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Diary - January 2010
Sunday 31st January Collection Box monthly report Well the first month of 2010 has passed us by and yet again we are happy to report the continuing success of our Collection Box fundraising.
To date (January end) our collection box total stands at £510.67p, 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.
Saturday 30th January Possible search deployment This evening a Greater Manchester Police Search Manager, contacted our Team Leader direct for possible assistance in a missing from home search, in the Wythenshawe area of South Manchester.
As our Team Leader was on holiday at the time, the call was redirected by him to our Deputy Team Leader Geoff Seddon,
Police enquiries were continuing with the team being considered for a search commencing tomorrow morning, Sunday 31st January.
(post script: on Sunday morning 31st January, continuing police enquiries led to the decision not to undertake a search involving our team's resources)
...also on Saturday 30th... Exercise with Casualty Union at City Airport Manchester On Sunday 20th September 2009 (see news article dated the same), a small party from the team visited City Airport Manchester, primarily with regards to light aircraft crash rescue incidents.
Since this date, our Team Leader was approached by Nick Duriez, Operations Manager, at City Airport Manchester, with a view to an exercise being held at the airport.
After many emails confirming this exercise, this afternoon team members journeyed to City Airport Manchester (formerly Barton Airport) to take part in a major exercise with the Casualty Union and the Airport Fire and Rescue Service.
There follows below an account of our participation by team member Mark Scott.
Today nine callout team members led by Deputy Leader Geoff Seddon headed off in all four team landrovers and with the team’s control trailer in tow to City Airport Manchester (formerly Barton Airport) for a very special exercise indeed. At the airport, members of the Casualties Union were getting ready to give the team a real challenge. The Casualties Union specialise in using makeup techniques to create realistic-looking casualties for medical training purposes. This weekend was a training event for their members and we were to be a key part of that training. The idea was that we would deal with a large number of exercise casualties with a wide range of simulated injuries in all sorts of awkward places. The convoy of team vehicles turned up at the airport security gates and then the seemingly inevitable happened – the pagers went off, and soon the team were headed on blues and twos all the way back to Wilton Quarries off Scout Road, North of Bolton, where a rock climber had taken a very bad fall (see today’s incident report for the full story).
Once the fallen rock climber had been brought down from the quarry by the team and handed over to the NWAS ambulance waiting on Scout Road a quick phone call confirmed there was still time for us to head back to the airport to treat and rescue simulated casualties who were patiently waiting. Very soon team members were working in threes identifying the many exercise casualties and determining who were the priorities for treatment. With so many make believe casualties, we were grateful for the support of the Airport Fire and Rescue Service who joined in to help with extractions. One exercise casualty, an unconscious female, who we later learned was called Vicky, pretended to have sustained serious injuries as a result of a fall from height – ironically very similar to the case of the fallen climber the team had just been involved with for real!
It was hectic, challenging and exhilarating. What a fantastic training opportunity. We are so grateful to our friends in the Casualties Union for offering us this unique opportunity, and also to the City Airport staff for hosting the event and making us so welcome.
We look forward to working with the Casualties Union again soon, they are a great group of people with a remarkable and valuable set of skills. Talk about accident-prone!
The team wishes to express its thanks to Nick Duriez, Operations Manager for the airport, members of the Airport Fire and Rescue Service, and the Casualties Union (Manchester, Merseyside, Isle of Man, Lancashire, South Cumbria and Cheshire).
...also on Saturday 30th... Incident 41/2010 At 14:23 this afternoon the Team was paged and also contacted direct by NWAS Manchester requesting assistance to a fallen climber in Wilton number 3 quarry, North of Bolton.
The pager call was answered by Deputy Team Leader Geoff Seddon, whilst in transit to the exercise at City Airport Manchester (see above). A quick initial response was made by the team members who were assembling at the airport to commence an exercise, whilst other team members not involved in the exercise responded direct to the Scout Road, Wilton number 3 quarry incident location.
Team members Chris Greenhalgh and Mike Marsh (who had been alerted by our Team Leader) arrived at the roadside RVP at 14:42 and met up with two responding NWAS (Manchester) Ambulance crews from Bolton North station.
A climber, in a group of climbers from the Oldham area, had fallen about 6m and had suspected back injuries and fractured lower left leg.
On scene at the time of the accident was former team member Blake Jackson, who was also out climbing in the same quarry. Blake provided initial casualty care and assisted the responding team members when they arrived. (Team members responding from the exercise at Barton started arriving in team vehicles 14:55.)
The male casualty was placed onto an NWAS long board and then onto our Bell Mountain Rescue stretcher, for evacuation back to the waiting Emergency Ambulance which was parked at the roadside entrance to the quarry.
The incident was concluded by 15:11, with 18 team members attending (3 members were stood down responding on route.)
A small group of team members then journeyed to Royal Bolton Hospital to collect equipment used on the rescue, whilst the rest of their colleagues journeyed back to City Airport Manchester to continue the excercise being held there.
Thursday 28th January 60th Birthday present from Mrs Julie Steele of Heaton, Bolton Readers of our website may recall that on Tuesday 19th January 2010, we reported that a local Bolton lady in lieu of presents on her 60th Birthday very kindly requested that donations be made instead to the Bolton Mountain Rescue Team.
Today we are very pleased to have received a letter from Mrs Julie Steele the woman involved, enclosing a number of fantastic donations totalling a marvellous £385.00. (With obvious thanks to the very kind supportive generosity of her family, friends and colleagues in making such donations).
In her letter Julie kindly remarks, "I admire your dedication + bravery + as outdoor people, appreciate the wonderful work you do although I hope I'll never have to call upon you!"
She went on to further kindly state, "I hope these donations will help swell the funds after a very busy winter for you so far, we all appreciate you."
Many of the donations have been gift aided increasing the total doantion even further.
So Julie Happy 60th Birthday (even though its over a week late for us in saying it) and a huge thanks for kindly supporting us in this thoughtful way.
...also on Thursday 28th... Support Group meeting tonight welcomes a new member This years round of meetings for our Support Group started off this evening with one new member, so it's a big welcome to the team to Caroline Mitchell.
Over the weekend of 13th / 14th February 2010 our Support Group will be in big demand by the team helping out on the Saturday with an all day Collection Event at ASDA, Moss Bank Way, Bolton, whilst on the Sunday they will be providing full catering support to our members providing Standby Rescue Cover for this years gruelling Winter Hill Fell Race.
Wednesday 27th January Bolton Mobile 5 awaits our collection Today we received the fantastic news that in a very supportive gesture we have been aware of for a few months now, Greater Manchester Police confirmed that a twelve seater minibus they are donating to us is now available for our collection.
The vehicle is a former GMP staff transport vehicle and is in an overall excellent condition, with a similar vehicle also being donated to our colleagues at Oldham MRT at the same time.
This vehicle will fulfill a need within the team for a minibus and will bring the total number of vehicles we operate to 5x plus of course our Control Trailer, Catering Trailer and General Purpose cargo Trailer.
Keep watching our website for news of when we collect this fantastic donation and for when we bring it into team full operational service. (very soon we hope)
...also on Wednesday 27th... New Team members commence their Probationary Membership training tonight This evening the twelve persons invited to join the team from Sundays membership session had reduced to eleven, with all 11x arriving at our Ladybridge Hall Base / HQ for a 7pm start on the first of their eight Probationary Training period weekly sessions.
Tonight it was the contents of our Land Rover Mountain Rescue Ambulances, and how to use the vehicles NWAS (Manchester) datalink system, followed by a thorough practical session looking at all the various types of stretcher in use by the team.
Thanks to Team members Fred Taylor, Craig Lamb, Mike Marsh and Mark Parry for helping in this task tonight and for passing on their knowledge to our brand new members.
For the eleven present this evening also included a ten minute each interview with long serving and very experienced Team member Mike Marsh, who talked through each Probationers' comprehensive membership application form, primarily picking up on areas where the eleven need to improve their experience.
...also on Wednesday 27th... Team donates equipment to Rossendale and Pendle MRT, other kit remains on loan to Oldham MRT This evening the team donated some surplus scoop stretchers, a back splint and a small number of kit bags to our colleagues at Rossendale and Pendle Mountain Rescue Team.
Meanwhile our friends in the Oldham Mountain Rescue Team continue to benefit from our loan to them of two Blue light with integral siren, roof mounted 'pods,' which we loaned to Oldham MRT during the recent spell of wintry weather.
Monday 25th January Thanks to Carl Silver Many kind thanks to Carl Silver, a freelance photographer, who frequently attends team activities including some incidents to photograph proceedings.
Carl has recently donated a large number of colour photographs which have been used to help in the now finished project to completely update and revise our Team Exhibition Panels. (Which will be accompanying the team on its many displays and collection days throughout this coming year).
Carls' photographs along with others taken by team members (including Chris Tennant, Ged Clarke and Fred Taylor amongst others) can often be seen alongside the text articles on our website.
Thanks Carl for your continuing and valued support of the team.
Sunday 24th January January new recruitment intake. Report on todays all day session Well by the mysteries of self selection, the 21x who attended on Thursday night became 12x eager faces by Sunday morning, despite the torrential rain and low cloud enveloping the local moorlands.
Team members Gillian Leigh, Chris Tennant and Craig Lamb outlined to the interested group what equipment is issued to team members and perhaps more importantly what equipment is not issued to team members. (trousers eh Craig)
Down to our vehicle garage and the intricacies of putting together, lifting and carrying our Bell and Troll Alphin MR stretchers were explained to all in preparartion for the outdoor exercises coming later.
Then it was off to the local moorlands and all 12x were left at Hordern Stoops with a number of map references to go to, 25 minutes to get to Point 4 and nothing but swirling mist and sleet to greet them!
Somehow! (as if we ever doubted it!) all twelve reappeared at the moorland car park overlooking Wards Reservoir at Belmont, having realised that the navigation course they had all been sent on 'somehow' managed to include few paths, featureless moorland, deep peat pools and snow drifts. (Not a bad introduction to our team area)
A quick rescue exercise was then staged with all present learning very quickly how hard it is to carry a fully loaded MR stretcher on steep ground.
With little time lunch, in light rain and the odd bit of sleet all present, including the team members attending then carried out an exercise rescue in the confines of Great Gutter waterfall, Wards Reservoir, followed by in the words of the 12x; "some of the boggiest terrain we've ever seen!" as the loaded stretcher was carried back to the car park area.
Late afternoon saw the final exercise of the day, staged in Anglezarke Quarry and involving some basic ropework and very steep ground stretcher handling. (mixed in of course with more rain, more mud and just for fun, bramble bushes and thorns in abundance)
The wet but somehow still smiling 12x then returned to Ladybridge Hall, for hot drinks and a debrief on the days proceedings.
Their immediate feedback was overwhelmingly "What a fantastic day," and "Thanks to all the team members for such a enjoyable and fun day."
Meanwhile all the team members had gathered to chat about the 12x and have a look over their application forms.
The concensus opinion of all the team members who had attended today (with some having been around on Thursday night as well) was to invite all 12x to our scheduled eight week long Probationary Training period, and then review again how the twelve were bearing up.
So our Team Leader informed all that they had got their feet on the first rung of the ladder to joining the team, to be met by a (nice) sea of smiling faces, most of whom were expecting us to limit our intake to perhaps taking on 5 or 6 new members.
A big thanks to the twenty two team call out list members who supported today, giving up their time to welcome 12x people all extremely keen to join the team.
As Probationary Team members we welcome the following people into the team;
John Fletcher, aged 21, an Electrician from Chorley,
Steven O'Hara a 43 year old Community Support Team Leader from Farnworth,
Heather Jackson from Kearsley a 37 year old Community Staff Nurse,
Dean Mellor aged 38, a Managing Director from Darcy Lever,
Nick Berry, aged 35 from Wigan involved in Internet Gaming,
Polish husband and wife Marcin and...
Hanna Zadlo, aged 29 and 25, both from Chorley and both Health Care Assistants,
Helen Rigby an ICT Lecturer from Horwich, aged 42,
Anthony Fielding a 24 year old Software Engineer from Flixton,
Peter Sanderson an Operations Manager aged 29 from Heapey,
Mark Ainsworth, aged 51, self employed from Worsley and finally
Martin Banks aged 37, a HR Manager from Horwich.
All will commence their Probationary Training with the first session starting at our Ladybridge Hall Base / HQ on Wednesday 27th January 2010.
Please view our guestbook area for some kind comments made about today by some of the people present.
...also on Sunday 24th... Very kind donation from valued team friend Sheila Morris Yet again it gives us great pleasure to welcome another kind and thoughtful supportive donation from team friend Sheila Morris.
Sheila is a former walking colleague of retired team member Andrew Ryding, and first found out about the team when they were both members of Charnock Richard Rambling Club.
The whole team membership thanks Sheila of Standish, Wigan for her generous £50.00 donation, with Andrew Ryding having accepted such with thanks on behalf of the team.
...also on Sunday 24th... More donations to the team in celebration of Mark and Megan Scotts Silver Wedding Anniversary Further to our 'news' article dated Wednesday 13th January 2010, we are pleased to report further donations to the team in lieu of presents, to celebrate the 25th Wedding anniversary of Team member Mark Scott and his wife Megan Scott.
A £15.00 donation has been received from Ms Pam Snowball, plus a kind £10.00 from Mrs Margaret Jackson, making in total to date donations to the value of £145.00 to the team.
In addition to this we are very happy to report that a great many of the people who have made donations with regards to Mark and Megans anniversary have also agreed to Gift Aid their donations, so the money raised will increase even more.
Saturday 23rd January 2nd Group takes part in RAF SAR Sea King helicopter familiarisation training at RAF Valley Readers of our website may recall that on Saturday 17th October 2009, a group of team members journeyed to RAF Valley to undertake Sea King rescue helicopter familiarisation training. (See account dated the same)
The second group was scheduled to go on 14th November, but gales and heavy rain led to cancellation.
Kindly 'C' Flight, 22 Squadron RAF Valley, offered up today as a replacement date, so at the early time of 07.00hrs 17x Team members and Trainee MR Trail Dog 'Boris,' all assembled at our Ladybridge Hall Base / HQ to journey down to RAF Valley on Anglesey with fingers crossed (and paws in the case of Boris) that they would be as lucky as our first group and all get winched in and out and all get a flight.
The nearer they got to Anglesey the worse the rain, visibility and low cloud became, crossing Brittania Bridge saw no let up in the heavy rain and mist, and then suddenly clear skies greeted the Bolton MRT vehicle 'convoy,' and their luck was in.
Security formalities over with our members were escorted across the normally very busy RAF Valley airfield to the SAR Force dispersal area, co-located with the RAF Valley MRT Base / HQ and HQ Flight RAF Mountain Rescue Service.
Here our members were met by the on duty staff of 'C' Flight, 22 Squadron Royal Air Force (Helicopter Search and Rescue), themselves co-located with the Sea King Helicopter Operational Conversion Unit.
Flt Lt Giles Ratcliffe presented an overview of the current RAF SAR helicopter force, and then outlined aircraft safety points when working with the Sea King HAR MK3, Master Aircrewman Rich Taylor then covered winching techniques warning all present of such niceities as "the winch hook is designed to always hit you when you are not looking," and "beware of the static discharge cable, let that touch the ground first!"
Then it was out on to the aircraft apron and grouped into three parties all watched as aircraft Sea King HAR Mk3 XZ587 took to the air and then came to the hover, and off our members trooped to be winched into the aircraft via double strop lifts, a quick flight around the airfield and then winched out again.
