with this year the very damp conditions underfoot and the earlier very heavy rain doing little to deter the attendance of quite a large gathering at the Memorial.



This year as with previous years saw Syd Jones and Barbara Williams, both of Chorley Ramblers presiding over the Service, with the Lords Prayer, readings and the two hymns "Abide with Me" and "The Lord Is My Shepherd" ringing out over the moorland slopes.

Barbara Williams read out the letter written by the mother of Flt.Sgt.Joe Timperon to all assembled, simply entitled "Our Joe." This was followed by a very poignant poem penned by Jack Pilkington of Chorley Ramblers, entitled "Remembrance," which Jack first read out at the 2007 Service, repeated last year and again this year : (with thanks to Jack Pilkington for allowing us to publish it here on our website)

Remembrance
The year was nineteen forty three
The month it was November
When six brave airmen lost their lives
So let us all remember


A training flight from Leicestershire
The night was clear and fine
The bomber was a Wellington
Number Z Eight Seven Nine Nine


The pilot was Joe Timperon
His age, just twenty four
He came from South Australia
To help us fight the war


The temperature was freezing
Upon that fateful night
And ice had formed on the aircraft's wings
Just three hours into flight


The plane began to lose its height
And plummet through the dark
And though the pilot fought control
It crashed on Anglezarke


The crash was heard a mile away
Though rescue teams attended
They found that on that awful night
Six young men's lives had ended


Now on the edge of Anglezarke
A memorial's been erected
And those of us who pass it by
Can't fail but be affected


It stands in such a quiet place
With moorland views around
Let's hope the lads who lost their lives
Eternal peace have found

Saturday 7th November
Help For Heroes Charity Event, (Commando Run) 'Operation Market Garden.'
Today the team was out in strength to support the Help For Heroes Charity Event, (Commando Run) fundraising event taking place from the summit of Winter Hill to Bolton Town Centre.

A number of serving British Army soldiers and GMP Officers took part, all carrying a 36lb rucksac and running the course in boots !

The day started for us with our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE attending the 08.00hrs morning briefing for all taking part at GMP Farnworth Police Station. At this stage the weather was torrential rain in Farnworth, with all the runners thoughts on the considerably worse conditions on Winter Hill summit. The main element of the team met at our Ladybridge Hall Base / HQ for a thorough 09.00hrs briefing, and in the continuing rain we headed off to Winter Hill summit to meet the supporting GMP Officers, and the runners from GMP and the Army.

With poor visibility and still heavy rain, all runners were keen to get the photo session over with and to set off on their run.

The assembled masses of Her Majesties Forces & GMP

...and they're off...

...Garry Rhodes with a Sea Cadet & Marine Cadet ...

...the crowds appluad the runners as they enter the square...

.... Team members at the end of the days proceedings.

...also on Saturday 7th...
Mountain Rescue England and Wales, Mountain and Cave Rescue Medical Symposium.
Today three Team Call Out list members, Doctor Clare Whitney, Ana Toole, a Physiotherapist and Mark Scott, MR opiate trained and an NWAS accredited AED Trainer, journeyed north for the one day MREW Mountain and Cave Rescue Medical Symposium, held at the excellent facilities of Charlotte Mason College, Ambleside.

With a target audience aimed at Doctors and other Health Care Professionals involved in Mountain Rescue including team members very experienced in the provision of casualty care, today's symposium was intended to address a variety of medical issues which are relevant to the treatment of conditions and injuries sustained by casualties in Mountain Rescue and Cave Rescue incidents.

Presenters attending were all prominent in their respective specialisms and are all actively involved in medical and trauma situations encountered in Mountain and Cave Rescue.

An account of the day, written by attendee Mark Scott, appears below.

The symposium was extremely well-attended with delegates from all corners of the UK. Ana, Clare and Mark all agreed the conference was excellent with a great variety of topics delivered by lively, enthusiastic, knowledgeable and often very humorous presenters. It was fascinating to hear the First Aid Lead of our sister organisation the RNLI describe their radical review of casualty care training and protocols, with food for thought for Mountain Rescue in much of what we heard, and so much in common that we face: caring for seriously injured or ill casualties in adverse environments.

We learned lessons from analysis of a number of incidents involving long falls, explored new methods to stem very serious bleeding, and had an informed look at the challenges that can be presented by older hill-goers. A research project involving a statistical survey of fatalities in Snowdonia over a number of years provided many valuable insights.

An overview of key types of drugs used in MR emphasised the importance of a sound knowledge of side-effects and of being prepared for adverse reactions. A completely fascinating and extremely impressive lecture on cold water immersion from Professor Mike Tipton of Portsmouth University was the highlight of the day, leaving one wondering how anyone could know so much about this one topic. A brief look at the experiments the professor does in his labs (a.k.a. torture chambers in my view) answers this question and make one very sympathetic towards his shivering, freezing cold volunteer research subjects!

Inevitably, part way through a lecture, there was a chorus of multiple pagers going off and away went a whole section of the audience in seconds without a word. Yes, a callout for them to a rescue in the dreadful pouring rain. That’s mountain rescue for you!

Friday 6th November
Donation from Belmont Primary School
Back on the 28th June 2009 the pupils, parents and staff of Belmont Primary School conducted a sponsored walk to raise funds for the team.

Today full team call out members Paul Brain and Matthew Hailwood visited the school to collect the cheque. The team are delighted to announce the recept of a cheque for £1,020.00.

Paul and Matthew pictured with the head and school council members

...also on Friday 6th...
Very kind donation from Astley couple.
Today Team Call Out list member Michael O’Brien found himself at a domestic property dealing with a leaking water pipe in his day time job with Dynarod.

Whilst talking to the couple at the property, Michael mentioned the rainy weather and his wishes that tomorrow is much better for the Help for Heroes event the team is covering.

Upon finding out Michael was in the team, the husband and wife couple, Alice and Harold Hill of Astley, Wigan, made a very kind £10.00 donation to the team via Michael in recognition of all the work we do.

The Team wishes to thank Alice and Harold for their kindness and support.

Such unsolicited, spontaneous, very thoughtful and kind gestures such as this donation are very much appreciated by the team.

Thursday 5th November
Kind letter of thanks from GMP and donation in respect of Incident 68-2009
Today our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE received a very kind letter of thanks from Chief Superintendent J.Rush of Greater Manchester Police, Divisional Commander Bury, in respect of the teams involvement in the search for a missing man on the evening of Tuesday 1st September 2009.

In the letter Chief Supt.J.Rush states; "I am writing to express my sincere appreciation for the excellent support and assistance given recently to Police Officers from the Bury Division by members of Bolton Mountain Rescue Team. In the letter Chief Supt.J.Rush goes on to describe the events of the evenings search on the moors above Hawkshaw for the missing 41 years old man, which ended in a successful conclusion when team members located the missing person and transported him to safety.