All 17x of our members were winched in and out, and enjoyed a flight, all in the company of two Paramedics from the Welsh Ambulance Service, (Dolgellau Ambulance Station), who were present for the same training as our team members.
Even our Trainee MR Trail Dog Boris got winched in and a flight around the airfield, although a slight problem with his winch harness meant the helicopter landed to let him and his handler Steve Nelson disembark.
Boris gets his wings!
Both our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE and Deputy Team Leader Geoff Seddon attended, and like the Royal Family! they flew on seperate flights........just in case!
All to soon the day was over and 17x Team members plus Boris headed back to Bolton, newly 'certified' to fly and be winched on Sea King helicopters.
The team would like to thank Flt Lt Giles Ratcliffe for arranging this valuable and necessary training, and for safely piloting our members on the day, alongside the other Flight Crew involved ; Flt Lt Dan Loxton, Flt Sgt Nick Swannick (Radar Operator / Winch Operator) and Master Aircrewman Rich Taylor (Winchman/Paramedic)
(Finally 41 years MR service and founder team member Alan 'General' James (also a Team Vice President) who attended today, found out that the venerable Wessex and Whirlwinds he was so familiar with had actually been replaced many years ago by the Sea King.........only joking Al!)
Claire Whitney and Jude Waltho enjoying their helicopter "experience"
Thursday 21st January January new recruitment intake, report on tonights first session Since advertising for new call out list members it's true to say we were overwhelmed with potential membership enquiries, some less serious than others but overall resulting in 48x people expressing an initial interest in joining the team.
Some 40x of these people went on to apply on line via our website, all received more information on joining the team including an invite to our two part recruitment sessions this evening and all day Sunday 24th January 2010.
24x persons confirmed their attendance at tonights first session of two parts, with 21x actually turning up. (48x becomes 40x which becomes 24x which becomes 21x, a pattern is developing here!)
All twenty one arrived for the 18.30hrs start to an intensive evening at our Ladybridge Hall Base / HQ, where through powerpoint, DVD and 'old fashioned MK 1 voice,' they were treated to a number of presentations all with the intention of getting over the message about what being a team member of Bolton MRT entails, alongside of course what Bolton MRT is all about!
A full buffet provided by Support Group husband and wife members Howard and Teresa Gilliland greeted all, including the eleven Team Call Out list members present in direct support of the evening.
Our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE opened proceedings with an excellent DVD introduction, following which all the interested persons present undertook a 30 minute writen navigation (compass and map) test.
(Lets just say the 14 year old - average age - Scouts we trialled it on fared better than the 21x present, maybe nobody uses map and compass anymore!)
One of the candidates tackling the gruelling test...
Sessions included what our membership requirements are about, the work of the team, what is the cost of team membership (not just financial, but to your family life, etc) what our expectations are and how the teams Training and Events Programme works.
All present were issued with a comprehensive information folder on all the topics covered along with general information on the team, they also all received a complimentary copy of the Mountain Rescue England and Wales magazine 'mountain rescue.'
The last sessions were presented by Team Call Out list members Elaine Gilliland and Andy Kench, with Elaine giving her perspective on her last 23 months in the team, and Andy giving his perspective on balancing team membership alongside his job as an RSPCA Inspector (and member of their Flood Response Team) and as a family man.
Elaine Gilliland and Andy Kench showing Garry how presentations should be done!
Lots of questions were asked throughout the evening as all present no doubt wondered what would be happening on the more practical session scheduled for Sunday 24th January 2010.
By 22.30hrs it was time for all to retire to the 'Bobs Smithy' Public House on Chorley Old Road to further chat about joining the team.
Finally, thanks to long experienced former Team Training Officer Andy Ryding who came out of his recent retirement from the team to lend his full support to this evening, although sadly we couldn't get him to rejoin!
Andy Ryding directing proceedings
All that was left was for the current team members to speculate (well place bets!) on who would turn up on Sunday 24th January.
...also on Thursday 21st... Assistance call from Lancashire Constabulary This afternoon our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE answered a pager call from Lancashire Constabulary, requesting the teams possible assistance with a search for a missing man in the Scorton area of Lancashire.
This search was within the operational area of our colleagues at Bowland Pennine MRT, with Bolton MRT and Rossendale and Pendle MRT being asked along with Bowland Pennine MRT to back up an envisaged major Police search operation scheduled for Friday 22nd January 2010.
As this man had been missing since Saturday 16th January, and the intended search day was a workday, only a very limited number of Bolton MRT personnel were available to assist, and this information was passed to Lancashire Constabulary for their search planning purposes.
During early evening our Team Leader also liaised with the Team Leader of Bowland Pennine MRT, Phil O'Brien.
(Postscript...It was decided to suspend MRT search involvement until Saturday 23rd January, with just Lancashire Constabulary resources taking part on Friday 22nd January. As it turned out all areas of 'interest' were covered using Police resources and our team was not required for Saturday. This account is provided here for information only and does not feature as a team incident).
Wednesday 20th January Training in new NWAS (Manchester) radio system At present our team benefits from data link and radio equipment which gives us direct contact with NWAS (Manchester) and to a slightly lesser degree with NWAS (Lancashire).
With the migration of all the statutory emergency services, including NWAS, to the O2 Airwaves network, we along with other local MRTs will lose such links.
Directly resulting from the recent very intensive use of MRTs in NWAS (Manchester) over the period of wintry weather in mid December to early January, NWAS (Manchester) has decided to train up a limited number of MRT members from all the teams which work in Greater Manchester in the use of their new O2 airwaves radio equipment, to aid inter-agency inter-operability.
This evening six Bolton MRT members (Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE, Deputy Team Leader Geoff Seddon, Mike Marsh, Dave Healey, Ken Oakes and Steve Fletcher) and five Rossendale and Pendle MRT members (Team Leader Andy Simpson, Deputy Team Leaders Paul Heywood, Graham Dalley, Ted Handley and Jenny Handley) met at our Ladybridge Hall Base / HQ to receive such training.
The intensive training session commencing at 20.00hr, was kindly undertaken by Eric Finch, Clinical Practice Trainer, Bolton and Wigan Group, NWAS (Manchester) and covered NWAS Ambulance Service Radio procedures, Airwave Terminal Security procedures and most importantly, a very thorough grounding in the use of the Sepura Hand Terminal Airwaves sets.
All our members and those Rossendale and Pendle MRT members present, would like to thank NWAS (Manchester) for the provision of this training, with particular thanks to Eric Finch for the informative way he (thankfully) managed to get all eleven of us present up to speed with the operation and uses of the O2 airwaves network as utilised by NWAS (Manchester)
Similar training for our colleagues in Oldham MRT, Kinder MRT and Glossop MRT, who also worked intensively in Greater Manchester during the recent snows (and at other times) is we believe being provided by NWAS (Manchester) on Thursday evening 21st January.
...also on Wednesday 20th... Donation from Steve Farnan Steve Farnan of Bamber Bridge was due to attend our January 2010 new member intake sessions but due to family issues at the last moment, he found himself unable to attend such.
We offered to refund in view of his circumsatnces his £7.50 booking confirmation, however Steve very kindly asked that we still accept the £7.50 as a donation to the team.
So Steve, many thanks for your kindness and we may see you on future team recruitment sessions.
Tuesday 19th January Happy 60th Birthday to a very generous team supporter. This evening our Team Leader received a telephone call from a very kind Bolton lady who in lieu of presents for her 60th Birthday today, decided to ask all her family, friends and colleagues, to instead consider making a donation to the Bolton Mountain Rescue Team.
This very thoughtful supporter of the team on her birthday evening tonight telephoned our Team Leader Garry with the fantastic news that a large sum of money has now been raised for the team on her birthday, with more expected!
We will report further on this thoughtful donation when we receive more details, but in the meantime "Happy 60th Birthday," and thank you for thinking of supporting us in this very kind way.
...also on Tuesday 19th... Kind donation from Mr and Mrs Williams. Today we are pleased to announce a donation of £20.00 from Pauline and Michael Williams of Bolton.
In a letter accompanying their very kind donation, they stated simply, "Just to say thank you for all you do."
Such kind and sincere comments on the work we undertake are always welcomed by the team membership.
Monday 18th January Kind donation from Teresa Holland Today we received a very kind £15.00 donation from Teresa Holland, following her receipt of a Mountain Rescue England and Wales Goodyear Tyres sponsored 2010 Calendar.
(Please also see website 'news' articles dated Saturday 5th December 2009, Wednesday 9th December 2009 and Monday 14th December 2009)
...also on Monday 18th... Another very kind donation from our friend Jim and the members of the 'Shed' at Belthorn, Darwen Regular readers will know that Jim Fletcher and the members of the 'Shed' at Belthorn, Darwen, are stalwart supporters of the team, having made a number of large donations to the team over a great many years now.
Today we are very pleased to announce yet another extremely generous and very supportive large donation of £500.00 from Jim Fletcher and the members of the 'Shed' at Belthorn, Darwen.
Not wishing to embarress Jim, but through the medium of our website we would like to say a big personal thank you to him, who made up with his own money the £347.70 collected in the Team Collection Box at the 'Shed' by the members, to the grand total handed over to the team of £500.00.
The team had intended to visit Jim and the members of the 'Shed,' to personally accept this very thoughtful donation, but recent operations by the team precluded such, and Jim very kindly mailed this latest donation to our Chairman Ken Oakes.
Yet again the whole team membership would like to thank Jim and the members of the 'Shed' for their fantastic generosity and very much appreciated support of the Bolton Mountain Rescue Team.
Sunday 17th January Anonymous donation Today the team received a very kind £100.00 donation from a member of the public who wishes to remain anonymous.
This extremely generous person decided to make this donation after reading about the team's experiences over the past few weeks, namely during the wintry weather that has resulted in a significant increase in the team's workload.
The entire team would like to thank our anonymous benefactor very much for their kindness and consideration.
Saturday 16th January Donation from 2:09 Events Limited Today the team received a £750.00 donation from 2:09 Events Limited, arising from the team's attendance at the Saab Salomon Rivington Half Marathon event, held on 19th September 2009 (see previous article of the same date.)
The event in September involved 23 callout list members from Bolton MRT, plus 3 BMRT Support Group members and two other supporters, providing a standby rescue capability for the senior race event which attracted 279 entrants.
The 2010 Rivington Half Marathon is provisionally planned to take place on the 2nd October 2010.
Thanks to everyone at 2:09 Events Limited for this very kind donation to the team's funds.
...also on Saturday 16th... Donation from Ismail Momoniat Today the team received a generous £50.00 donation from Mr. Ismail Momoniat of Bolton, who sent the money to us via the Charities Aid Foundation.
Mr. Momoniat's donation came with the comment that we should "keep up the good work!"; an especially welcome sentiment following the team's recent busy period.
Thanks to Mr. Ismail Momoniat, from everyone at the Bolton MRT.
Wednesday 13th January Donation from Bolton and District Round Table Tonight Bolton MRT were visited by Craig Knights, Phil Stephenson, Barney Wharton-Jones and Nick Skelly of the Bolton and District Round Table, a registered charity that has chosen to support Bolton MRT as their Chairman's Charity in 2009/10. (We announced this on our website in February 2009)
Craig Knights and Phil Stephenson both took part in, and completed, the gruelling Brecon Beast mountain bike race in September 2009, which was a full day 71km bike route in the Brecon Beacons starting and finishing in Brecon village.
The route included the memorable pass over Pen-y-Fan and Fan-y-Big; weather conditions being hot made this point of the race somewhat memorable for the competitors.
In total around 500 competitors took part, and Craig and Phil completed the route in 4 hours 20 minutes and 5 hours 20 minutes respectively - Phil's extra hour due to the somewhat inevitable mechanical issues during such a long ride.
Sponsorship for the event came mainly via Craig and Phil's work colleagues and so thanks to them for supporting Bolton and District Round Table, and in turn Bolton MRT.
In conjunction with a sponsored Boxing event held at Rivington Hall Barn in October 2009, the Bolton and District Round Table have raised a fantastic £1000.00 for the Bolton MRT as their chosen Chairman's Charity in 2009/10.
Thanks to everyone at Bolton and District Round Table and thanks to all who supported their events to raise funds for Bolton MRT.
...also on Wednesday 13th... Membership recruitment latest We have now received to date 40 on line membership applications and 8 letters and emails to join the team, all of whom have received an invitation to attend our Thursday evening January 21st 2010 and all day Sunday January 24th 2010 recruitment sessions.
To date 23 persons have confirmed they will attending both of the sessions. The date for potential applicants to return their paperwork to the team has now passed, and the application form has been withdrawn from our website.
The application form is likely to be re-opened in advance of the anticipated November 2010 membership intake.
...also on Wednesday 13th... Donation from Richard Jackson, S.O.S Homecare Today the team received a £20 donation from Richard Jackson of S.O.S. Homecare.
Team member Dave Carter, whilst working for Richard, received payment for a plumbing job and Richard kindly added £20.00 after hearing about the work that the team has been involved with in recent weeks.
Thanks for your generosity Richard, from everyone at Bolton MRT.
...also on Wednesday 13th... Incident 40/2010 At 17:58 this evening our Team Leader Garry Rhodes was contacted by the Team Leader of Rossendale & Pendle MRT, Andy Simpson, to request our assistance at an incident in Ramsbottom, where an NWAS ambulance was stuck on the icy road and where they also required assistance in transporting a patient to the ambulance.
As Rossendale & Pendle MRT's resources were already deployed on another incident, we were asked to attend on their behalf (as this particular incident in Ramsbottom lay within RPMRT's operational area).
Team members arrived on scene at 18:04, followed by team member Steve Nelson at 18:18 who attended in his own Landrover (Steve lives in nearby Tottington). They all accompianed the NWAS crew in treating the patient, transporting the patient to the ambulance, and then carefully lowering the ambulance downhill using the team Landrover's vehicle mounted winch.
Completing this incident on scene at 19:08, team members then returned to our Ladybridge Hall base at 19:20.
...also on Wednesday 13th... Team members appear on "Channel M Today" This afternoon, team members Elaine Gilliland and Stephen Kenworthy were invited to sit on the couch at Channel M Today, (a news programme on the regional TV channel, "Channel M") to comment on the team's involvement in the birth of Leah Fane, Bolton's first baby of the decade.
Steven Fletcher, Stephen Kenworthy and Elaine Gilliland were the first emergency service on scene at 04:21 AM on New Year's Day, and were able to ensure that mother and baby were kept safe and warm until midwives from Royal Bolton Hospital arrived some 20 minutes later.
Channel M invited husband and wife David and Lindsay Fane and daughter Cara and baby Leah to talk about their unusual experience and Elaine and Stephen joined them from the rescue team to talk about their involvement in the birth.
You can watch the full interview here, courtesy of Channel M and YouTube.
...also on Wednesday 13th... Donation from a member of the public Today, after team members had returned from the major incident standby in West Yorkshire and were about to return home from our Ladybridge Hall base, a knock on the door downstairs was heard, with a member of the public asking "any chance of a tow?"
Again another vehicle (this time a van) was stuck on ice on the the steep road immediately adjacent to our base, and the team members present at base assisted the driver by towing his vehicle back to the top of the lane by using a team Landrover.
As a gesture of thanks the man promptly donated £10 to the team's funds... so thanks very much!
...also on Wednesday 13th... Incident 39/2010 At 11.04hrs this morning the team was paged by NWAS (Manchester) as part of a request to send Mountain Rescue resources into West Yorkshire, to assist Yorkshire Ambulance Service due to adverse wintry conditions affecting the West Yorkshire region.
NWAS (Manchester) also called upon our colleagues in Oldham MRT and Rossendale and Pendle MRT amongst other teams to lend similar assistance.