Chief Supt.J.Rush's letter continues; "Whilst all my Divisional Officers, Supervision Officers, Quad Bike Officers and Police Helicopter Officers worked tirelessly throughout the evening there is no doubt this person would not have been found without the assistance of the (Bolton) Mountain Rescue Team. Would you please pass on my sincere thanks to each and every member of your voluntary team for attending this incident, in their own time, and searching the moors well into the dark.In recognition of their efforts on this occasion and your continued good work I have pleasure in enclosing a cheque for £50.00 as a donation to your funds."

(Please also see 'news' item dated Tuesday 1st September 2009, Incident 68)

...also on Thursday 5th...
Collection Box monthly report
Well another month passes by and yet again we are happy to report the continuing success of our Collection Box fundraising.

Our year to date (October end) total now stands at £3,017.41, this compares to £3,471.85 in 2008, so thankfully despite the recession our figures are not too bad, which is all thanks to our fantastic supporters out there who continue to donate to the team, and of course continuing thanks to all who hold a Collection Box on our behalf. (156 locations at the end of October 2009)

Wednesday 4th November
British Red Cross observes tonights exercise
This evening the Team welcomed 2 friends and colleagues from the British Red Cross, Stephen Hagerich, Senior Services Manager Emergency Response & Shaun Kershaw, FESS Co-Ordinator.

Stephen & Shaun following on from an earlier visit met with us this evening to observe our routine training exercise. Shaun brought along to the exercise one of the brand new Land Rovers donated to the British Red Cross by Land Rover in a major sponsorship deal.

Before going on to the exercise Stephen & Shaun met up with our Team Leader Garry Rhodes & Dave Healey. The four were engaged in conversations ranging from the difference of the British Red Cross and the American Red Cross - oh we should also point out that Stephen is American - to how Mountain Rescue in the UK is funded and one common point was how we all look forward to when the phone or pager goes off for a job!

...also on Wednesday 4th...
Official launch of 'Beyond the Nab' in aid of Derian House Childrens Hospice.
This evening the Team welcomed to our Ladybridge Hall Base / HQ, Ann Richardson & Joan Berwick of the Bolton Support Group (Fundraisers) for Derian House Childrens Hospice.

Ann & Joan were here to meet Trainee Team Member Anthony Woods, who has co-authored an excellent illustrated booklet, called 'Beyond the Nab' in aid of Derian House Childrens Hospice.

This interesting booklet describes Tony's successful ascent of the 15,771 Ft high Mont Blanc, the highest mountain in Western Europe.

Our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE, officially launched the booklet by handing over a copy of it to Ann & Joan.



The booklet is very reasonably priced at £3:00 and can be purchased from many outlets in Tony's home town of Chorley. Beyond the Nab is printed and published by KingPrint, Chorley 01257 230058.

The whole Team wishes Tony well in this fantastic fundraising gesture for Derian House Childrens Hospice, heres to excellent sales of the booklet.

Tuesday 3rd November
Two more Celebrity 40th Birthday wishes
Today Dave Healey, our Radio Communications Officer delivered to our Team Leader, Garry Rhodes, two signed photographs from Channel 4's Countdown programme.

The two photos were of Dictionary Corners, Susie Dent & Rachel Riley, the co-host of the programme.

Both Susie & Rachel congratulated the Team on their 40th Birthday celebrations which came to an end in October.

Starting with Chris Tarrants photoghraph we seem to be getting a few celebrity celebrations, I wonder if there are any more in the pipeline ?

Our sincere thanks to Susie & Rachel for their kind comments and good wishes to the Team. For the first time in the Teams history we now have some celebrity pin-ups to brighten up our base.

...also on Tuesday 3rd...
Visit to team by 16th North Bolton Cub Pack results in marvellous surprise donation.
This evening after 'suffering' a last minute cancellation earlier this year due to another late notice team commitment, the Cub Scouts and Leaders of the 16th North Bolton Cub Pack (The Oaks) from Astley Bridge, Bolton, finally got to visit us at our Ladybridge Hall Base / HQ.

They were met by Team Call Out list members Mike Marsh, Elaine Gilliland, and Matthew Hailwood, Trainee Team Member Tony Woods and Support Group Member Iain Clarkson.

Over twenty Cub Scouts and their five Leaders were treated to a demonstration of the teams search and rescue equipment, a look over our two Land Rover Mountain Rescue Ambulances based at our Ladybridge Hall Base / HQ and much 'hands on' work with our stretchers and other equipment.

All the Cub Scouts and Leaders reported they had had a fantastic evening and thanked our members present with the totally unexpected surprise of a very thoughtful £190.00 donation.

This generous donation had been raised by the Cubs during their July 2009 Camp at Waddacar Scout Camp, Lancashire, bad weather meant they couldn't do their sponsored walk on Beacon Fell, so instead they walke around the Scout Camp.

The whole team wishes to express its sincere thanks to all the Cub Scouts of the 16th North Bolton Cub Pack (The Oaks) for their very kind and thoughtful, much appreciated support of the Bolton Mountain Rescue Team.

Monday 2nd November
Recruitment news latest
Since actively reopening our membership recruitment recently, by the end of this evening we have replied to seventeen persons who have made a successful on line initial membership application to join the team. All have been invited to our January 2010 recruitment intake, which will take place on the evening of Thursday 21st January and all day Sunday 24th January 2010.

We are also awaiting on line applications from a further small number of outline enquiries to join the team.

We are accepting applications for our January 2010 intake upto January 11th, beyond this any persons interested in joining the team will have to wait until our November 2010 intake, scheduled for Thursday evening 4th November and all day Sunday 7th November 2010.

As usual with the seventeen applications so far received there is a low number of woman applying to join the team. (At present in the current 37x strong Call Out list membership of the team we have 10x female team members)

Sunday 1st November
Team recruiting for trainee call out list members in 2010
The team has a small number of membership vacancies it wishes to fill in 2010. We are holding two recruitment intakes, in January and November 2010.

If you are interested then please apply on line using the on line initial membership application form available within the membership area of this website.

Please note membership enquiries WILL NOT be answered unless accompanied by our on line correctly filled in form, if you do not have access to this then please write ASAP to the contact address for the team in our 'Contact' section, accessed above.

If from the information you supply you are considered initially suitable then you will be invited to our two-part "Potential New Team Member" introductory induction sessions (taking place on Thursday evening, 21st January, and all day Sunday 24th January 2010). Please note both sessions must be attended if you wish to be considered for team membership.

The second recruitment intake will take place on the Thursday evening 4th November, and all day on Sunday 7th November 2010.

If considered suitable beyond this you will be asked to complete our comprehensive membership application form. This will be given to you on the Thursday night session to be returned to the team on the morning of the Sunday session.

Combined with our assessment of you on the Thursday evening and all day Sunday sessions, if the details you submit on this comprehensive membership application form then match our current recruitment needs and criteria, you will be invited to join immediately as a probationary team member for a short period, leading to trainee team membership if considered suitable.

We will only accept recruits from a proven experienced hill walking and/or climbing and/or mountaineering background, we would also look favourably upon those colleagues retired or currently serving in other Emergency Services, but they must still be able to meet our attendance requirements.

Our minimum age for recruitment is 18 years old, as regards our upper age limit, well we have a small number of very active call out list members in their early 60s.

There are more details on what is required within the membership section of this website, again accessed above.

Please note

• It is a membership requirement within reason to be able to attend all weekly Wednesday evening training sessions.
• There are also very regular weekend fundraising commitments, some additional training events and standby rescue covers.
• On the working week, there are opportunities to attend lectures to interested parties about the work of the team.
• The requirement to attend emergency call outs is of course paramount and our reason for being, therefore if you have other commitments which may conflict with this requirement please consider very carefully if you can still commit to the team.
• Team issue clothing is only given out to new members after a minimum six month long period of team membership, so any prospective team member must have a full set of standard outdoor clothing.
• Prospective members must have access to a motorised vehicle. Members may be required to travel directly to incidents anywhere in the team area.

...also on Sunday 1st...
Two new 'Full Team Members' and good luck to two retiring members.
Congratulations to team members Dave Carter and Doctor Clare Whitney on the successful completion of their Trainee Team membership 12 month period. Both Dave Carter aged 25, and Doctor Clare Whitney aged 28, are now welcomed into the team as 'Full Team members'.

Retiring members Andrew Livesey who joined the team in April 2006 and very long serving Paul Jorgensen have both recently left the team, Andrew due to family and work reasons, and Paul, who was as reserve call out list member has increasingly found his work commitments no longer enable him to take a part in team activities.

The Team wishes Andrew and Paul all the very best for the future.

...also on Sunday 1st...
Latest news on Team Supporters Neil and Helen Grundy (of Alphorn fame)
Today we are very pleased to announce that over the course of this year, Helen and Neil have raised for the team £214.02.

To date since Helen and Neil started to raise funds for the team in the summer of 2007, they have jointly donated to the team the fantastic grand total of £756.47.

Their unique Alphorn playing was featured on regional television last year, including a mention that they "rather appropriately raise money for Bolton Mountain Rescue Team at the same time as entertaining visitors to Jumbles."

Very valued team supporters and fundraisers husband and wife Neil and Helen Grundy, raise considerable sums of money for the team by playing their 'Alphorns' at Jumbles Cafe / Information Centre, whenever the weather permits (generally from late Spring to early Autumn). They have their own website at www.holcombeduo.co.uk. This website can be accessed from the direct link within the ' Links ' page of our website.

Diary - October 2009

Saturday 31st October
Greater Manchester Police / Mountain Rescue Awareness Day.
Today the three principle MRTs which operate within Greater Manchester held a Mountain Rescue Awareness Day for Greater Manchester Police Officers, hosted and organised by the Oldham Mountain Rescue Team.

The idea for today stems from the established long standing close relationship that exists between Bolton MRT, Rossendale and Pendle MRT and Oldham MRT and GMP Officers, primarily their Missing Person Search Managers, and the realisation recently that awareness of the MRTs by these Officers was centred obviously on our search work with little known about our rescue equipment and other capabilities.

Commencing Friday evening with an introductory talk on Mountain Rescue by Peter Hyde, Deputy Leader of Oldham MRT, this was followed by a social at the Cross Keys Inn, immediately adjacent to which is Oldham MRTs base / HQ, quite who won the 'who got to bed the latest competition' was undecided due to the lack of a sober judging panel !

This morning saw the arrival of more team members from Oldham, Bolton, Rossendale and Pendle MRTs to begin the days sessions in the fields surrounding Oldham's base / HQ and in the car park of the Cross Keys Inn.

The eleven GMP Police Missing Person Search Managers present were first given a talk and demonstration on the use of dogs in Mountain Rescue, including air scenting and trail dogs.

This was followed by three presentations by each of the MRTs present:

• Oldham MRT demonstrated their steep ground rescue capabilities.
• Rossendale and Pendle MRT, with their excellent newly donated former GMP Control / Kit carrier vehicle present, gave a practical demonstration of GPS tracking technology, when GPS enabled radio equipped Bolton MRT members were told to go and wander in the local fields !
• Our team gave an overview of personal equipment carried by MRT members, and then moved on to the search and rescue equipment typically in use with MRTs in Greater Manchester, with much talk on MR stretchers, casualty bags and casualty shelters.

Wednesday 28th October
Further exam successes for team members on our Casualty Care Course.
Updating our report from Wednesday 16th September 2009, Team Call Out list members Ana Toole and Dave Carter this evening successfully completed their Trauma and Medical practical examinations as part of our 2009 Mountain Rescue Casualty Care Certificate course.

This now means that nearly every member on our existing Call Out list has a current Mountain Rescue Casualty Care Certificate. This is a high standard to maintain in the team and thanks are due to our in house instructors and all our friends in NWAS and the NHS Trust who help with the running of our courses.

Tuesday 27th October
Kind donation from Mrs Russel of Bolton.
Whilst waiting with one of our Team Land Rover Mountain Rescue Ambulances in Victoria Square, Bolton, today for the launch of the Help for Heroes, "Operation Market Garden," event and before proceedings started for the event, our two team members present had a very pleasant surprise.

A shopper Mrs Eileen Russel of Shirebarn Avenue, Bolton, approached our Team President Bob Hutchinson and Team Call Out list member Fred Taylor, thanked them both for the wonderful work that the team does, and then passed on a very kind, thoughtful and generous £20.00 personal donation.

So a big thankyou in return from all of the team to you Mrs Russel.

...also on Tuesday 27th...
Bolton Town Centre launch of Help For Heroes Charity Run (Commando Run), "Operation Market Garden."
At 1.00pm today two team representatives met up with Greater Manchester Police, the Mayor and Mayoress of Bolton and members of the British Army to officially launch "Operation Market Garden", Help For Heroes Charity Event, which will take place on Saturday November 7th 2009.

Held in front of Bolton Town Hall, within Victoria Square, this launch event representated the culmination of a considerable amount of planning by the Event Organiser, GMP Police Sergeant Steve Baldam.