A full team page was made at 11.12hrs with further details available, resulting in the Bolton MRT deploying one vehicle, BM1 Into West Yorkshire crewed by Fred Taylor, Chris Tennant and Matthew Hailwood.
Initially at the direction of NWAS (Manchester) and then under the control of Yorkshire Ambulance Service, our vehicle was asked to stand by at the junction of the M62 and the A640.
At circa 13.50hrs with the situation easing in West Yorkshire, our vehicle was stood down and returned to the Bolton area.
...also on Wednesday 13th... Huge thanks to Frank Hulton Motor Engineers of Farnworth. With the huge increase in the usage of our four Land Rover Mountain Rescue Ambulance vehicles over the last few weeks thankfully they have held up well. Our BM1,2 and 3 vehicles were purchased new in August 1999, our BM4 vehicle was purchased new in August 2003.
However our BM1 developed a problem with its diff lock and required attention.
Frank Hulton of Frank Hulton Motor engineers, Farnworth, who looks after all the servicing and repairs on all our vehicles and trailers, immediately agreed, in view of the workload of the team, to deal with the problem straightaway, and thankfully sorted everything out this morning very quickly for us. Including even sorting out a problem with BM1 we didn’t know we had !
This means all four of our team vehicles are back in service, once again thanks to Frank Hulton of Frank Hulton Motor Engineers, Farnworth.
...also on Wednesday 13th... Kind donation from Mike Appleton We are pleased to report the receipt today of a very kind £20.00 donation from Mike Appleton of Leigh, Wigan.
With his donation Mike has kindly stated, "Keep up the good work, all the best to the team in 2010." (Please also see 'news' article dated Monday 26th February 2007).
As per your request Mike, there is another Bolton MRT Supporter (Car) Sticker on its way in the post to you, (this one is our latest design).
...also on Wednesday 13th... Further donation relating to the Silver wedding anniversarry of Mark and Megan Scott On the 3rd January we reported that we had received donations arising from the Silver Wedding Anniversary of team member Mark Scott and his wife Megan Scott.
Today we are pleased to announce the receipt of a further £20 donation from Miss A J Blackburn (in lieu of presents to Mark and Megan); this brings the total amount of money raised arising from Mark and Megan's celebrations to £120.
Thanks to all who have donated, and special thanks to Mark and Megan for choosing the team as the beneficiary of their anniversary celebrations.
Tuesday 12th January Incident 38/2010 At 12:48, NWAS (Manchester) Control contacted our Team Leader Garry
Rhodes MBE, again requesting the team's assistance, this time with an
incident in the Astley Bridge area of Bolton, involving a man with a
suspected dislocated shoulder, at a residential address where poor road
conditions prevented the NWAS Emergency Ambulance from getting close by.
A full team pager call out was initiated at 12:56, with our Deputy
Team Leader Geoff Seddon making a solo response in his vehicle, BM1 with
Ken Oakes and Elaine Gilliland on board, and BM2 with Ged Clarke on
board.
On arrival our crews discovered that a kind 4WD vehicle owner had
transferred the injured man to the Emergency Ambulance in his vehicle,
but we were still required to tow the Emergency ambulance out of the
snow and onto better road conditions.
We concluded this incident at 13:50.
This represents our 108th separate incident of this wintry period that
we have attended.
...also on Tuesday 12th... Incident 37/2010 Twelve days into the New Year and another day brings another call on the
team's services.
At 11:13 our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE was contacted by NWAS
(Manchester) Control for the team to assist an on scene NWAS
(Manchester) Emergency Ambulance crew transfer a patient from a
residential address into their Ambulance, which had become stuck in snow
whilst responding to this incident.
A full team call out page was made at 11:14, with our Deputy Team
Leader Geoff Seddon arriving on scene, in the Halliwell area of Bolton
at circa 11:35, closely followed by our BM3 vehicle (Ken Oakes) at
11:42 and BM2 (Ged Clarke and Elaine Gilliland) at 11:44.
The NWAS Emergency ambulance crew had managed to get the patient into
their Ambulance, and for our responding members it was a simple matter
of towing the Emergency Ambulance out of the snow, and checking the NWAS
Rapid Response Vehicle could also leave the incident safely.
We were stood down on scene at circa 12:09 with the incident
completed by 12:40.
...also on Tuesday 12th... Thanks to NWAS (Manchester) Throughout this wintry period NWAS (Manchester) has been calling on the
services of a great many Mountain Rescue Teams within and on the borders
of the Greater Manchester area, principally Bolton MRT, Glossop MRT,
Kinder MRT, Oldham MRT, and Rossendale and Pendle MRT, to assist the
Ambulance Service in the provision of its emergency response service.
(Other volunteer resources have included 4WD Ambulances from St John
Ambulance and the British Red Cross)
The provision of this continuing volunteer assistance is constantly
being acknowledged with thanks by NWAS (Manchester) staff in all their
dealings with our team, and in turn we give thanks for the ready co-operation and close liaison which is now very firmly established between our respective services.
...also on Tuesday 12th... Donation from Mrs. C. Livesey Today, Deputy Team Leader Geoff Seddon received a £10 donation from Mrs. C. Livesey of Horwich, after Geoff assisted Mrs. Livesey with the recovery of her car from a ditch, which was stuck there as a result of the snow and ice on the ground.
Monday 11th January Incident 36/2010 A quiet early morning, with no enquiries or advice calls from NWAS (Manchester) Control, but how long would it last !
A call at around 10.00hrs from our Team Leader Garry Rhodes to Team Leader Andy Simpson of Rossenedale and Pendle MRT to enquire if he had also had a quiet nights uninterrupted sleep was met with a firm ‘no’ from Andy, with their call then interrupted by Andys pager bleeping alerting RPMRT to a yet another call out, this time in Colne.
Perhaps tempting fate, after consulting with NWAS (Manchester) Control mid day that no MRTs were currently active in Greater Manchester or on call, our Team Leader paged out at 12.35hrs that there was no envisaged need to place our resources (at present) on standby.
The inevitable then happened, with our pagers going off at 12.52hrs to contact NWAS (Manchester) Control regards an incident on the Johnson Fold estate in Bolton.
At this stage the despatcher David at NWAS (Manchester) Control was now dealing with four separate MRT’s on four separate incidents in Greater Manchester ! After getting all the relevant information, our Team Leader Garry Rhodes made a full team pager call out at 13.03hrs.
One NWAS (Manchester) Emergency Ambulance was stuck in snow trying to reach a patient address, with the team required to extricate this and also possibly transport the patient to the second responding NWAS (Manchester) Emergency Ambulance.
Our Deputy Team Leader Geoff Seddon (who had responded in his vehicle) and Ged Clarke solo responding in BM2, with muscle power and snow shovels extricated the stuck Ambulance and also made sure the other Ambulance with the patient now on board, could safely leave the Johnson Fold housing estate.
Our BM3 vehicle with Fred Taylor and Chris Tennant on board was stood down responding nearby, with our BM1 vehicle stood down about to depart our LBH base, with Ken Oakes and Elaine Gilliland on board. This incident was concluded on scene at circa 13.32hrs.
Due to the way we have reported some incidents, although we have shown this as Incident 36 of 2010, in reality (yes it is confusing) it is the 61st separate incident we have attended in 2010.
Combined with the 45x separate incidents attended in 2009 since this wintry period started (for us) on the evening of December 19th 2009, we have now attended in total 106 separate incidents to date, all related to the prevailing wintry conditions.
...also on Monday 11th... Kind message of thanks from local Rotarians. Today our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE received an email from David and Heather Moores, two local Rotarians, the full contents of their very kind email reads as;
"Dear Gary, we have been reading in the Press about the massive contribution you and your team have been making to public safety throughout the bad weather crisis over the past couple of weeks. It sounds as if none of you have been home much very recently!!
We know from the visits our two Rotary Clubs (Westhoughton and Bolton Lever) have made to your HQ just how much training, dedication and sheer hard work BMRT put in to deliver, time after time, the excellent level of service you provide.
Please let your Team know how much their efforts are appreciated by the Bolton (and Manchester) public."
Best Wishes, David and Heather Moores (local Rotarians)
This is but one example of the huge number of kind comments we have received from many individuals and organisations regarding the work we have been carrying out over this current period of wintry weather.
Sunday 10th January Incidents today.... Today, we "only" attended three incidents according to our website, in Daubhill, Smithills and Daveyhulme; however as with every other day there have also been a small number of incidents during which we were stood down almost immediately, or they were just advice calls between our Team Leader/Deputy Team Leader and NWAS Ambulance Control.
Today has been no different with a call to our Team Leader at circa 03:00 this morning for an incident in the Tottington area requiring the team's assistance, which our Team Leader passed over to Rossendale & Pendle MRT as our team was being rested (they in turn were stood down responding, and then in the way of things, Oldham MRT were despatched to this same incident!)
At 11:58 today, NWAS Ambulance Control contacted our Team Leader to callout the team to the report of a male who had fallen 20ft down an embankment in the snow at the rear of his property. An immediate mobilisation of the team took place as members were already at our base, with a stand-down following just as quickly (some 7 minutes later) as the team's services were no longer required at this incident.
At 13:15 NWAS (Lancashire) paged the team for assistance in getting to a residential property in the Belmont area; team members who were ice climbing nearby in Great Gutter gulley were immediately despatched to be stood down minutes later as they were not required.
At 16:02, team vehicle BM2 was despatched to assist NWAS (Manchester) with the report of an ambulance stuck in snow in the Irlams O'th' Height area of Salford. Five minutes into this vehicle's response, they were stood down as neighbours in the street where the ambulance was stuck had all rallied together to get the ambulance clear of the snow.
Early evening, some team members at base volunteered their time to assist private vehicles stuck in snow at the bottom of Ladybridge Lane, a steep road alongside our base. This was not an easy recovery to do involving fitting the snow chains to our vehicles and also using the vehicle winch and strop, but was nontheless successful. One of the drivers kindly made a £10 donation to the team as thanks for our efforts.
None of the incidents have been recorded in our incident figures but are nontheless recorded here for information.
...also on Sunday 10th... Incident 35/2010 At 20:19 this evening, NWAS (Manchester) paged the team for assistance recovering an ambulance at a care home in the Davyhulme area of Manchester, stuck on ice, with the crew still treating the elderly patient concerned.
A limited team member response was made involving 4 team members in our BM1 and BM3 vehicles, and our Deputy Team Leader Geoff Seddon, responding solo in his vehicle.
We arrived on scene at 20:37 and using snow and metal shovels, cleared the ice, with Geoff Seddon lending his driving skills to extricate the ambulance.
DTL Geoff Seddon directs the real workers from on high (TL Garry Rhodes and Steve Fletcher)
Team members then assisted the NWAS crew in getting the patient to the ambulance on the NWAS trolley stretcher.
As with all other incidents attended of this nature, the NWAS (Manchester) ambulance crew concerned were very appreciative of the team's assistance and we all got a grateful 'cuppa from the staff at the care home concerned.
All involved returned to our Ladybridge Hall base by 21:53.
...also on Sunday 10th... Incident 34/2010 At 12:28, NWAS (Manchester) Control directly contacted our Team Leader for the team to attend an incident at Smithills Coaching House, Bolton, within Smithills Country Park.
A family member attending the restaurant was feeling unwell and icy road conditions were reported as being prevalent. Coincidentally all team vehicles were very nearby and en-route to Rivington and Belmont, hence all responded.
Team members arrived on scene to treat the collapsed lady and awaited the arrival of the NWAS Emergency Ambulance, which soon arrived.
In total, 13 team members were involved in this response.
...also on Sunday 10th... Incident 33/2010 At 08:12 this morning, NWAS (Manchester) Control paged the team for assistance with an NWAS Emergency Ambulance stuck on snow, trying to access a patient's address in the Daubhill area of Bolton.
Our Team Leader collected the relevant information, resulting in a full team pager call at 08:26. Our Team Leader was first on scene at 08:45, closely followed by our Deputy Leader and our BM3 vehicle.
Our BM3 vehicle managed to tow the ambulance out of the deep snow with two other team members assisting the ambulance crew with a short carry of the elderly lady involved to the ambulance.
The Emergency Ambulance was able to leave safely with the patient on board at 09:15 with team members departing shortly afterwards.
In total, 10 team members had arrived on scene and our BM1 and BM3 vehicles; with an additional four team members stood down responding.
...also on Sunday 10th... All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy... Well, whilst the cold spell stays with us which brings a whole world of work to the team's membership, at least we found time to play today!
A little-known gulley in Belmont provides the perfect arena for a spot of ice-axe placement and crampon practice in these freezing conditions, and a number of team members took advantage of the ice to have a bit of fun.
Team member Alistair Greenough practices his winter skills
Chris Greenhalgh, Team Equipment Officer (Vehicles), starts an ascent
Saturday 9th January Incident 32/2010 At 21:35 tonight, again as we were completing paperwork relevant to the previous incident at Johnson Fold, the Team Leader was contacted by NWAS (Manchester) Control to ask for our assistance in reaching a casualty at his home address in Walmersley, Bury.
Two team vehicles (carrying 5 team members in total) were despatched to this incident, mobilising at 21:41 and arriving on scene in Walmersley at 22:03.
Fortunately the ambulance had just managed to get to the casualty's address and then free from the snow and back onto the main road with the assistance of the neighbours of the patient concerned. However our trip wasn't completely wasted... we had to assist the NWAS Rapid Response Vehicle in driving off the estate, which itself had also become stuck!
One completed we headed back to our Ladybridge Hall HQ, finishing the incident at 22:42. With a small amount of paperwork (and no more interruptions!) the members present left for their home addresses... hopefully all will be tucked up in bed very soon, in anticipation of more callouts tomorrow!
...also on Saturday 9th... Incident 31/2010 Whilst team members were still at Ladybridge Hall following the day's incidents, the Team Leader was contacted by NWAS (Manchester) at 20:49 regarding a stuck ambulance in the Johnson Fold area of Bolton.
Being no strangers to this particular estate (we were called to the same road just 24 hours earlier to assist a stuck ambulance), we made a quick response and two team vehicles arrived at 21:08.
The team was required to transport a woman in labour from her home address to the nearest point that the ambulance could drive to, some 400m away. She was quickly transported in our BM1 Landrover ambulance, with the patient's mother also transported in our BM3 Landrover ambulance, and both were driven down the road to the waiting NWAS ambulance.
The team guided the NWAS ambulance off the estate, and wished them well as the patient and her family were whisked away to Royal Bolton Hospital's maternity department.
...also on Saturday 9th... Team hits a century in 21 days It has been 21 days since our first callout on the evening of Saturday 19th December 2009, related to the period of wintry weather in our team operational area.
With incident 30/2010 (late this afternoon), we have reached an unbelievable total of 100 seperate operational incidents over this snowy period.
Never has the team been so busy in all of its 41 year history. These operational incidents and all the work which is associated in supporting them, represents a huge amount of time and effort on behalf of the team membership.
At least some element of the team has been on standby or has been dealing with an incident for 18 hours of every day in the past few days, and the commitment shown by all the volunteers, whether it be administrative work, or on the front line, has been completely unprecedented.
We offer our thanks on behalf of the community we serve, to the employers and families of all the team's members, all of whom have been understanding in allowing the team's members time away from work or families during this period if inclement weather.
...also on Saturday 9th... Incident 30/2010 With a small number of team at our base, writing up reports of the day's incidents, cleaning kit, repairing damaged items arising from the multitude of incidents we have attended (including broken vehicles!), the team was paged by Lancashire Constabulary at 17:24 regarding an urgent search for a missing person, centred in the Belmont and Rivington areas, giving police cause for concern for his welfare.
Over the telephone, very experienced team member Mike Marsh discussed an immediate search strategy with Lancashire Constabulary's Force Incident Manager, which included searching moorland carpark and layby areas.
Just as we were initiating a full team callout following these urgent initial discussions, the excellent news came back to the team from Lancashire Constabulary that their officers had safely located the missing man in the very bad winter ground conditions prevailing, and there was no further requirement for the team's involvement.
...also on Saturday 9th... Incident 29/2010 At 15:15, at the conclusion of the previous incident, our Team Leader Garry Rhodes, whilst in contact with NWAS (Lancashire) Control on an administrative matter, was directed by the same control to callout the team to a sledging accident on the moorland edge field system above Rivington Hall Barn, Lever Park, Rivington.
A full team pager callout was initiated at 15:27 following an immediate response being made at circa 15:20 from the previous incident location.
In total 12 team members arrived at the Rivington Hall Barn RVP, with a further 7 stood down responding, along with three of our Landrover ambulance vehicles.
Team members assisted the NWAS (Lancashire) crew, from Chorley ambulance station, with a carry of the 11 year old girl, through the tracks at the rear of Rivington Hall Barn, to the waiting ambulance at Rivington Hall Barn.
The girl, who was evacuated on an ambulance longboard, had suspected lower lumbar spine and hip injuries. We concluded this incident at 17:00 back at our base.
...also on Saturday 9th... Incident 28/2010 At 14:36 today, the team was paged by NWAS (Manchester) to respond to assist an NWAS (Manchester) Rapid Response Vehicle and an NWAS (Manchester) Emergency Ambulance, both stuck on compacted snow and ice whilst accessing a casualty's address in the Moses Gate area of Bolton.
A quick response by our Team Leader Garry Rhodes (who was visiting his parents nearby), backed up by our BM1 Landrover, quickly resolved this situation with a bit of digging and pushing.
Besides the four team members directly involved, five other team members were stood down responding to this incident.
...also on Saturday 9th... Incident 27/2010 At 03:25 this morning our Team Leader was contacted direct by NWAS (Manchester) control with the report of an NWAS ambulance crew needing assistance accessing a narrow snowbound road to a casualty in the Bradshaw Chapel area of Harwood.
En-route, after he had conducted a limited member callout, our Team Leader was informed by NWAS Ambulance Control that the responding ambulance had got stuck on nearby snowbound roads whilst travelling to the incident address.
A second NWAS (Manchester) Emergency Ambulance was despatched and was guided to the casualty address by team member Ged Clarke in his Range Rover.
With four team members still responding in two team Landrover ambulances, Ged Clarke and our Team Leader Garry Rhodes managed to dig out and then tow the stuck ambulance from the Ashdene Crescent area of Harwood, back onto good road conditions.
Our responding BM3 vehicle with Mike Marsh and Ken Oakes and our BM1 vehicle Steve Fletcher and Dr. Clare Whitney on board, were all stood down whilst responding.
All members involved managed to get back to bed at 05:15.
...also on Saturday 9th... Happy Birthday to team member Chris Greenhalgh Long-time team member Chris Greenhalgh turned 30 yesterday... but with the call for team members to be on standby at our Ladybridge Hall base last night, Chris opted to forego his celebrations, and instead spent the evening in the company of his team mates.
So Happy Birthday, Chris, from everyone at the team... and we're sure you'll have a chance to go out tonight and celebrate!
Friday 8th January All team records broken with regards to incidents attended by the team Amazing as it sounds, with all the operational activity that the team has been undertaking over this period of wintry weather, we have never stopped to count up all the individual incidents that we have actually attended, until this afternoon.
The Manchester Evening News staff attached to us asked the same question.
We were surprised to find out that since January 1st, team members have attended 51 separate operational incidents.
The wintry weather in the Bolton and surrounding areas generally started on the afternoon of Saturday 19th December 2009, commencing with an afternoon snowfall. Our first callout then came on the evening of this same day.
From the evening of 19th December, up to the evening of December 31st 2009, we attended 45 separate incidents.
This means in total since this wintry weather started in our team's operational area on December 19th, continuing right through until today, the team has attended 96 separate incidents.
This represents a huge operational workload on the team over a very short time period of 20 days - particularly when one considers that each incident has to be reported, equipment and vehicles have to be replenished and cleaned (as do our team members!), with many incidental demands on our time such as retrieving team equipment from hospitals.
Needless to say the routine training functions of the team have taken a back seat and we apologise here for any lateness in replying to anything other than operational correspondence.
We particularly apologise to any person or organisations which have sent in donations to the team, although all of these donations have been acknowledged on our website, we have yet to reply formally in writing with letters of thanks.
Thank for appreciating our situation, we'll catch up when the snow finally melts!
...also on Friday 8th... Incident 26/2010 At 21:33 this evening our Team Leader was contacted by NWAS (Manchester) to call on resources on standby at our Ladybridge Hall base to respond to the report of an emergency ambulance which was unable to access a patient's address within the steep snow covered road layout of the Johnson Fold housing estate.
Our first vehicle BM1 arrived on scene at 21:48 and using the powerful vehicle mounted winch was able to winch (in stages) the ambulance some 300m to the patient's address, whilst the emergency ambulance crew were rendering casualty care.
The casualty was then assisted to the emergency ambulance, which with careful reversing under escort from our BM3 vehicle, was able to leave the estate, safely en route to hospital.
This incident concluded at 22:30 and the resources on standby then stood down for members to depart to their home addresses.
As this incident could have required a stretcher carry, 8 team members responded, in our BM1 and BM3 vehicles, and team member Ged Clarke's Range Rover, and our Team Leader's vehicle.
...also on Friday 8th... Return to the team of husband and wife duo Jonathan and Stephanie Holt Tonight the team is pleased to welcome back former team members (and husband and wife) Stephanie and Jonathan Holt.
Due to family and work commitments on their time, both had to leave the team's callout list in 2007, but are now back and rejoined our ranks tonight!
Both bring considerable experience and skills in a number of areas to the team. Jonathan specialises in technical rope work (and was formerly our equipment officer for stretchers & rope rescue equipment). Stephanie has many years experience in the nursing profession and brings an excellent bedside manner when dealing with our casualties!
...also on Friday 8th... Incident 25/2010 At 14:06, NWAS (Manchester) Control contacted our Team Leader to request assistance with an NWAS (Manchester) PTS (Patient Transfer Service) vehicle, stuck on snow and ice road conditions on Johnson Fold, Markland Hill, Bolton.
Our BM4 vehicle with two team members and the two reporters from the Manchester Evening News responded and towed the PTS vehicle back onto the clear road.
Picture courtesy of Paul Heyes/Manchester Evening News
...also on Friday 8th... Incident 24/2010 At 11:55 NWAS (Manchester) Control directly tasked our BM1 vehicle, with three crew on board, to an incident in Breightmet, Bolton, where an Emergency Ambulance was stuck on snow and icy road conditions outside a residential address where a female casualty was experiencing breathing difficulties.
Our BM1 crew managed to winch the Emergency Ambulance to better road conditions, and stood by whilst the NWAS crew continued to treat the casualty in her home, in case hospital transfer was required and the casualty needed to be assisted to the Ambulance.
Thankfully the casualty responded well to her treatment and recovered so as not to need hospital transfer.
Kinder MRT (based in Hayfield on the edge of the Peak District) was also called to this incident, and stood down on scene.
...also on Friday 8th... Incident 23/2010 At the same time as BM1 was being despatched on incident 22/2010, NWAS (Manchester) Control requested that our BM4 vehicle respond to a residential address in the Shevington area of Wigan, where the Emergency Ambulance crew had requested help getting the female casualty down a steep snow and ice covered drive and into their Ambulance.
Alongside our BM4 crew (and the Manchester Evening News staff) our Deputy Team Leader Geoff Seddon also responded in his vehicle (equipped with blue lights and sirens).
Upon arrival our BM4 crew assisted the NWAS (Manchester) Emergency Ambulance crew in getting the female casualty into their vehicle for onward transfer to hospital.
...also on Friday 8th... Incident 22/2010 At 11:00 NWAS (Manchester) Control, (again Katherine contacting our Team Leader Garry) requested a team vehicle assist an NWAS (Manchester) Emergency Ambulance at an incident in Farnworth, where snow and icy road conditions were causing problems for the responding Ambulance.
Our BM1 vehicle responded with Elaine, Dave and Steve, arriving on scene to find the male casualty suffering chest pains already on board the NWAS (Manchester) Emergency Ambulance, which was stuck on snow and ice.
Our BM1 crew winched and towed the Ambulance to better road conditions, which then continued its journey to Royal Bolton Hospital.
...also on Friday 8th... Incident 21/2010 At circa 10:00 our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE in his co-ordinator role with NWAS (Manchester) control was contacted by despatcher Katherine, to mobilise the team to a Residential Care Home in Horwich, where an Emergency Ambulance couldn’t reach the location due to icy road conditions.
Picture courtesy of Paul Heyes/Manchester Evening News
Our BM1 vehicle with crew members Elaine Gilliland, Dave Carter and Steve Nelson, alongside BM4 with Fred Taylor, Matthew Hailwood and the Manchester Evening News reporting crew all responded, but upon arrival were stood down on scene as the NWAS crew had managed to get the casualty into their vehicle.
Both vehicles returned to their Standby location at our Ladybridge Hall Base/HQ at 10:52.
...also on Friday 8th... Standby on behalf of NWAS (Manchester) This morning, meeting at 09:00, five team members crewing our BM1 and BM4 vehicles went to standby at our Ladybridge Hall Base/HQ on behalf of NWAS (Manchester) during the current continuing wintry conditions (Again overnight temperatures of average minus 5c and with all ‘side’ roads in our team area still snow / ice bound).
Attached to the team today alongside our vehicle crews are Photographer Paul Hayes and Reporter Paul Britton from the Manchester Evening News.
Thursday 7th January Huge vote of thanks to the Pager Bureau staff at Mypalive The team as a whole is primarily called out via a message pager system, operated by Mypalive (Vodapage), with every team member having a message pager. (our ‘little belt buddies,’ or that thing that wakes us and our partners up in the middle of the night, followed by many expletives!)
Readers of our website will realise we have had an unprecedented number of calls on the teams services in this recent wintry weather period.
Throughout this period our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE, would like to register with thanks the understanding and patience of the Mypalive call takers at the pager bureau, (Newton Court, Faraday road, Liverpool, L13 1EJ) who have had to cope with trying to take down messages, with (often) our radio traffic confusingly in the background, and (our little joke) trying to understand our Team Leaders ‘Little Hultoner’ (Salford overspill!) accent! (most of the call takers have a Liverpudlian accent)
A great many of the call takers at the Bureau enquire as to the incidents we are sending messages about, and always pass on their appreciation of the work we and other MRTs who use their Bureau undertake.
(Included within this is a special thanks from Garry to call taker Tony Moran, who takes a particularly keen interest in the work of the team)
Thanks to everyone at Mypalive (Vodapage) you are part of the chain that fully supports the Bolton MRT.
...also on Thursday 7th... Incident 20/2010 At 15.59hrs, NWAS (Manchester) Control despatched our BM2 vehicle to the report of a casualty from GMP at a residential address in the Halliwell area of Bolton.
NWAS (Manchester) had been contacted by Greater Manchester Police to assist with a 61 year old man who had numerous health problems. Our BM2 vehicle transported the gentleman to hospital.
...also on Thursday 7th... Incident 19/2010 At 15.53hrs our BM2 vehicle with team members Fred Taylor and Dave Carter on board, was despatched by NWAS (Manchester) to a residential address on the East Lancashire Road in the Astley area of Wigan, to assist an on scene NWAS (Manchester) Emergency Ambulance crew, with carrying a casualty across snow and ice to their vehicle.
Whilst responding to this incident, our BM2 vehicle was stood down responding on the East Lancashire Road in the Tyldesley area.
...also on Thursday 7th... Incident 18/2010 Our BM1 Vehicle and Deputy Leaders vehicle was despatched to an incident at circa 14.54hrs, on behalf of NWAS (Manchester) to a residential address in the Leigh area, with the report of a male with breathing difficulties.
The casualty was transported to Royal Bolton Hospital in our Deputy Team Leaders vehicle.
...also on Thursday 7th... Incident 17/2010 Our BM1 vehicle was redirected from its response to the previous incident to the Westleigh area of Leigh, to handle a call on behalf of NWAS (Manchester) at a residential address, involving a 57 years old woman reported to be suffering from chest pains.
Upon arrival on scene, responding NWAS (Manchester) resources had also arrived, and our BM1 vehicle with team members Elaine Gilliland and Ged Clarke on board was stood down on scene at circa 14.36hrs.
...also on Thursday 7th... Incident 16/2010 Whilst on standby to NWAS (Manchester) at our Ladybridge Hall Base / HQ, at circa 14.11hrs our BM1, BM2 and Deputy Team Leaders vehicle was despatched to an incident in the Leigh area of Wigan, on behalf of NWAS (Manchester).
On board our Deputy Team Leader Geoff Seddon’s vehicle was Steve Thompson, a reporter with the Bolton News.
The incident was to a residential address with the report of a casualty suffering abdominal pains.
Our BM2 vehicle, with team members Fred Taylor and Dave Carter on board then transported the casualty in their vehicle to Royal Bolton Hospital.
(Our BM1 vehicle was redirected during its response to this incident to another incident)
...also on Thursday 7th... Standby on behalf of NWAS (Manchester) Commencing at circa 10:45, the team has once again placed crewed vehicles at the immediate disposal of NWAS (Manchester), based at our Ladybridge Hall Base/HQ.
As at 12:00, three team members are on hand to immediately respond to any requests on the team. (more team members will be available in the early afternoon).
Directly attached to the team this afternoon is a reporter form the Bolton News (our local daily newspaper, which has been providing excellent news reports on the recent work of the team)
Tomorrow, arrangements are in hand for a reporter from the Manchester Evening News to be similarly attached to the team for a day.
Thanks again to the staff at NWAS Ladybridge Hall HQ who have allowed our members present to make full and free use of their restaurant facilities.
...also on Thursday 7th... Incident 15/2010 With temperatures registering -9°C in the Bolton area, our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE, in the now established and well rehearsed practice of being directly contacted, was requested to turn out the team at circa 07:00 this morning to assist an NWAS (Manchester) Emergency Ambulance crew with accessing a casualty location in the Daubhill area of Bolton.
A full team pager call out was sent at 07:09, with our Bolton Mobile 1 and 3 vehicles responding plus our Team Leader and Deputy Leader in their respective vehicles.
The incident involved an elderly lady who needed stretcher evacuation from her home address to the NWAS Emergency Ambulance, which in turn needed extricating from an ice/snow bound road onto better nearby road conditions.
Our Team Leader arrived on scene at 07:49 to discover one of the NWAS Ambulance crew members was Hazel Kennedy, a member of our Support Group.
The lady concerned was in her home address already on a long board, and whilst our BM3 Land Rover Mountain Rescue Ambulance vehicle towed the NWAS Ambulance off the ice/snow bound road surface, other team members working with the NWAS crew and the lady's son-in-law placed her on one of our specialist Mountain Rescue stretchers and sledged her on the snow to the NWAS Emergency Ambulance.
With the lady now on board the Ambulance, along with her son in law and daughter, our BM3 vehicle then towed the ambulance onto the nearby main road, which was clearer of snow and ice.
This incident was completed on scene at 08:46.
In total 5 Bolton MRT members were involved in assisting the NWAS (Manchester) Emergency crew.