"Operation Market Garden" (Commando Run) will see a mixed party of GMP Officers from Bolton Division, and members of the British Army and Royal Marines Reserve, take part in a recreation of the Second World War 'Commando Run' which will see all taking part running from Winter Hill summit down into Bolton Town Centre, whilst wearing boots and carrying a 36lb rucksac !

The team will be on hand to assist GMP in fully supporting this event, by providing standby rescue cover for the runners on the moorland section, marshalls, and by providing a vehicle escort for the runners in to Bolton Town Centre.

• GMP Police Sergeant Steve Baldam, Event Organiser.
• The Mayor of Bolton Councillor Norman Critchley and his wife, the Mayoress.
• Warrant Officer 2nd Class Peter Rhodes,
• Sergeants Stuart Hunter, Fraser Kerr and
• Privates Craig McMorrow and Ashley Lewis of the British Army.
• GMP Police Community Support Officer Paul Cusick.
• Sally Hayes, Assistant to the Mayor and Mayoress of Bolton.
• Bolton MRT Team President Bob Hutchinson and Team Call Out list member Fred Taylor, with a Team Land Rover Mountain Rescue Ambulance.

Monday 26th October
Visit to Team by GMP Bury Volunteer Police Cadets
This evening the team hosted a visit by nine teenager members of GMP Bury Volunteer Police Cadets, along with their Civilian Volunteer Co-ordinator Ken Royles, their mentor (and former Cadet himself) Jack Thomas and Cadet Instructor, GMP Police Sergeant Martin Coyne.

All twelve were met by our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE, and Team Call Out list members Chris Tennant, Matthew Hailwood and Michael O'Brien.

Following an introductory talk on the work of the team by Garry, all the Cadets then had a very detailed overview of the search and rescue equipment carried on our Team Landrovers by Chris, Matthew and Mike.

The Cadets and their accompanying instructors all had many questions to ask and said at the end of their visit they had all enjoyed their evening with the team. An impromptu £10.00 donation was made to the team as thanks for greeting all the Cadets with a cup of tea or coffee upon their arrival.

(GMP Sergeant Martin Coyne has actually worked with the team on a number of rescues in the Bury Police Division, and is also familiar with our search work in the Division)



The Team has a long involvement with the GMP Volunteer Police Cadet scheme, initially with the Wigan Divsion and for a number of years now also with the Bury Division, introducing each intake of Cadets to the work of the team.

Saturday 24th October
Team Collection Day at Sainsbury's, Leigh, Store.
Today we held a collection day at the Leigh Store of Sainsbury's, with many members of the public, as they always do, very kindly supporting us and asking many questions of our collectors about the work of the team.

13x Team Call Out list members attended, many had been on the previous days two call outs, assisted by 3x members of our Support Group.

Thanks to the generosity of all the shoppers at Sainbury's Leigh Store today we raised a fantastic £252.45p.

Thanks also to the staff and management at Sainbury's Leigh Store for yet again so kindly allowing us to collect on their premises.

Friday 23rd October
Incident 81/2009
At circa 20.50hrs this evening, NWAS (Manchester) Control contacted our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE direct by mobilephone, to request the teams immediate assistance with the report of a person who was reported lying injured in the fields of the Golf Club in Harwood, Bolton.

In liaison with Ambulance Control an RVP was established at the entrance to Harwood Golf Club, and a full team pager call out was made at 20.56hrs. During the response it became established that the incident site was actually in the very nearby Bolton Open Golf Course, on Longsight Lane, Harwood, and a revised RVP was paged out.

Our Team Leader Garry Rhodes arrived on scene at Longsight Lane at the same time as the responding NWAS (Manchester) Emergency Ambulance, at 21.18hrs, very closely followed by team members Neil Warburton, Deputy Team Leader Geoff Seddon and Matthew Hailwood.

On hand to meet the Ambulance and MRT members were some male youths on mountain bikes who had been at the incident site some distance away on the golf course, and who offered to guide team members and the ambulance crew to the scene, informing all that it was an 18 year old young woman who had fallen, sustaining a leg injury.

With the arrival at 21.23hrs of our first team vehicle, a small party with essential casualty care equipment was despatched to the casualty site, along with the two Ambulance women, all kindly guided by the youths. To guide in the stretcher party which was assembling, this initial response group laid a trail of chemical 'light sticks' to the casualty site.

The youths kindly returned to the roadside RVP to guide in the stretcher party, which arrived at the casualty site by 21.47hrs, where treatment was already being carried out by the NWAS crew and our team members to splint the womans suspected fractured leg in a vacuum splint.

In very considerable pain, the woman was given 'Entonox' pain killing gas on scene, and was evacuated on our Bell MR Stretcher back to the NWAS Ambulance at Longsight Lane by 22.12hrs, here the young womans mother who had been called to the scene was on hand to further comfort her daughter.

The 18 year old woman, a resident in nearby Harwood, was taken to Royal Bolton Hospital, with all our team members leaving the scene by 22.50hrs.

The following resources were involved in the treatment and rescue of this woman;

• Bolton MRT, 21x team members and three of our Land Rover Mountain Rescue Ambulance vehicles.
• NWAS (Manchester) Emergency Control at Belle Vue. As usual, thanks for all the guidance to the casualty location and control support.
• NWAS (Manchester) Emergency Ambulance and two crew members from Ramsbottom Ambulance Station.

...also on Friday 23rd...
Incident 80/2009
On Thursday 22nd October 2009, our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE was contacted by Phil O'Brien, Team Leader of Bowland Pennine MRT, regards help with a large scale search being mounted on Friday 23rd October by Lancashire Constabulary in BPMRTs area, for a long term missing male.

The request given the circumstances was that "no team members need to take the time off work," so our response was understandably less than for a 'normal' search operation.

Nevertheless six Bolton MRT met to depart our Ladybridge Hall Base / HQ at 07.30hrs on the morning of Friday 23rd October to assist in the search. They journeyed to the Broughton / Whittingham area of Lancashire, to join Bowland Pennine MRT, Lancashire Constabulary and other resources to attend the 08.30hrs briefing on the missing 31 years old, Broughton man.

Our Team members teamed up with Rossendale and Pendle MRT members to cover four search areas, commencing their search at 09.30hrs, finishing at 17.30hrs, being joined in the afternoon by a further three Bolton MRT members,

The days intensive search operation failed to find any trace of the missing man, last seen local to the search areas on 29th September 2009, and Police enquiries are continuing.