Thanks as ever to the NWAS (Manchester) Belle Vue Control Room staff, for their help – and patience, (in this case dispatcher Katherine) in working with our Team Leader and responding team vehicles in passing on essential information
As a footnote, during this incident, co-incidentally the NWAS Director of Emergency Operations Derek Cartwright contacted our Team Leader for an update on the team's recent activities!
...also on Thursday 7th... 10th Annual Race Night raises thousands of pounds for Charity… On Thursday November 26th Professional Security Magazine and Visual Verification hosted the ever popular Charity Race Night at Belle Vue Stadium, Manchester. The event has been running for 10 years now and nearly two hundred people braved the northern weather to support what is now a fixture in the Security industry calendar.
The evening raised £4000 for charity and the worthy causes this year included Bolton Mountain Rescue Team, where we benefitted to the tune of £1000.00, and Francis House Children’s Hospice. A cheque for £2000 also went to The Worshipful Company of Security Professionals who will be passing the proceeds on to Child Victims of Crime (The Master’s chosen Charity for this year).
Security Magazine and Visual Verification would like to thank Bold Communications, Dedicated Micros, Inner Range, Norbain, NVT, Panasonic, Pyronix, Risco, Samsung Techwin, Selectamark, Sitewatch, TeleEye, Texecom, Tyco & Xtralis for their wonderful support. Quite apart from booking tables and sponsoring races a large amount of money was raised on the night, so the generosity of these companies is highly appreciated.
After this year’s success, Visual Verification and Professional Security Magazing are already looking forward to next year, when they will be celebrating their eleventh year and hopefully raising even more money!
Wednesday 6th January Incident 14/2010 At 18:08 this evening our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE was contacted directly by NWAS (Manchester) for the team's immediate assistance regards an ambulance, unable to reach a residential casualty address due to compacted snow and ice road conditions.
A small number of team members were still at our Ladybridge Hall base/HQ after the conclusion of today's NWAS standby.
Two team vehicles and our team leader's vehicle were able to make an immediate response to the Clifton, Manchester area, along with a third team vehicle that was based at this time at a team member's home address.
Our first vehicle BM4 arrived on scene at circa 18:30 and established that the elderly casualty (with breathing difficulties) could be transported from his snowbound home address in a team vehicle, to the NWAS emergency ambulance which was 200m away on a nearby main road.
Due to deep snow still on this main road, team members had to stop all traffic whilst the casualty was transferred from our BM4 vehicle to the NWAS emergency ambulance.
In total, six Bolton MRT team members were involved in this incident, which also included our BM1, 3 and 4 vehicles and our Team Leader's vehicle.
Again an excellent example of cooperation between ourselves and an NWAS (Manchester) emergency ambulance crew.
...also on Wednesday 6th... NWAS (Manchester) wintry conditions standby Today, with wintry conditions continuing throughout the whole of the Greater Manchester area, the team was requested by NWAS (Manchester) to go to crewed vehicle standby at our Ladybridge Hall base.
This commenced at circa 11:00, finishing at circa 17:30. Throughout this whole period, all four of our team Landrover Mountain Rescue ambulances were available to both NWAS (Manchester) and NWAS (Lancashire).
As with yesterday, NWAS emergency staff and paramedics were directly attached to the Bolton MRT.
In the case of today, all the emergency staff and paramedics were from the NWAS HART-USAR (Hazardous Area Response Team - Urban Search and Rescue).
A small number of calls were received, all resulting in quick stand downs.
An unbelieveably quiet day for us and the attached HART-USAR personnel, perhaps the message to only call ambulances for life-threatening emergencies is now being taken up by the public.
As with yesterday, many thanks to our hosts at our base location (NWAS Ladybridge Hall headquarters) for arranging for their grounds maintenance staff to completely clear snow from our base/HQ entry and exit roads, and to the Ladybridge Hall catering staff for providing all the Bolton MRT members with a full lunchtime meal.
In total, 12 Bolton MRT team members were involved over this standby period.
During the day our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE was interviewed by Granada TV news (over the phone), the local press, and conducted a live radio interview for Tower FM, regards the team's recent high volume of incidents.
Our Deputy Team Leader Geoff Seddon was similarly interviewed for BBC Radio Manchester.
...also on Wednesday 6th... Membership recruitment latest We have now received to date 39x on line membership applications and 7 letters and emails to join the team, all of whom have received an invitation to attend our Thursday evening January 21st 2010 and all day Sunday January 24th 2010 recruitment sessions.
To date 14x persons have confirmed they will attending both the sessions. Can we please appeal to anyone who has yet to send back their confirmation forms for the January sessions to do so as soon as possible, and before Monday 11th January at the latest.
Tuesday 5th January Incident 13/2010 At circa 19:45 this evening, with a small number of team members remaining at our Ladybridge Hall base after the day's numerous incidents, team member Mike Marsh was contacted by former team member Jonathan Holt of Tyldesley, advising us of an incident near to his home address on a snow and ice bound path across fields where a man had fallen badly and was initially being aided by Jonathan, with his wife Stephanie (also a former team member) contacting the ambulance service and suggesting that an MRT be involved.
In consultation with NWAS (Manchester) Control, our Team Leader was requested to respond to this incident which was on a footpath leading across to Shakerley Common in the Tyldesley area of Wigan.
Team vehicle BM1, with team members Mark Parry, Michael O'Brien and Mike Marsh on board responded, along with our Team Leader Garry Rhodes and Deputy Team Leader making solo responses in their vehicles.
On arrival on scene our 5 team members were stood down as GMP officers along with NWAS ambulance staff and Jonathan Holt had been able to evacuate the casualty who had hip & lower back injuries to the waiting ambulance.
This incident concluded after 1 hour.
...also on Tuesday 5th... Donation from a member of the public Whilst the team was engaged in the snow cover today, we were assisting stuck motorists on the A58, Beaumont Road, Bolton.
After a team vehicle towed a stuck car out from the snow, a grateful member of the public pressed two £5 notes into our hands, as a donation to the team's funds.
So thank you very much, and we hope that the remainder of your journey was without incident!
...also on Tuesday 5th... Incident 12/2010 At 04:31 in the early hours of this morning following a very heavy overnight snowfall (which was continuing) the team was paged by NWAS (Manchester) Control to respond to a casualty in the Eccles area, with heart problems due to the responding ambulance being stuck in deep snow.
Our Team Leader Garry Rhodes instigated a full team callout but due to heavy snow many members had difficulty responding.
This incident became the first of 20 seperate incidents attended by the team during the day, up to the last incident at the day which concluded at 17:40.
In total, 20 team members were involved with NWAS Paramedics directly attached to the team forming part of our Landrover Mountain Rescue ambulance crews.
In addition two of our members' private 4WD vehicles were also drafted in to assist in the day's workload, and to backup our four team Landrover ambulances.
Very heavy snowfalls culminating in over 12 inches of snow accumulated during the day leading to gridlock throughout the whole of the Greater Manchester area.
Throughout the early morning the conditions worsened to such an extent that NWAS (Manchester) declared a major incident and mobilised Mountain Rescue teams from Bolton, Calder Valley, Holme Valley, Kinder, Glossop, Oldham, and Rossendale & Pendle to assist NWAS in the Greater Manchester area.
NWAS (Manchester) also made appeals through the local radio and regional television for the public to only call on the ambulance service for life-threatening emergency cases.
Our Ladybridge Hall base/HQ even became a mini NWAS ambulance control with the Regional Director of Emergency Operations for NWAS, Derek Cartwright and a very senior NWAS (Manchester) Operational Manager, Ged Blezard operating an overview role based on all incidents coming into the NWAS (Manchester) ambulance control.
A television interview for GMTV was filmed at our Ladybridge Hall base with NWAS Director Derek Cartwright giving reporter Elaine Wilcox an overview of the operations to date (the interview took place late morning), placing great emphasis on the cooperation between all MRTs operating in Greater Manchester and the NWAS (Manchester) control and road staff.
Throughout the day the snowfall continued with the team responding to a wide range of incidents including:
Assisting ambulances stuck in snow
Getting casualties from their home addresses across snowbound roads to the nearest point that NWAS ambulances could reach
Responding directly to emergency incidents on behalf of NWAS due to the prevailing conditions, and transporting such casualties to hospitals
Taking casualties to hospital from ambulances which had become stuck in snow
Responding directly to difficult access incidents such as snow sledgers on steep, frozen ground
On one occassion, clearing a main arterial road around Bolton of stranded vans and cars which were causing massive tailbacks
Many of the above incidents involved serious trauma or medical conditions and even involved responding to a woman in labour (we got the lady to hospital where she gave birth shortly afterwards.
BM2 and BM4 deliver a woman in labour to Royal Bolton Hospital maternity unit, with a plough trying to shift the masses of snow lying around!
Team Landrovers assisting the ambulance service at a nursing home
Team members use shovels to clear a path for an NWAS emergency ambulance
Team members and NWAS staff at the sledging accident at Longsight Park, with the casualty kept warm in our red "casualty bag".
Team members again assist NWAS by carrying the casualty to the ambulance which couldn't quite get to the home address
The last call of the day as night fell, to a sledger who had slipped on some steps, possibly injuring her back.
The snow conditions at our Ladybridge Hall base/HQ.
Team members Neil Aspinall, Fred Taylor, and Steve Fletcher managed to see the funny side.
Team members working with NWAS staff at the scene of a sledging accident at Rumworth reservoir embankment, Lostock.
During the day we responded to three serious snow sledging accidents, in the Lostock, Longsight Park and Daisy Hill areas, where we were able to use our specialist equipment and training to evacuate the casualties to the NWAS ambulances.
As all this was happening, our Deputy Team Leader Geoff Seddon in his own vehicle which was equipped with emergency lighting and medical equipment, plus an NWAS Paramedic/Operational Manager on board was utilised by NWAS (Manchester) as a Rapid Response Vehicle in its own right. They responded directly to six furhter incidents on top of the 20 incidents attended by the team membership.
In total 20 team members were involved in today's operations working in close harmony with directly attached NWAS Paramedics and NWAS Emergency road crews. Our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE coordinated the team's response throughout the day, working in very close direct liaison with NWAS (Manchester) Control room staff (not forgetting the assistance provided by Bolton MRT team member Chris Greenhalgh).
Thanks must be given to the General Manager of NWAS Ladybridge Hall, Anne El-Garidi who arranged for the grounds maintenance team of the NWAS HQ complex to clear the roads into and out of our base to ensure that the heavy snowfall did not hamper our access and egress.
Anne El-Garidi also arranged for catering for our team members at the Ladybridge NWAS HQ staff restaraunt (which was very much appreciated by the team membership!)
The 26 seperate incidents which overall are reported here under one overall incident number, plus of course the incidents which occurred earlier in the day and later in the evening, represent the busiest day ever in the 41 year history of this volunteer rescue team.
Throughout the day we met with fantastic support and very welcoming kind comments from all members of the public we came into contact with, particularly the casualties who all realised the difficult circumstances that we and our colleagues in NWAS were faced with.
Readers of our website will also appreciate that not only is this the busiest day in the team's history, it has undoubtledly been (to date) the busiest period in the team's history.
...also on Tuesday 5th... Incident 11/2010 At 00:20, at the conclusion of the previous incident, our Team Leader was contacted direct by NWAS (Manchester) Control for the team's assistance to recover an emergency ambulance stuck in deep snow in the Billinge area, in continuing heavy snowfall.
As no casualty was involved, and it was a simple vehicle recovery, our BM2 vehicle with team members Craig Lamb and Fred Taylor responded and utilising the vehicle winch managed to recover the ambulance back to better road conditions (nontheless this simple operation took two hours 40 minutes to complete).
Monday 4th January Incident 10/2010 At circa 23:11 our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE was contacted directly by the Team Leader of Rossendale & Pendle MRT, Andy Simpson, to pass on a job that their team had received whilst on standby to NWAS (Manchester), which was in the Bolton MRT's operational area.
A quick descision was made between the two team leaders over which team should attend, helped by the fact that during the conversation, RPMRT received a call to go to an incident on behalf of NWAS (Lancashire).
This incident involved an NWAS emergency ambulance stuck at the bottom of a steep road network on a housing estate in the Rainsough area of Prestwich.
The ambulance crew had been able to treat a male casualty with chest pains in his home address but could not drive their ambulance off the snowbound road to hospital.
Our Team Leader instigated a limited team member callout involving our BM2 and BM3 vehicles, our Deputy Leader and a response by our Team Leader.
In total 6 team members were involved in this incident which took place during very heavy snowfalls and involved the recovery of the emergency ambulance by our BM3 vehicle, during which time our BM2 vehicle transported the casualty, along with his wife and an NWAS paramedic in attendance to North Manchester General Hospital.
...also on Monday 4th... Cello ensemble raise money for the team Bob Buller, a musical colleague of team callout list member Mark Parry, recently contacted Mark, offering to raise money for the team.
Of course Mark promptly said "yes" to Bob's fundraising offer, and so on the 29th and 30th December 2009, the string trio of Bob Buller, Jill Jackson and Jerry Careston, who go by the name of the Chaconne Ensemble (click here to see their website) performed at the Millgate Shopping Centre in Bury, with an open cello case to collect donations from the passing shoppers.
The trio performed over the afternoon of the 29th December and all day on the 30th December, and a little over £200 was raised in total for the team.
The thanks of the entire team are expressed to all at the Chaconne Ensemble for their fantastic fundraising effort, and of course to all the shoppers at the Millgate Shopping Centre who donated their loose change to us.
Sunday 3rd January Donation arising from the Silver Wedding Anniversary of team member Mark Scott and his wife Megan On Friday 1st January 2010, team callout list member (and council officer) Mark Scott, and his wife Megan celebrated their Silver Wedding Anniversary by holding a walk up Rivington Pike, from their Horwich home, and then returning for hotdogs and mulled wine.
Mark and Megan kindly requested that in place of presents on their Silver Wedding Anniversary, that donations be made instead to Bolton Mountain Rescue Team.
We are very pleased to announce the kind receipt from Mark and Megan this evening of many donations totalling a generous £100.00.
The whole team wishes Mark and Megan a very happy Silver Wedding Anniversary and wishes them all happiness and good health for the next 25 years of happy marriage.
...also on Sunday 3rd... Incident 9/2010 At 15:44 our Team Leader was contacted directly by NWAS (Manchester) regarding the team's assistance with an ambulance stuck on icy road conditions whilst trying to access a casualty at a residential address in Bolton.
Fortunately as our members arrived on scene in two vehicles, with assistance the female casualty was able to walk to the emergency ambulance, which with care managed to get off the ice.
In total 9 Bolton MRT members and two team vehicles were involved in this incident.
...also on Sunday 3rd... Incident 8/2010 At circa 13:53 our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE was contacted direct by NWAS (Manchester) Control, requesting the team's assistance at a serious road traffic collision on the A6 Blackrod bypass (by Douglas Valley golf course).
Two vehicles had been in collision resulting in two male and two female casualties. GMP Officers were already on scene, and the team was the first emergency medical response to arrive on scene.
Team members from our BM2 and BM4 vehicles carried out casualty care on the injured adults and children, working together with an off-duty hospital nurse, an off-duty A&E nurse (whose car and family were involved in this incident), and an off-duty NWAS (Lancashire) Paramedic.
One male casualty was splinted on scene on a longboard and headblocks, oxygen was administered to one of the children involved.
Two NWAS (Manchester) Emergency ambulances attended (including ex-team member Iain Peel who is now an NWAS Emergency Medical Technician), along with an NWAS (Manchester) operational manager and an NWAS (Manchester) assistant operational manager.