The following resources are believed to have been deployed on the day of this search;

• Bolton MRT, 9x team members and two Land Rover Mountain Rescue Ambulances.
• Bowland Pennine MRT, 15x team members and other team resources.
• Duddon and Furness MRT, 6x members.
• Kendal Mountain Search and Rescue Team, 6x members.
• Rossendale and Pendle MRT, 4x members.
• Search and Rescue Dog Association, 5x Search Dogs and Handler teams.
• Lancashire Constabulary, major resources including
  • at least 40x Officers,
  • two Dog Teams,
  • two Horse Teams,
  • Catering Support and
  • their Air Support Unit helicopter 'Oscar November 99'

Thursday 22nd October
Incident at Moses Gate Country Park, Farnworth, Bolton.
Early this evening at 18.01hrs the team was paged by NWAS (Manchester) regards assistance with the report of a 'child' in water at Moses Gate Country Park, and that NWAS (Manchester) resources were responding.

This call was answered by our Team Leader, who initiated a full team pager call out at 18.07hrs, by which time a small number of team members were already on route to our two team vehicle base locations.

Soon after this NWAS (Manchester) Control directly contacted our Team Leader with a stand down, as a body had been recovered to the water side, with GMP already in attendance and NWAS having just arrived.

Our Team Leader sent out a stand down pager call at 18.12hrs, by which time our first team vehicle was about to go mobile and at least 10x team members were responding.

As our Team Leader was aware from the Ambulance Service that this incident was now a GMP matter, he liaised with the GMP Force Duty Officer to determine the team was not required to assist with any on site enquiries, such as the provision of on scene lighting. GMP confirmed shortly afterwards there was no requirement for the teams resources in this instance.

We subsequently found out through the local press that the body was not that of a child, but that of a 65 years old Bolton man who had been missing since October 16th 2009.

As the teams involvement in this was minimal, other than our Team Leaders time, it has not been recorded within the teams incident listings, but is recorded here for information only.

Saturday 17th October
Visit to RAF Valley & C Flight 22 Squadron
Today, 18 Team members journeyed to RAF Valley on Anglesey, to take part in training with C Flight of 22 Squadron, RAF Search & Rescue Helicopters.

For some of us it was a very early start to the day as alarm clocks were going off pre 06:00 Hrs, for one Team member Sarah Drake, she came straight from work to attend the days training.

Our journey to RAF Valley resulted in us arriving to spectacular views of the North Wales mountains as it was a clear, blue skied morning.

On arrival at RAF Valley we were given a safety briefing on the HAR 3 Sea King Helicopter and a welcoming cuppa. It also allowed those who had suffered crossed legs on their journey here to relieve themselves.

Next on the visit was a tour around the aircraft and how things would happen inflight, RAF Valley had 2 operational Sea Kings today and four Sea Kings in the garage !

Team Radio Officer, Dave Healey, then gave those present on their first flight, a guided tour of RAF Sea King mishaps by showing them photographs he has collected over the years. One such 'mishap' was airframe XZ 585 which crashed in the Cairngorms in 1989 whilst filming the TV series Rescue, this aircraft is now based at Valley and was involved in the rescue of crew and passengers of the vessel Riverdance, when it ran aground off the North West coast. Then began a series of worried looking faces with the first-timers, especially when Dave spotted a notice saying that XZ 585 was still at Valley, was it the one we were going to fly in ?

Team members being winched in to the aircraft...

...Team Member Neil Warburton, enjoying his first flight...

...what a day job...

...Neil Aspinall, Mike O'Brien & Chris Tennant...

• Flt Lt Steve Wilders
• Flt Lt Iain Smith
• Flt Sgt Nick Swannick
• Sgt Keith Best

...the view out of the main door.

Friday 16th October
Team announces full support for Help For Heroes Charity Run (Commando Run) Saturday 7th November 2009.
The team has been approached and we readily accepted by Sergeant Steve Baldam, GMP, Event Organiser, to provide stand by rescue cover for the Winter Hill and adjoining moorland part of the Help For Heroes Charity Run (Commando Run) on Saturday 7th November 2009.

This event will involve approximately forty runners who are all members of HM Armed Forces and the Police Service from Bolton Division (K) of Greater Manchester Police.

The run in aid of the Help For Heroes (Support for our Wounded) Charity, will take the form of the original Commando test that candidates for the Commandos undertook during the Second World War, and will involve all the runners carrying 36lb in their rucksacs, whilst covering a 6.9 miles running route wearing boots !

The start for the event will be the summit of Winter Hill, with the finish in Victoria Square, Bolton.

All runners are due to depart Winter Hill summit at 10.30am and are expected to arrive in Victoria Square by 12.00 midday. Here there will be a planned presentation by The Mayor of Bolton, Chief Superintendent Hartley the local GMP Commander and a Senior Officef from the British Army.

Within Victoria Square, Bolton, there will be many activities to raise awareness of the Help For Heroes Charity and of course to raise money for this important charity, including a Climbing Wall, Football Shootout Game, a display by HM Forces and Bolton FM Radio.

Donations for the runners can be made through Sergeant Steve Baldam at the South Neighbourhood Policing Team at GMP Farnworth Police Station, or through the Help For Heroes website or the Just Giving website address, www.justgiving.com/teamelite

Bolton MRT team members will be on hand to support the runners as they set off from Winter Hill summit and head across the moorlands on their way to Bolton, once their exact route is known we will announce it on this website, and we hope many people will line their route to give them a cheery wave and support.

Thursday 15th October
Prestwich Carnival Committee 2009 supports the team.
This evening our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE and Team Committee member Elaine Gilliland journeyed to the Longfield Centre in Prestwich, as guests of the Prestwich Carnival Committee at their Charity Presentation evening.

The evening centred around the presentation of donations to local charities from monies raised at this years successful Prestwich Festival, which culminated in the Prestwich Carnival.

The donations were handed out in the presence of the Prestwich Carnival Princess and the Prestwich Carnival Regal Princess, Ivan Lewis Member of Parliament for Prestwich and Bury South, David Curtis, Prestwich Festival Organiser, and Peter Timperley, Treasurer of the Prestwich Carnival.

David Curtis in opening the proceedings gave tribute to Janet McAvenue, who sadly passed away just after the 2009 Carnival, and had been associated with the event for ten years.

Ivan Lewis MP, then talked about how the Prestwich Festival and Carnival was central to the rejuvenation of Prestwich in recent years and how it serves to give a community focus and identity to the residents of Prestwich.

Thanks were also expressed to the organising committee for the festival, otherwise known as the 'Sunshine Team,' many of whom were present at this evenings presentation, and to the three Local Councillors present whose support of the festival was also acknowledged.