Also in attendance were two GMP Traffic Units and GMP Divisional officers. All the casualties involved were transported to hospital by the two NWAS emergency ambulances.
During this incident the A6 Blackrod bypass was closed to traffic and thanks are given here to all the passers-by who stopped to assist and other drivers including a tractor driver who stopped to protect the scene.
In total 9 Bolton MRT members and two team Landrover ambulances were involved in this incident.
...also on Sunday 3rd... Incident 7/2010 At 13:07 today, with a small number of team members at our Ladybridge Hall base (cleaning vehicles), NWAS (Manchester) contacted the team by pager to request the team's assistance during a peak demand period with a call to a residential address in the Horwich area of Bolton.
Our BM2 vehicle was despatched with a crew of 3 and they stabilised a 74 year old male casualty on scene until the arrival of an NWAS ambulance which then transported the man to Royal Bolton Hospital.
Saturday 2nd January Kind donation from valued friend and supporter Miss Sheila Hart Today we are pleased to announce the receipt of a very kind £25 donation from Miss Sheila Hart of Lostock, Bolton.
Miss Sheila Hart has been a longstanding friend and valued supporter of the team and in a letter attached with her kind donation she mentions, "this donation is in admiration of the good work you all do for the people of Bolton and in the Rivington area also".
The whole team is very grateful to Miss Sheila Hart for her continuing and much appreciated support of the Mountain Rescue Team.
...also on Saturday 2nd... Donation from a member of the public. Today team member Mike Marsh received a £10 donation from a member of the public from Walkden.
All we can say is that it was given with '...grateful thanks for the work the team does...'
To our mystery donor, thank you very much from all the team membership.
...also on Saturday 2nd... Incident 6/2010 Today at 10:00 Hrs the Team was called out for a continuation of the previous day's search in Horwich, for a missing 58 year old male.
The main objective today was a re-tasking of areas done in failing light conditions yesterday, and also to search new areas.
13 Team members responded to this search, together with 4 members of the GMP TAU. 4 Team vehicles were deployed, together again with the Command, Control & Communications trailer which was set up in Lever Park Ave.
Two search areas on the previous day were re-searched, due to the better light conditions today. A further four new areas were designated of interest to the search investigation and a combination of Bolton MRT members and Bolton MRT / TAU members completed these.
Alas, at the time of ending today's search there is no new news to pass on and Police enquires are continuing with regards to the man's whereabouts.
Friday 1st January Very kind donation from Greater Manchester Police in relation to incident 93/2009 Today the team received a very kind letter of thanks from Chief Superintendant Steven Hartley, Bolton Divisional Commander, in relation to our major involvement in incident 93/2009, at High Rid reservior (when following a search, we sadly recovered the body of a missing dog walker from underneath the water of the ice covered reservoir)
Chief Superintendant Steven Hartley states in his letter, "I would like to pass on my personal thanks and that also of Greater Manchester Police in relation to the missing person search your team conducted on the 21st December 2009."
"The Bolton Mountain Rescue team, in hazardous weather conditions, provided a professional and well organised search of the High Rid area and reservoir. Once again please pass on my appreciation that you and your volunteers do all year round."
Enclosed with this letter is a very kind donation of £100 from Greater Manchester Police.
...also on Friday 1st... Assistance requested for a stuck vehicle So, whilst searching for a missing male & assisting the Ambulance service with the medevac of an injured walker. We also had a request to help a vehicle stuck on ice, which was carrying 2 care workers who had just finished visiting an elderly lady.
So we sent 4 team members and a Team vehicle to help. On arrival at the scene we found a small hatchback was well and truly stuck on an incline and was unable to move. With a bit of brute force - ie person power - we managed to push the car uphill!! and onto better grip, the car was then turned round and pointing downhill to their exit.
The three occupants expressed their gratitude for the help and we passed them the Deputy Team Leaders phone number in case they got stuck again!!
...also on Friday 1st... Incident 5/2010 Whilst out on Incident 4/2010, NWAS (Manchester) paged the Team for assistance with a young person who had fallen on the slopes of Rivington Pike.
4 Team members (who had just completed a search area) were immediately dispatched from the search control RVP at Lever Park Avenue in Horwich to the incident site in a team vehicle. On arrival at the casualty site, they found a casualty with a lower leg injury. A splint was applied and pain killing gas was offered to the casualty.
The casualty was then packaged onto a Troll Alphin MR stretcher and carried to the Team's nearby vehicle. The casualty was then transported to the NWAS ambulance further down George's Lane (which was unable to drive close to the Pike due to the snow conditions), which then took the casualty to hospital.
The Team members involved in this incident then carried on with the search for the missing male, happy that the search controllers gave them a search area near to the incident site so that they didn't have to travel too far!
...also on Friday 1st... Incident 4/2010 At 11.56 this morning, Greater Manchester Police paged the Team requesting our assistance with a developing search in the Horwich area, for a missing 58 year old male.
The call was answered by Deputy Team Leader Geoff Seddon, and ongoing discussion between GMP & Geoff resulted in the Team being called out at 13.25 Hrs, for a search in the Horwich area. Specifically the team covered the areas known localy as Tigers Clough, also Wilderswood, and the banking of Lower Rivington Reservoir. Just as the first searchers were dispatched a cheeky voice was heard to say '..look it's snowing...' and yup, Sam was correct - the white stuff had started to fall again.
Search control.......
Search control was set-up in the bus turn round area on Lever Park Avenue, which was quite handy really as Deputy Team Leader Geoff's house was only a few metres away. Thanks must be made to the Seddon family for the numerous interuptions during the day as we brewed up and availed ourselves of the facilities.
The search was slightly interupted by NWAS requesting the Team for an incident in the vicinity of Rivington Pike, to which we dispatched 4 Team members and a team vehicle (see incident 5/2010 for details).
At the conclusion of the day's search nothing had been found and Police enquiries are continuing.
...Ged Clarke attempting to break ice on Lower Rivington Reservoir...
... Steve Fletcher, Ged's bankside safety man.
Attending this incident were the following resources:
16x Bolton MRT members,
consisting of one canoe search team.
4 Team vehicles
Control, Command & Communications Trailer
G.M.P. Search manager
G.M.P. Tatical Aid Unit
...also on Friday 1st... Incident 3/2010 As part of NWAS (GMA) pre arranged plan to cope with peak demand calls on this festive season early morning, the Team continued to directly assist NWAS (GMA) with ambulance calls throughout the early hours after already being on standby before midnight.
8 Team members mobilised to crew two team Landrover ambulances and our Base/HQ at Ladybridge Hall, with the vehicles placed at the disposal of NWAS (GMA) from 21:00 onwards.
Three jobs were tasked after midnight on this relatively quiet morning from 01:28 through to 04:33, all three being code Amber calls.
Our first call (at 01:28) involved the use of both team vehicles and six personnel, as we went to the assistance of a male who had fallen down a ditch and and badly fractured his leg. Due to some uncertainty over how he had come to be in the ditch, the male was treated for possible spinal injuries as well as the fractured leg.
The six team members were able to safely raise the man from the ditch on a long board, and he was then taken to Royal Bolton Hospital in one of the team's vehicles.
The second call, passed to the team by NWAS at 04:05, was to attend a pregnant woman whose waters had broken, in Great Lever, Bolton.
Somewhat fortunately for the team members responding, Mother Nature had finished the job just before our arrival, and a baby girl was born at 04:17 - our vehicle arrived at 04:21. We checked out mum and baby and awaited the arrival of far more experienced hands by way of the two midwives who came from Royal Bolton Hospital's maternity unit.
Both mum and baby were taken to the maternity unit in the team's Landrover ambulance, accompanied by a midwife.
The third and final job of the evening was passed to us by NWAS at 04:33 and involved a male (also in Great Lever) who had fallen, sustaining a head injury. He was also transported by team Landrover to Royal Bolton hospital for further treatment.
Grateful thanks were passed onto the team by the staff at NWAS Control for the assistance that was offered by the team on this traditonally very busy night.
Diary - December 2009
Thursday 31st December Collection Box Income for 2009 As 2009 has come to a close, we can reveal the total income for the year from our collection boxes out in the community was £3,774.42. Although this is some £1,445 less than in 2008, we are, nevertheless, very grateful to the generous customers and members of the public who have dropped their hard-earned coins into over 150 of our distinctive boxes during a time when we have all felt the effects of the global economic situation. We are also indebted to the many businesses, shops, public houses, leisure centres, garages, restaurants and cafes, which kindly find space to display our boxes in support of the work we do, as well as to the loyal individual supporters who fill boxes at home.
Our collection box co-ordinator, Gillian Gregory, is always on the lookout for more places to host boxes for us, so if you haven't made your New Year's Resolution yet, how about undertaking to support Bolton Mountain Rescue Team by contacting box@boltonmrt.org.uk to ask for a collection box to be delivered. Your reward will be a regular visit from one of our grateful and friendly Team or Support Group members to check/empty the box.
...also on Thursday 31st... Incident 103/2009 As part of NWAS (GMA) pre arranged plan to cope with peak demand calls on this festive season night, the Team was mobilised to directly assist NWAS (GMA) with ambulance calls throughout the evening.
8 Team members mobilised to crew two team Landrover ambulances and our Base/HQ at Ladybridge Hall, with the vehicles placed at the disposal of NWAS (GMA) from 21:00 onwards.
The first (and only job before midnight) was tasked relatively late into the evening at 22:58 (Our Incident 103/2009, a code Amber call).
The vehicles remained on standby for NWAS (GMA) through to the early hours of New Year's Day.
Tuesday 29th December Team receives some media attention This afternoon 7 Team members were 'filmed' for the local ITV news, Granada Reports. The reason for this was due to the amount of work for the North West Ambulance Service, the regions Mountain Rescue Teams had done in the recent wintry weather conditions.
Oldham, Rossendale & Pendle, Glossop and ourselves were all involved in quite a few man hours helping NWAS (Manchester) during the recent wintry weather. The best story out of this assistance was the birth of a baby in the back of Glossop's Land Rover ambulance.
Bowland Pennine, Rossendale & Pendle and ourselves, to a smaller extent, also assisted NWAS (Lancashire). Let's not forget as well the assistance given by the Lake District MRTs to NWAS (Cumbria).
All teams were activated over the Christmas break and some, including ourselves, on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day & Boxing Day.
The Bolton MRT also featured in the Manchester Evening News with a story about how we rescued a woman with an arm injury in her street. The casualty's son took photographs which also appeared in the report, which showed her being placed inside a heavy weight casualty bag - a warm, fleecy sleeping bag - and placed onto the Bell MR stretcher and then being sledged across the icy street to the waiting ambulance.
We're pleased to report the lady's injury was treated successfully at hospital and she was allowed home soon after.
It was quite an eventful Christmas for the Greater Manchester based MRTs and we can inform the public who may have seen us dressed in full winter kit including crampons, you hadn't seen anything alien after your Christmas drinks.
Saturday 26th December Incident 102/2009 (consisting of 9 seperate Incidents) Well we did'nt get to catch up much on our sleep !
NWAS (Manchester) called us out again by pager at 08.48hrs, and this led on to a continuous string of 9x Call Outs, interspersed with some additional calls when we were stood down almost immediately.
The last call of the day came in at 17.04hrs completeing 42 minutes later.
Every call was as a direct result of the continuing treacherously icy road conditions in our part of Greater Manchester, with us assisting NWAS (Manchester) vehicles and one St John Ambulance Brigade vehicle in incidents ranging from Wigan, Hindley, Tyldesley, the same location as Incident 97, 12 of 16 of Tuesday 22nd December 2009, Blackrod, Swinton and Withington, (Manchester)
In many cases our members again resorted to wearing crampons, the only safe way to move, with the thaw having little effect on the compressed snow and ice conditions prevailing.
We recovered NWAS (Manchester) Emergency Ambulances and Rapid Response vehicles, stretcher evacuated two casualties, sledged them on ice actually, using our Bell Mountain Rescue Stretchers from ice bound housing estates to awaiting NWAS Ambulances, then recovered the ice bound Ambulances ! and transported one casualty directly to hospital.
In total 21x team members were involved at some stage or other throughout the days 9x incidents, which also involved our four team Land Rover Mountain Rescue Ambulance Vehicles, and our Team Leader and Deputy Leader responding directly in their appropriately equipped vehicles.
We were able to cope and respond throughtout the day due in a large part to the excellent co operation between the Control Room staff at NWAS (Manchester) Belle Vue Emergency Ambulance Control, and our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE, our Deputy Leader Geoff Seddon, and Call Out list contact Mike Marsh.
Never before have the ice axes / ice hammers, snow shovels, metal shovels, and brushes carried routinely on our Team Land Rover Mountain Rescue Ambulances, combined with our powerful vehicle mounted winches, seen so much use in winter.
As for our team members equipped with crampons in totally urban situations, well you had to be there.
Since Christmas Eve, Thursday 24th December 2009, we have attended 14x seperate incidents, all for NWAS (Manchester), all due to the wintry conditions prevailing.
...also on Saturday 26th... Incident 101/2009 At 04.02hrs in the early hours of the morning off went the pagers again ! and again it involved an emergency ambulance from NWAS (Manchester) stuck on ice responding to an emergency.
The location was a housing estate in the Marsh Green area of Wigan, and in a 2hrs 18 minutes operation, using our Land Rover Mountain Rescue Ambulance vehicle mounted winch, and with all members attending wearing crampons, on a housing estate in Wigan ! to cope with the two inch layer of ice across the entire road network of the estate we managed to extricate the Emergency Ambulance.
Twelve team members responded to this emergency call out.
We were then almost immediately despatched to a second incident of the same nature in the Pemberton area of Wigan.
This time we extricated the stuck Ambulance a little quicker, again with our members equipped with crampons, bags of road salt / grit, and snow shovels combined with much pushing and shoving. The eight team members involved finally got to bed at about 07.30hrs.
Friday 25th December Incident 100/2009 Well in the past we have organised a call out (search) on Christmas Day (for Boxing Day) and we've been put on stand by on Christmas Day, see details for last year, but never in the teams history have we actually been called out on Christmas Day until this evening that is !
With continuing wintry road conditions and treacherous iced up roads across a great part of Greater Manchester, at 22.44hrs this evening we were called out to the Kitt Green area of Wigan, where an Ambulance responding to an emergency call was stuck on an icy road. (NWAS Manchester)
One Team vehicle responded along with directly responding team members.
We were stood down responding when the ambulance crew and vehicle managed to self recover. Eight team members responded to this call out.
Thursday 24th December Incident 99/2009 We were paged at 12.33hrs by NWAS (Manchester) Control to assist an Ambulance stuck on a snowbound / ice bound road with a casualty, in the Little Lever area of Bolton.
Our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE responded directly in his car, backed up by our BM1 and BM3 Land Rover Mountain Rescue Ambulance vehicles. Thanks to team member Craig Lamb for co-ordinating this response.
Arriving on scene on the housing estate, with very icy roads, Garry in advance of BM1 and BM3 arriving, met the crew of the Ambulance vehicle which was stuck on ice, with a female casualty suffering abdominal pains shortly after giving birth aweek ago.
Thankfully with the use of Garrys snow shovel the Ambulance was able to get off the ice and on its way to hospital, just as BM1 arrived with two crew members aboard.
Our BM3 vehicle was stood down on route with a solo crew member as was one other team member. This incident was concluded at 13.25hrs.
...also on Thursday 24th... Incident 98/2009 The Team Leader of Rossendale and Pendle MRT contacted our Deputy Team Leader Geoff Seddon directly requesting the Bolton MRT assist with an incident in RPMRTs area, as RPMRT were deployed elsewhere.