Donations were handed out to the following organisations;

• 88th Salford (Servite) Scout Group,
• 19th Prestwich (St. Andrews) Scout Group,
• Alder Hey Childrens Hospital, (Mac House),
• The United Churches of Prestwich,
• Prestwich Lions,
• Bury Amateur Football Club, based at Drinkwater Park,
• The Skatepark Group, representing over 200x skate boarders, in-line skaters and BMX riders in the Prestwich area, in its ambition to have a skate park constructed in St Mary's Park, Prestwich,
• and of course finally ourselves, Bolton Mountain Rescue Team.

Wednesday 14th October
Alison Yates rejoins the team, (Retirement didn't last long!)
Just days over a year since retiring from the team on October 9th 2008, former team member Alison Yates decided that life inside the team beckoned once more, and that she was missing all the team can offer, late nights, no pay, poor working conditions, inconvenient hours, disturbed sleep and all the bad weather you can take, as one team wag was once heard to comment.

So tonight she decided to rejoin the team as an active call out list member once more.

With 16 years previous service in the team as a call out list member it's great to have Alison back, and she was warmly welcomed immediately back in to the team, ie "It's your round Alison in the Bobs Smithy!". Rumour has it her husband and former team member himself, Geoff Yates, wanted his Wednesday nights back to himself !

So Alison, welcome back, and hopefully you'll remember how to work your pager and where to find 'Channel 63B' on your radio handset. See also news article dated 9th October 2008

Tuesday 13th October
Very kind support from Bolton and District Hospital Saturday Council.
We are very pleased to announce today the receipt of a wonderful £250.00 donation from the Bolton and District Hospital Saturday Council.

In a kind letter accompanying this surprise donation, the Chief Executive of the Bolton and District Hospital Saturday Council stated; "I am pleased to advise you that following an application for funding, made on your behalf by our President David Vause, I am enclosing a donation to assist your organisation."

The whole team membership is very grateful to the David Vause, President of the Bolton and District Hospital Saturday Council for kindly nominating the team for such tremendous and appreciated support, and to the Bolton and Dsitrict Hospital Saturday Council for granting us such a totally unexpected donation.

...also on Tuesday 13th...
St Catherine's Church Friendly Hour, Farnworth, lecture visit.
This afternoon, our Team President and former Team Leader Bob Hutchinson visited the mixed men and women of St. Catherine's Church Friendly Hour Group, Farnworth, to talk about the work of the team.

Bob commented afterwards thats it's a small world, as amongst the audience was a member who had been rescued by Langdale Ambleside MRT, and another who was the mother of former Bolton MRT team member Carol Eaves.

All the group reported to Bob that they had thoroughly enjoyed his presentation and they promised Bob a donation to the team would be in the post soon.

Monday 12th October
Incident 79/2009
This evening at 20.46hrs the team was paged by Lancashire Constabulary Force Control Room, regards a developing search in the Sunnyhurst Woods area of Darwen for a man reported to have fallen down a steep wooded slope.

With regards to the known circumstances of this incident, our Team Leader in consultation with the Force Incident Manager decided to call out the team and rendezvous initially at Darwen Police Station.

A full team pager call out was made at 20.52hrs, with 27x team members responding to the call.

Our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE met up with the Police Officer in charge at Darwen Police Station at 21.40hrs, establishing that the missing man had been walking in the company of a colleague in the dark and at approximately 19.30hrs had fallen down a steep wooded banking in the Sunnyhurst Woods area, his companion initially raising the alarm with the mans family, the Police being made aware of the fall at around 20.10hrs.

A search control was established at the car park entrance to the top section of Sunnyhurst Woods just beyond the Sunnyhurst Inn, Darwen, with team members assembling as Police continued their initial search efforts to try and locate the fallen man.

A joint Police and Bolton MRT party was sent to the area, in the company of the fallen mans colleague, where the 30 year old Darwen man was reported to have fallen from, and very quicly found a 'slide' mark down the slope. A thorough investigation of this revealed no sign of the missing man, and the search area was widened in case suffering from injury he had wandered off elsewhere.

Team members, Police, Police Dog assets and the Lancashire Constabulary Air Support Unit helicopter were all involved in a search of the Sunnyhurst Woods and Park area, as the evening drew on.

The Team even deployed two hand held thermal imaging cameras, loaned to the search effort by Lancashire Fire and Rescue Service Darwen Fire Station, in a effort to establish the missing man was not lying injured within the dense shrubs and trees in part of the woods and park.

View through the Heat Seeking camera from LF&RS

Team members ready to respond as a evacuation party, if the subject was found

• Bolton MRT 27x members, our four Land Rover Mountain Rescue Ambulances and our Control Trailer.
• Lancashire Constabulary,
  • 1x Operational Support Unit,
  • 2x Police General Purpose Dog Units,
  • Divisional Officers and
  • the Air Support Unit helicopter Oscar November 99

...also on Monday 12th...
Aspull and Haigh Women's Institute lecture visit.
This evening team call out list members Chris Tennant and Gillian Leigh in one of our Team Land Rover Mountain Rescue Ambulances journeyed to the St Elizabeth's Hall, Aspull, weekly meeting of the Aspull and Haigh Women's Institute, to present a lecture on the work of the team.

Well barely had they both started, when off went the pagers for Call Out 79, (See seperate news article), and with a quick repacking of the Land Rover they had to depart quickly!

Before they (hurridly) left, Chris and Gillian received from the Aspull and Haigh Women's Institute, a very kind £25.00 cheque donation, but more amazingly their imminent departure to an actual emergency generated an immediate impromptu collection amongst the many Women's Institute members present, resulting in a further cash donation being made of £31.95 !

The whole team would like to express its thanks to all the very kind and supportive members of Aspull and Haigh Women's Institute for their two donations this evening.

Saturday 10th October
Dave Healey in Long Service Award Presentation.
Today in a complete surprise for Team Call Out list member Dave Healey, whilst assisting with the running of this years Joint Foundation Course in Mountain Rescue weekend, see news article dated Friday 9th October 2009, he was called in to the main lecture room at the conclusion of a session held by Derek Cartwright, Director of Emergency Operations, North West Ambulance Service, to be presented by Derek with a 10 Years Long Service Certificate To Mountain Rescue, as awarded by our regional body, the Mid Pennine Search and Rescue Organisation.

Derek Cartwright presenting Dave Healey with his 10 Year Long Service Certficate

Friday 9th October
Joint Foundation Course in Mountain Rescue 2009.
For the fifth year running, the Team organised and took part in a fully residential Joint Foundation Course in Mountain Rescue based at the excellent facilities of the Bolton Scout District Bibbys Farm Scout Campsite & Activity Centre, at Heath Charnock, nestling in the foothills and reservoirs of the West Pennine Moors.

This weekend is totally supported by Bolton MRT, in terms of exercise venues, exercise casualties, equipment, vehicles & full course catering. With huge thanks to the four members of Bolton MRT Support Group, Gillian Gregory, Iain Clarkson, Teresa Gilliland - whose daughter Elaine is our Catering and Base / HQ Officer, and Johanne Lamb, who all attended to help over the weekend.

The weekend is aimed at new members of MRTS, i.e. of circa 6 - 12 months experience, and is intended to cover subjects not generally covered at a team level and to consolidate other topics and course members experiences to date.

The course instructors were drawn from the teams attending this years course and included a core group of very experienced instructors who have been associated with this course over the many years of its existance.

The full time instructors in residence team involved 3x from Bolton MRT, including the overall course organiser our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE, Mike Marsh, also organiser of the MR E&W Party Leaders course and guest lecturer on Irish Mountain Rescue Association training courses and Fred Taylor, our teams Equipment Officer for Stretchers and Rope Rescue and the MPSRO Water Officer. From North East Wales Search and Rescue Team came their Team Leader Iain Ashcroft, and their Training Officer Richard Dobson, Rossendale & Pendle MRTs Deputy Team Leader Paul Heywood, their Training Officer Peter Goble, an NWAS Lancashire Emergency Ambulance Technician in his full time job and their Trainee Officer Ron Williams, the Team Leader of Cheshire Lowland SRT Joanne McClure, and finally not forgetting long term course supporter, instructor and valued friend of our team Simon Thresher from Calder Valley SRT.

Throughout the weekend full IT support culminating in an end of course DVD was provided by long serving Bolton MRT team members Steve Fletcher and Dave Healey, our Radio Communications Equipment Officer and one of our five Call Out contacts.

Team Callout list member Elaine Gilliland, who along with members of the Support Group and team call out list members Andy Kench and Dave Carter, who both helped on the Sunday, provided excellent course catering throughout the entire weekend, with every meal available on time, and endless hot and cold drinks whenever anybody asked, they even operated a daily flask filling service, and provided cheese on toast at 2.00am on Saturday morning! Very special mention must be made of former Team Call Out list member Sue Purtill, who left her farm, in her husbands capable hands, for the entire weekend to help full time with the course catering. Excellent home made soups Sue.

...the ladies who did lunch, dinner & breakfast - Elaine & Sue...

• 6x from Cheshire LSRT, from our companion organisation the Association of Lowland Search and Rescue - ALSAR,
• 4x from NEWSAR, North East Wales Search & Rescue
• 6x from Bolton MRT and
• 12x from Rossendale & Pendle MRT.

...Garry's Angels...

...Garry Rhodes getting into the swing of things, with a lecture...

..the Trainees starting their wet search exercise...

...the masses awaiting to open their rewards...

...Steve Fletcher showing how nimble he is...

...the crowd can't believe what they are seeing...

...Claire Whittaker, hasn't quite mastered holding onto the rope...

...you didn't want to be doing that Claire...

...GMP ASU India 99 arriving at Bibby's Farm...

...one of our scout casualties, on the Troll Alphin stretcher
demonstrating how India 99 can carry a MR stretcher...

• Bolton MRT member & very experienced A&E Charge Nurse Alistair Greenough,
• ex Bolton MRT member and now NWAS (Manchester) Emergency Ambulance Technician Iain Peel,
• Dave McClure Medical Team Leader of Cheshire LSAR and a Senior Anaesthetic Practitioner and
• Peter Goble (RPMRT) an NWAS (Lancashire) Emergency Ambulance Technician.

...stretcher handling course...

...the view from afar...

...Iain Ashcroft, TL of NEWSAR, thinking he'd rather be at home with Becky and new daughter Eleri...

...Dave Marsh explaining the benefits of search dogs...

...Gyles Denn giving a fantastic lecture on forensic awareness...

...Geoff Roberts gets the award for the 'Audience is listening' with his Coroners Court lecture...

...Andy Simpson gives Dave Healey his finest Paddington Bear stare...

...eyes down look in and try and work out where the missing person is...

...Ana 'Titch' Toole looks lovingly at the photographer hoping they'll fill her jug up...

...Paul Heywood's group...

...Jo McClure's group...

...Richard Dobson's group...

...Simon Threshers's group.

• "The friendliness of all of the staff made it easier to learn and accept feedback."
• "Damm good food and Rossendale beer."
• "The determination of Garry to make us search in every climatic condition!"
• "Waking up in the wrong room!"
• "Soggy."
• "Increased awareness and appreciation of other teams."
• "The differences on this course between the Mountain and Lowland teams were non existant and mainly just terminology."
• "Cameraderie and new friends."
• "The food!"
• "Great Support Staff, thanks."
• "Coroners Court was excellent."
• "Great mentors and trainers."
• "Team work and team building, excellent."
• "Excellent venue, excellent lectures, excellent variety."
• "Sharing skills, (including beer drinking!)"
• "Learnt a lot from the weekend."
• "Helicopter !!!!"
• "Organisation of the weekend superb."
• "Specialist lectures were excellent."

Wednesday 7th October
Plaque presentation to Derek Bell
This evening 14 Full Team Callout members, together with three of our Land Rover Ambulance vehicles visited the home of valued team supporter Derek Bell with a plaque to thank him for his recent donation of £410 in lieu of presents for his 80th birthday.

During the visit Derek mentioned some of the surprises he had received for his birthday including his son visiting from America.

...also on Wednesday 7th...
Bolton Mountain Rescue meet the Calendar Girls...
Today our Chairman Ken Oakes, Secretary Gillian Gregory and Life Vice-President Tony McNally met a group of ladies from the Greenbank Sheltered Housing in Horwich, which is run by Places for People.

The ladies, with ages ranging from 64 to 85 (for interest the combined age of the ladies is 880), decided to do a Calendar Girls, with the girls blushes spared by strategically placed every day items such as a mixing bowl and one of the ladies knitting, with all proceeds kindly going to Bolton Mountain Rescue.

Monday 5th October
Team representatives attend funeral of Vera Taylor, Bowland Pennine MRT.
We recently learnt that Vera Taylor of Bowland Pennine MRT sadly passed away on the evening of Friday 25th September 2009 following a serious illness. Vera. 'V' as she was known to many in Bowland Pennine Team, was well known to many of our longer serving members as Bowland Pennine MRTs Catering Officer, if she had such an official title, I guess we never actually asked !

To current long serving team members such as Geoff Seddon, Bob Hutchinson, Alan James, Garry Rhodes, Gillian Leigh and Mike Marsh, Vera was 'The Boss' in BPMRTs Catering Tent on a great many of the Fellsmans Hikes, when we jointly provided standby rescue cover for the weekend long event with BPMRT and if you could sneak into 'her' catering tent then you were always rewarded with a big smile from Vera and served up with whatever was on offer.