The incident was yet again to assist NWAS (Manchester) with accessing / evacuating a casualty from a home address, due to the snowy / icy conditions underfoot and snowbound / ice bound road surfaces.
Our Deputy Leader Geoff Seddon responded directly in his Land Rover Freelander, backed up by team member Steve Nelson in his Range Rover.
Geoff was on scene in the Ramsbottom area at 12.55hrs, and together with Steve and the St John Ambulance Brigade vehicle crew who were attending the incident on behalf of NWAS (Manchester), managed to get the 73 year old male casualty to the SJAB vehicle some 80 yards away, by using an ambulance patient chair, and carefully wheeling it / carrying it along the snowy / icy road.
The casualty had suffered a fractured left arm, and was taken to hospital by the SJAB vehicle.
...also on Thursday 24th... Chi enjoys the snow With many team members out assisting NWAS on a few incidents on Christmas eve, former team search dog Chi shows us that he still enjoys playing in the snow!
Wednesday 23rd December Retirement from the team of callout list member Andrew Ryding Very experienced and well respected team member Andrew (Andy) Ryding announced his retirement with immediate effect from the team this evening.
Andy, aged 44 of Chorley, joined the team in October 1999, but was associated with the team for a long time before this in this capacity as a ranger with Lancashire County Council and United Utilities.
Andy has decided to retire from the team for a short term to concentrate on his business as a co-director of a APS Countryside Services Ltd. Andy's loss to the team will be deeply felt given his experience level and particularly his expert local knowledge of our moorland area.
Andy is a well respected, very dedicated and highly committed member of the team and for over two and a half years has been the team's Training Officer, which in itself is a very demanding role.
The whole team membership wishes that Andy will return soon to the ranks of the rescue team, and we also wish him well with his business both now and in the future.
...also on Wednesday 23rd... Very generous legacy left to the team by the late Mrs Kathleen Fish. Today in connection with the administration of the estate of the late Mrs Kathleen Fish, who died on the 12th September 2008, Winder Taylor Fallows (Solicitors) have informed the team that under the terms of Mrs Fish’s will she has left an extremely generous legacy of £5,000.00 to the Bolton Mountain Rescue Team.
Many matters concerning the resolution of this very thoughtful legacy are still being determined, and in this respect today we have received an interim payment of £2,501.99 in respect of the total legacy made to us, for “General charitable purposes”.
We will report more on this very generous donation when we ourselves discover a little more about the late Mrs Kathleen Fish.
...also on Wednesday 23rd... Another donation in the memory of the late Roger Thurstan Kay. Today we are pleased to announce the receipt of another very kind donation to the memory of the late Roger Thurstan Kay, who passed away in October this year aged 78 years.
This donation of £5.00 now brings to a total of £275.00 the amount of very thoughtful donations made in the memory of Mr Kay.
Please also see ‘news’ item dated Wednesday 9th December 2009
Tuesday 22nd December Busiest time ever for Bolton Mountain Rescue Team Since Friday night, 18th December, up to the end of this evening Tuesday 22nd December, within a continuous 5 day period, the team had attended 30 seperate incidents of all kinds for NWAS (Manchester), and taken part in two major search operations alongside Greater Manchester Police officers.
The team would like to extend its thanks to all in NWAS (Manchester), both the control room staff and road crews for the excellent cooperation, liaison, and friendships forged and strengthened throughout this period.
The same sentiments are expressed to all those officers in Greater Manchester Police including the Force Duty Managers, members of the GMP Search Unit, GMP Air Support Unit, GMP Missing Persons Search Managers, and GMP divisional staff, who we have worked in close harmony with on the search operations in Trafford and Bolton recently.
A great deal of our incidents have taken place throughout the working day for many of our members, on Monday 21st & Tuesday 22nd December.
We would like to extend our thanks to the many employers of our team members who have kindly granted leave (quite often paid leave) so that our team members may attend the many incidents over this very busy period.
It is easy to forget as well the impact such a busy period has had on our members' families, who in the absence of such members have had to cope with all the festive preparations in the run up to Christmas.
...also on Tuesday 22nd... Kind donation from Bolton HF Walking Group We are very pleased to announce today the receipt of a very generous £135 donation from our friends and keen team supporters in Bolton HF Walking Group.
Enclosed with the donation was a complients card from the Bolton HF Walking Group's Treasurer, Mrs. Wallwork, wishing the team a merry Christmas and explaining that this very thoughtful donation was collected on their annual Xmas walk.
The team extends its Christmas wishes to all the walkers in the Bolton HF Walking Group.
...also on Tuesday 22nd... Special administrative thanks again Special thanks again tonight to team member Mike Marsh who came straight from work to handle all the incident reporting arising from today's incidents
(Mike likes to be out operationally, but he kindly stepped in to allow our Team Leader and the usual admin team a break from paperwork and a look at the sharp end!)
...also on Tuesday 22nd... Incident 97 (10 of 16) of 2009 The individual details of all 16 separate incidents attended today can be found under the ‘Incidents Section’ of our website by opening up the information for 2009.
This information gives a brief outline of the events of today, with usually a more detailed account being found here in the ‘news’ pages section.
However given the number of incidents attended today only brief details have been recorded, but we felt a more detailed account of the tenth incident of today should be mentioned, given that it was more in line with our ‘usual’ operational work.
At circa 15.55hrs our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE was contacted directly by NWAS (Manchester) Control to mobilise the team to a snow sledging accident in the Bradshaw area of north Bolton. Our BM3 and BM4 Land Rover Mountain Rescue Ambulance vehicles were able to make an immediate response from our Ladybridge Hall Base / HQ, quickly backed up by our BM2 vehicle, with eight team members in total attending. BM3 and BM4 vehicles arrived at the RVP at the end of New Heys Way / Catterall Crescent in the Bradshaw area at 16.13hrs, having negotiated very snowy and icy road conditions en route, with our BM2 vehicle arriving at 16.20hrs.
Two local young children expertly guided us to the accident site on the hillside overlooking the housing estate, informing us (in a very knowledgeable and informative way) that the responding NWAS Emergency Ambulance crew had already placed the 16 year old girl injured in the sledging accident, onto a long board and covered her in blankets and required one of our specialist mountain rescue stretchers to evacuate her on from the hillside slope to the waiting NWAS (Manchester) Emergency Ambulance.
At the incident scene, with darkness rapidly approaching and temperatures beginning to plummet, our team members met up with the ambulance crew, who had placed the injured girl on a long board due to suspected back injuries, with Entonox also administered. Jointly working with the two Ambulance crew members, the girl was very carefully lifted onto our stretcher, and part carried / part sledged down the hillside.
Throughout the rescue the two companions of the injured girl, other friends and the injured girls mother all kindly helped us with this rescue operation, with snow and ice underfoot meaning the stretcher evacuation had to be carried out very carefully and slowly, particularly given the girls suspected lower back injury. By 16.53hrs the injured girl (who lives in Bradshaw) was safely on the way to Royal Bolton Hospital in the NWAS (Manchester) Emergency Ambulance.
At the conclusion of this incident, our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE, personally thanked all the children and adults who had helped us on this incident and then went immediately onto the next emergency call in Tyldesley !
...also on Tuesday 22nd... Incident 97/2009 Due to the overnight and morning snowfall in the area, team members and team vehicles were again called out to assist NWAS (Manchester) with various incidents arising from the wintry weather conditions. Our first incident commenced at 09:40 and with the last incident finishing just before midnight. The team dealt with 16 seperate incidents including assisting NWAS emergency vehicles stuck in the snow and ice, transporting a District Nurse between two moorland villages, a sledging accident in the Bradshaw area, and directly assisting the ambulance service with casualty transfers to hospital including patients with fractures and medical conditions.
In total 19 team members in four team vehicles and three team member's vehicles were involved in these incidents.
During the day, hard worked team members (also remember that they have been out on the previous days incidents) have worked tirelessly in support of our colleagues in NWAS (Manchester) who have been obviously very busy during this winter weather period.
Team members have taken advantage of food breaks whenever they can which included 5 team members turning up at our Team Leader's house after dealing with incident 97xii/2009, where they were treated to a meal of pea & ham soup by our Team Leader's partner (and former team member) Ann Thompson - the pea and ham soup received a 10/10 gourmet chef's reccomendation from the team members who sampled it!
Our base at Ladybridge Hall was finally closed down at 01:00 in the early morning of Wednesday 23rd December.
Monday 21st December Special thanks to the admin staff Our website carries many reports of our operational incidents, but little is mentioned of the huge administrative effort that has to go into reporting our incidents for our national MR records, the team's own internal records, and for our website (we also cross-reference our incident report logs with those of the statutory emergency services).
An example of this effort is that this evening between approximately 17:00 and 23:00 our Team Leader, Garry Rhodes, and very experienced team members Steve Fletcher and Mike Marsh spent the full evening at our Ladybridge Hall base writing up incident reports following the activities of today and yesterday.
...also on Monday 21st... Donation from a member of the public At around 16:30 this afternoon, as team vehicles had returned to our Ladybridge Hall Base/HQ following the numerous incidents during the day, we were approached by a member of the public whose car was stuck on ice at the bottom of Ladybridge Lane, which is the road adjacent to our base.
The gentleman was visiting Bolton from Wales and had unfortunately taken a wrong turn down the lane and had become stuck fast in a rut by the side of the road.
Team members took down our BM1 Landrover and pulled the car out of the rut, and such was the condition of the road it was nessecary to tow the car back to the top of the hill.
As a kind gesture of thanks, the gentleman made an on-the-spot £10 donation to the team. We wish him a safe (and slightly less eventful) journey back home!
...also on Monday 21st... Incident 96/2009 At 13:32 our Team Leader was requested by NWAS (Manchester) Control to assist with the recovery of an NWAS Rapid Response Vehicle which was stuck in snowy and icy road conditions in the Breightmet area of Bolton.
Three team members in our BM1 vehicle responded and along with the RRV crew member managed to get the RRV back on the road.
...also on Monday 21st... Incident 95/2009 As with the previous call, NWAS (Manchester) again contacted our Team Leader, this time at 12:40, to request the team attend a nearby residential address in the Horwich area, where a woman was suffering a serious asthma attack.
Three team members were despatched in our BM2 vehicle, an after arriving on scene, commenced immediate treatment of the woman's serious asthma attack.
Due to icy underfoot conditions a further Bolton MRT vehicle (BM3) was despatched from the search (incident 93/2009) with two team members on board to assist the crew of BM2 in carrying the lady into their vehicle. She was then transferred to Royal Bolton Hospital in our BM2 vehicle.
...also on Monday 21st... Incident 94/2009 With team members present on incident 93/2009, and with NWAS (Manchester) aware that the team was operational, at 11:50 our Team Leader was contacted directly to see if the team could assist at an incident on a housing estate in the Horwich area of Bolton, with the report of a 68 year old female suffering from an ankle injury.
Two team members in our BM1 vehicle were despatched to this incident and transported the injured woman to Royal Bolton Hospital.
...also on Monday 21st... Anonymous Team Leader bogs down Team Landrover During incident 93/2009, whilst transporting team members to their search area, a certain team leader who shall remain anonymous, but was honoured by Her Majesty with an MBE, managed to slide one of our Landrovers off the side of the track and bog it down in soft ground.
An appeal by this team leader for all team members (and some passing members of the public) not to take photographs of his predicament was of course totally ignored.
Garry's offroad driving skills strike again!
Team member Fred Taylor had to show Mr. Anonymous Team Leader how to drive a Landrover out of a roadside ditch (youngest team member Matthew Hailwood was heard to comment "why doesn't he just stick to his Renault Laguna?").
...also on Monday 21st... Incident 93/2009 At circa 09:40 this morning, our Team Leader Garry Rhodes was directly contacted by a GMP Missing Person Search Manager regards a search operation commencing in the High Rid reservoir area of Bolton.
Just after 06:30 this morning, a concerned member of the public contacted police regarding a dog alongside a vehicle, with no owner in sight. Initial police investigations led to growing concern that the dog owner may have had an accident in the local area and a search effort was instigated.
Access to the vehicle's location near to the main entrance of High Rid reservior was difficult due to lying snow and ice and very poor road conditions. With continuing low temperatures, and indications that the vehicle had been in this location overnight there was mounting urgency to locate the missing person, belived to be the male owner of the parked vehicle.
Two United Utilities workers conducted an immediate search of the reservior margins, alongside divisional police resources. A full team callout was initiated at 10:08 resulting in 14 team members being available. As team members arrived at the High Rid reservior location, they were immediately despatched to search adjoining land areas, paying particular attention to dog tracks and human footprints in the snow.
At 11:20 the Greater Manchester Police Air Support Unit helicopter commenced an intensive search of the High Rid reservior area, surrounding fields and woodlands. The helicopter at one stage landed next to the search control to liaise directly with the Police and MRT search managers.
Just after midday, a search of the reservoir water surface was commenced by Bolton MRT Deputy Team Leader Geoff Seddon, who is a canoe/kayak/water activities instructor at High Rid Reservoir. The immediate margins of the reservoir had already been searched by United Utilities staff, Police officers and Bolton MRT members. Sadly at circa 12:35 DTL Geoff Seddon located the body of the missing man drowned underneath ice on the margin of the reservoir banking.
Immediate and subsequent police investigations at the scene led to the conclusion that the man had unfortunately been the victim of a tragic accident, possibly somehow involving his dog. The man's body was recovered to the side of the reservoir by suitably equipped and experienced team members, using a small inflatable boat. Team members then remained on scene to assist with the further recovery of the body to dry land and to await the arrival of the police Doctor and Undertakers.
The team's condolences are expressed to the parents of this missing man who suffered such a tragic accident, and to his colleagues and friends.
During this search operation, the team was called out to three seperate incidents on behalf of the NWAS (Manchester), see news articles for incidents 94-96/2009.
Special thanks to former callout list team member and team supporter Dianne Blakeley who kindly assisted on this search, alongside our President Bob Hutchinson, also a former callout list member, who came out of his retirement to help us.
...also on Monday 21st... NWAS (Manchester) wintry weather assistance At 09:00 this morning our Team Leader was contacted directly by NWAS Greater Manchester Ambulance Control regarding the team's availability should the need arise, due to the continuing wintry weather conditions, with local road conditions still very bad.
A small number of team members were declared immediately available but remained on home standby.
Sunday 20th December Incident 92/2009 At the conclusion of today's ambulance assists, as the last team members were heading home having completed vehicle replenishment, base tidy up and paperwork relating to the incidents, the inevitable happened (a late night search callout).
This commenced at 21:58 when the Greater Manchester Police Force Duty Manager directly contacted our Team Leader for the team's assistance with the developing search for a missing 91 year old, centred on Trafford General Hospital.
With below freezing temperatures, and snow and ice conditions underfoot, there was grave concern for the safety of this missing person.
!
The GMP Air Support Unit helicopter joined in the initial Police search efforts, soon after the man was reported missing in the early evening.
With no clues as to his whereabouts, the team was called to work alongside Police officers to search for this missing gentleman.
In total, 23 Bolton team members responded alongside GMP Search Unit officers and Divisional officers. The search centred on the area between Trafford General Hospital, through Flixton and the Woodlands area out to Partington.
Team members were involved in a search of the hospital grounds and immediate surrounds with other team members in team vehicles joining Police patrols in searches of the surrounding housing estates (with very poor wintry road conditions prevalent). Team members and Police were also involved in searches centered around two home addresses relevant to this missing person.
Neighbours and family members were also involved in the search effort.