On MPMAP, the forerunner to the MPSRO and MPSRO exercises always held on a snowy or a wet and cold last weekend in January, Vera was ever present in BPMRTSs Catering Tent serving up hot food and drinks for BPMRTs members and of course any of our team who sneaked in for the same !

The early MPSRO Foundation Courses were always held at BPMRTs Smelt Mill base / HQ in the Trough of Bowland, where once again Vera provided the catering and a ready smile for all, she even put up with the antics of our now, sensible !, Team Leader Garry Rhodes and his 'Penny ******** ' exploits.

MRC Conferences were another occassion when we would meet Vera, always in the company of her husband Peter, a former Team Leader of BPMRT.

Vera's funeral was held today at 11.00am at St Mary's Church, Eccleston, Lancashire, and our Team President Bob Hutchinson and former Bolton MRT member Diane Blakeley attended as representatives of Bolton MRT to pay their respects to Vera.

Bob reported that the Church was completely full, with many members of the wider Mountain Rescue community present, including understandably a very large representation from Bowland Pennine MRT, including a 'Guard of Honour'. Following the Church Service, a short service then took place at Charnock Richard Crematorium.

Those of us remaining in Bolton MRT who had the pleasure of knowing Vera pass on our condolences to Veras husband and serving BPMRT member Peter Taylor.

Sunday 4th October
250 Club winners news.
Our Treasurer, Johanne Lamb received a phone call from Mrs E Rees, notifying us that her husband, who was a 250 club member, had died. Mrs Rees had been notified of the ending of the 250 Club via letter from Johanne.

Johanne was pleased to accept from, Mrs E Rees, her kind donation of her late Husband recent £12.00 winnings back to the team.

Our sincere thanks are expressed to Mrs Rees for this very kind gesture.

...also on Sunday 4th...
Very kind 'spontaneous' gesture.
Whilst returning from Incident 78 at Darwen, and driving our BM4 Land Rover Mountain Rescue Ambulance vehicle to fill up with fuel, Ken Oakes, our Team Chairman, was approached on Higher Bridge Street, Bolton, by a member of the public who asked Ken to wind down his drivers window.

Whereupon this very kind member of the public passed to Ken a £5.00 donation along with the comment, " You lot do a great job."

To the unknown 'man in the street' who did this, a very big thank you from all the team members for your kindness and support.

...also on Sunday 4th...
Incident 78/2009
At 11.19hrs this morning our Team Leader Garry Rhodes received details of an incident near to Darwen Tower that had been received by Rossendale and Pendle MRT in error, and that their Team Leader Andy Simpson was passing on to our team for us to respond to. This area lying in our area of operational responsibility.

Our Team Leader immediately contacted NWAS (Lancashire) Control to ascertain more details, establishing that a female mountain biker was injured below the Darwen (Jubilee) Tower area, and that Helimed 72 was on scene and our immediate assistance was required.

At 11.25hrs a full Team Pager Call Out was made, requesting that all team members initially RVP at the Sunnyhurst Inn, Sunnyhurst, on the slopes below Darwen Hill.

Our 1st team member arrived at the RVP at 11.53hrs, followed by a 2nd at 11.54hrs and then our Team Leader and our 1st responding vehicle, BM1 at 11.57hrs.

• Bolton MRT 20x Team members and our four Team Land Rover Mountain Rescue Ambulances.
• NWAS (Lancashire) Accident and Emergency Control.
• NWAS (Lancashire) 1x Emergency Ambulance, (2x Crew) Darwen Ambulance Station. Both have worked with the team before, the Paramedic Chris Fraser Clark both as Emergency road crew and whilst with Helimed 08
• North West Air Ambulance, callsign Helimed 72 from City Airport, Manchester (Barton).

Saturday 3rd October
Donation in memory of Mrs Mavis Gilmore
Today we received a very kind £20.00 donation from Ms B.J. Thornley of Middleton, Manchester, in memory of her Aunt, Mrs Mavis Gilmore of Turton, Bolton.

In a letter accompanying her thoughtful donation, Ms B.J. Thornley commented, "Thank you, and your team, for your work."

...also on Saturday 3rd...
Pike View Hike - Adult event
For Team members Dave Healey, Ana Toole, Matthew Hailwood & Paul Brain the early morning alarm call came as a shock, well it did for Dave at 05:15 Hrs. These four Team members had volunteered to take part in the 'Kit checking' of the participants in the 2nd Pike View Hike - Adult event.

Travelling to Bibby's Farm, Limbrick, Chorley which acts as the base for the hike, the Team members were greeted by 64 adults involved in Scouting who were taking part in teams of 4.

One such Team consisted of Team member Steve Fletcher, normally an organiser on this event, but this year he was competing. Steve looked a little bleary eyed when he came in for his kit check 10 mins late!! but his energy soon came back to him later!

The Team has been involved in the Pike View Hike since it started in 2002 and with the Adult Pike View Hike since last year and is happy to support such a challenging event for both the Scouting fraternity & also the standby rescue cover aspect of the Team.

After travelling to check point 1, primarily to watch Steve and his Team perform the Village Peoples YMCA on the green in Rivington Village - all part of the activities they have to do at each check point, the four members returned home and for Dave & Matthew who had worked until the early hours the night before, the prospect of sleep beckoned.

The Pike View Hike website is here. and please see previous news entries for past events.

Thursday 1st October
Incident 77/2009
Two searches over the last two days so it was time for a 'rescue' incident ! At 14.38hrs we were paged by NWAS (Manchester) for the teams assistance to evacuate a young boy who had fallen from a rope swing in to a steep sided stream valley.

Following a full team call out to the Doe Hey Brook area off Greenland Road, Great Lever, Bolton, our first team member arrived on scene at 15.00hrs and joined the rescue work already being carried out by the NWAS (Manchester) crews present. By 15.15hrs our two responding Team Land Rover Mountain Rescue Ambulances had also arrived on scene.

The 12 year old boy had sustained a fractured wrist and suspected spinal injuries in his fall down the steep sided wooded slope, and was loaded on to a back board, and with the aid of a short rope haul was brought back up to the top of the slope and carried in to the waiting Ambulance which departed just before 15.30hrs for the very short trip to Royal Bolton Hospital, barely a two minute ride in the Ambulance from the incident location to A&E.

The following resources were involved in this incident:

• Bolton MRT 7x members on scene, two further members stood down responding, and two team vehicles.
• NWAS (Manchester) Emergency Control Belle Vue.
• NWAS (Manchester) Two Emergency Ambulances (four crew in total)
• NWAS (Manchester) 1x Operational Duty Manager.