With concern mounting for this man's welfare, at 00:49 came the good news that he had been located in the Stretford area of Manchester in a confused state, cold, but otherwise unharmed.
Team members finally got into their beds at around 02:00 in the morning.
Very special thanks to Gill Parry, wife of callout list member Mark Parry, who as an experienced walker, came out with her husband to assist us on this urgent search tonight.
...also on Sunday 20th... Incident 91/2009 At circa 12:05 today the Team Leader was contacted directly by NWAS (Manchester) Control for the team's assistance to an emergency ambulance stuck on icy track conditions in the Glazebury area of Wigan (the ambulance had a casualty on board).
Our BM2 and BM4 vehicles were despatched to this incident with 7 team members in total on board. During their transit time the emergency ambulance was able to safely get off the ice, and our vehicles were stood down.
At approximately 13:25, our BM1 vehicle stood by at a local incident near to our base to ensure the emergency ambulance attending could get back onto the main road from the side road casualty address (the side road was covered in compacted snow).
Our third incident was to attend an emergency ambulance vehicle, stuck in snow, in the Great Lever area. 4 team team members in two team vehicles attended, but were stood down en-route as a passing breakdown vehicle had managed to tow the emergency ambulance off the snowbound road.
At 14:22, two team vehicles were initially despatched (rising to three vehicles) to a residential address on the Hall-i-th-Wood estate, with the report of an emergency ambulance RRV unable to drive close to the address due to compacted snow conditions on the estate. The response paramedic was transported in a team vehicle to the address, where the casualty, suffering from a chest condition was transported to Royal Bolton Hospital in our BM2 vehicle, with the ambulance paramedic on board. 8 team members were involved in this incident.
At 14:46, our BM1 vehicle, with 5 team members was despatched to help an emergeny ambulance RRV which was stuck in the snow in the Daubhill area of Bolton.
Working with the assistance of a very nice man from the RAC, we towed the vehicle back to the top of the street using our Landrover.
At 16:43 our our BM2 and BM5 vehicles were despatched to the Sharples area following a report of an ambulance stuck in snow with a patient on board. Utilising the winching capabilities of our BM2 vehicle, the ambulance was recovered back onto flat ground, and was then able to proceed to Royal Bolton Hospital with their patient on board.
At 17:24, our BM2 and BM5 vehicles were despatched to assist an emergency ambulance RRV at a residential address in the Bradshaw area, with the report of a woman experiencing chest pains. Due to the snow and ice conditions the RRV couldn't get to the top of the housing estate (although the Paramedic had walked to the address), our team members assisted the Paramedic with helping the woman, who was transferred to Royal Bolton Hospital in our BM2 vehicle with the NWAS Paramedic on board.
...also on Sunday 20th... Team Leader gets appropriate Christmas present off team member Alan James At this year's team dinner, our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE was presented with a large scale radio controlled model of a Hummer vehicle in the colours of the General Motors Hummer, loaned to the team last year (as he didn't get a chance to drive it himself).
Carrying on with the theme of our Team Leader being presented with appropriate presents, Team Life Vice-President and founder team member Alan James tonight gave Garry an early Christmas present in the form of an RAF Helicopter winchman all-action figure.
So in his MR playtime, our Team Leader can now drive to the incident in his radio controlled MR Hummer, and then winch the casualty with his all-action figure including its scale replica stretcher (funny what some people get for Christmas).
...also on Sunday 20th... Assistance to the ambulance service in wintry weather Throughout this previous week, NWAS (Greater Manchester) control has been in constant liaison directly with our Team Leader and the Team Leaders of our colleagues at Odlham MRT and Rossendale & Pendle MRT with reference to constant updates over the wintry weather and contingency planning involving the use of Mountain Rescue Teams should the weather conditions require it.
This morning, given the overnight snow overlying icy road conditions, our Team Leader was contacted at 08:00 to discuss the team's availability throughout the day. With constant morning snow showers and no thaw, it was decided to place the team on full standby at our Ladybridge Hall base.
In total (as at 12:45) 17 team members responded to this standby request.
NWAS (Manchester) ambulance control stood the team down at 21:30, although in view of the weather we remained on home standby. In total 20 members ultimately supported today's assistance calls to the ambulance service. Our colleagues in Rossendale & Pendle MRT and Oldham MRT were similarly involved in assisting the ambulance service today (with RPMRT also involved in Lancashire as well).
...also on Sunday 20th... Incident 90/2009 Just as the three team members had finished at the previous incident, we were again contacted by NWAS (Manchester) control at 00:54 to assist at an incident in the Dunscar area of Bolton, around 4 miles away from our current location.
Again a frozen, steep road meant that the NWAS ambulance crews were unable to get their vehicles near to the casualty, who was lying in the middle of the road with a serious head injury sustained after slipping on the ice.
Again the three team members and one team vehicle assisted the two NWAS crews present in the same way as before; by carefully taking the NWAS ambulance stretcher down to the casualty and then pushing the casualty, on the stretcher, back uphill to the ambulances.
The team's involvement in this incident was concluded at 01:32; and the three team members returned to their home addresses, fully expecting more calls to follow on Sunday morning!
Saturday 19th December Incident 89/2009 Late this evening at 23:48, the team was contacted by NWAS (Manchester) Paramedic Emergency Control, who were requesting our assistance at an incident in the Halliwell area of Bolton.
Due to the wintry weather and freezing temperatures, many of the less commonly used roads were fully frozen over. These conditions had presented some difficulty to a crew attending a gentleman with a suspected fractured neck of femur. The crew were unable to get their ambulance to the outside of the address (for fear of loosing traction on the sheet ice on the steep road) and instead had to park their ambulance at the top of the road.
Three Bolton MRT members and one team vehicle responded to this incident and assisted the ambulance crew by bringing the stretcher from the NWAS ambulance, loading the casualty onto the stretcher in his home, and then carefully bringing the stretcher back up the steep, icy street and into the NWAS ambulance.
The team then contacted NWAS control to declare that the our involvement in this incident was now completed, however we were then immediately requested to assist at another, similar incident also in Bolton. (see report 90/2009)
Friday 18th December Donation in lieu of Christmas cards We are pleased to report the receipt of another very kind £20.00 donation to the team, this time from Team Callout list member Elaine Gilliland, in lieu of sending out Christmas Cards to Team members.
Along with her kind donation, she extended her Christmas best wishes to all the team membership along with happy New Year greetings.
...also on Friday 18th... Kind Christmas donation from Mrs Roma Clough On the 18th January 2009, the Team went to the aid of Mrs Roma Clough, who had sustained a serious leg injury after falling in a local field.
Since this time Roma of Heaton, Bolton, has been involved in some very kind fundraising for the Team, often with help from her friends and family.
We are pleased to have received today a Christmas card from Roma & her husband, along with a £25 very kind Christmas donation.
Roma kindlky mentions on her Christmas card, "..this is a Christmas gift for your funds from a very grateful lady..."
The whole Team wishes Roma and her husband best wishes for Christmas and a Happy New Year.
See also news items on 18th January, 14th February, 1st July & 8th July, all in 2009.
...also on Friday 18th... Incident 88/2009 This evening just after 17:00 our Team Leader Garry Rhodes was contacted directly by NWAS (Manchester) Control, regarding the team's assistance with an anticipated heavy evening workload.
Discussions also took place regarding contingency plans for the weekend's expected wintry weather.
15 team members responded to our Ladybridge Hall base, remaining on standby throughout the evening, crewing all four of our Landrover Mountain Rescue ambulances.
At 20:28 one of our vehicles responded to a woman with a leg injury, with a further call at 22:20 to a woman suffering from diabetes.
The team was stood down at circa midnight.
...also on Friday 18th... Kind donation from our friends Derek & Lisa Thomas We are pleased to announce today the receipt of a £15 donation from our very supportive friends Derek & Lisa Thomas, following their receipt of a MR EW Goodyear sponsored calendar.
The whole Team wishes Derek & Lisa best wishes for Christmas & a happy New Year and thanks them for their continuing support.
Thursday 17th December Donation in lieu of Christmas cards We are pleased to report the receipt of a £20.00 donation to the team from our President Bob Hutchinson and his wife Janet, in lieu of sending out Christmas Cards to Team members.
Along with their kind donation, Bob and Janet extend their Christmas best wishes to all the team membership along with happy New Year greetings.
...also on Thursday 17th... Coin Jar thanks to Ronald Hardman. We are pleased to report that Ronald (Ronnie) Hardman of Westhoughton, a friend of the husband of our Secretary Gillian Gregory, has yet again very kindly donated his ‘Coin Jar’ savings to the Bolton MRT
As with all previous donations we are grateful to Ronald for his donation this year of £17.54.
Wednesday 16th December Operation ‘Where’s Santa.’ For the last few years it’s become something of a tradition to hold on the last team training Wednesday evening of the year, a ‘Festive’ themed exercise.
Tonights exercise entitled Operation ‘Where’s Santa,’ saw 28x Call Out list members, our President Bob Hutchinson along with 6x Support Group members, and ex team members Steve Berry, Iain Peel, Ann Thompson and Di James, all gathering at Lower House Car Park, Rivington, at 8pm, to be briefed by Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE on what was in store for the evening.
Everyone present was split into three teams and sent off into the Terraced Gardens at Rivington to locate three caches of Mince Pies secreted away, the position of such indicated by individual foot high models of Santa Claus.
As they searched each location for the elusive Mince Pies, upon finding them the three groups were then faced with different ‘games’ to compete against each other, ie ‘Over Under Balloon Racing,’ ‘Cotton Ball Steal’ and ‘Changing Places.’ Involving buckets, spoons, dishes, hi-viz vests, surgical gloves and lots of cheating apparently
Each team under the ‘expert leadership and guidance’, somewhat questionable, of Mark Parry, Ged Clarke and Geoff Seddon visited all three locations, successfully, no surprises here, munching their way through the mince pies.
Everyone was then directed to ‘Santas Grotto,’ otherwise known as the caves at the top of the ravine waterfalls in the Terraced Gardens.
Here all the boys and girls (sorry current and ex team members) had to patiently queue to await their turn to see Santa, who was there in all his splendour, surrounded by festive lights (ok, chemical lightsticks) with his helper Elaine Gilliland who introduced all the boys and girls to Santa.
Whilst waiting in the queue to see Santa nobody went thirsty as Santa had left bottles of whisky and wine for everyone to enjoy!
Santa had something to say to every boy and girl (sorry team members and ex team members) who all rather surprisingly informed Santa they had been good boys and girls all year. (yeah right ! )
The very surprising thing was that every single team member and ex team member, who at all other times in the teams year, always have something to say, appeared somewhat dumbstruck in front of Santa.
Everyone attending tonight got the Santa treatment, and all got the chance to rummage in Santa’s three present sacs to get their Christmas Gift, again imagine adults with the massive smiles of children as they all eagerly unwrapped their presents.
After all this fun it was a rush back down to the Lower House Car Park RVP, where Santa drew the winning ticket from a raffle held earlier in the evening, with Team Call Out list member Michael O’Brien winning a very large bottle of Whisky. See ‘news’ entry dated Wednesday 10th December 2008, for the background
to how this bottle of whisky was donated to the team by Dave Field.
We are pleased to report that this raffle raised £35.00 for team funds.
Santa then judged the ‘Festive headwear’ competition which most present took part in, and with so many Christmas hats to choose from it was difficult to pick a winner, so Santa had to retire with team members in tow to the Bay Horse Public House at the top of Babylon Lane, Heath Charnock, Adlington, which kindly stayed open for the team, and where Alan James’ hat was judged the winner.
As to the true identity of who was playing Santa Claus (which everyone present asked) well it was the old man himself, you just have to believe !
With thanks for tonights exercise to our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE and Elaine Gilliland who very kindly supplied all the food, drinks and gifts, including the excellent gift wrapping, to Ann Thompson for helping Garry set everything up (well they are a couple) and for the fun, much merriment and considerable entertainment provided by our Team Leaders Brother Andrew Rhodes, who is no relation to Santa Claus, apparently !
Tuesday 15th December Kind donation from Sundog Creative, United Utilities and Mark Salisbury. We are very pleased today to have received a kind joint £25.00 donation from Robin Maryon of Sundog Creative Limited (Creative Graghic Design Services of Formby), United Utilities and Mark Salisbury.
Monday 14th December Incident 86/2009 Late this afternoon at 16:00 our Team Leader Garry Rhodes was contacted by NWAS (Greater Manchester) control regarding the team's assistance to NWAS due to a high call demand being placed on the service.
The team was able to place at the disposal of NWAS, three appropriately crewed vehicles, commencing at 17:45. A further vehicle was also crewed in case of a Mountain Rescue call, given that three vehicles were directly committed to NWAS ambulance operations.
In total 13 team members were available throughout the evening, with three emergency calls handled on behalf of the ambulance service.
The team was stood down by ambulance control at 21:45 with all members getting back home by 22:30.
...also on Monday 14th... Donation in the memory of the late Stephen Moore. Today the team received a very large, kind and thoughtful donation in the memory of the late Stephen Moore.
With this extremely generous donation was a letter explaining that the teams details had been sought from our members present at Darwen Gala on Saturday 22nd August this year. See ‘news’ article dated the same for details of our involvement at Darwen Gala this year
This substantial and generous donation of £5,000.00 has been made via the Co-Trustees of the Estate of the late Stephen Moore, Mrs Maloney and Mrs Taylor of Darwen, Lancashire.
The team is very grateful to the Trustees for making this very thoughtful donation to the team, and all in the team extend our condolences to the family and friends of the late Stephen Moore.
...also on Monday 14th... Very generous donation from the walkers of St Marys, Horwich and the walkers of the U3A of Chorley. Today we received a very kind and thoughtful Christmas donation from our very valued friends at St Marys, Horwich and the walkers of Chorley U3A ‘The University of the Third age.’
The donation of £168.30 was included with a Christmas card wishing all best wishes to the team.
The whole team membership extends its fullest thanks and festive wishes to all at St Marys Horwich, and in Chorley U3A, for this very kind donation and for their continuing very valued and appreciated support of the team.
Please also refer to our website ‘news’ articles dated Sunday 14th December 2008 and Friday 21st December 2007
...also on Monday 14th... Update on calendar sales Our current sales of the Goodyear Tyres sponsored Mountain Rescue England & Wales calendar have now reached 19 sales so far.
We would like to take this opportunity to thank Norma Hibbert, of Bromley Cross, who ordered one of the calendars and in place of the minimum donation of £5, very kindly made a donation of £10 to the team's funds.
Norma also commented on the "lovely pictures" in the calendar.
Order information can be found by referring to the article on this website dated 5th December 2009.
We are also happy to report continuing excellent direct sales of the "Golden Oldie Girls" calendar, starring the ladies of Greenbank Sheltered Housing in Horwich. Team member Elaine Gilliland has personally sold a magnificent 25 copies of this calendar. Details of how to purchase this calendar can be found in this news article.
...also on Monday 14th... Advice requests from Greater Manchester Police Today our Team Leader and Deupty Team Leader were contacted by specialist officers from Greater Manchester Police regarding the possibility of loaning specific items of equipment (i.e. our stretchers) to GMP with regards to the recovery of a body.
In the event, GMP were able to use their own stretcher to evacuate this body.
At the same time as this request, GMP were also in initial contact with our Team Leader regards the possibility of a search for a missing person in the Wigan area (however following discussion the team was not mobilised).
...also on Monday 14th... Donation from long term valued team friends Deborah and John Garlick. We are very pleased to announce today the receipt of a Christmas card and a very kind donation of £25.00 from husband and wife long term team supporters Deborah and John Garlick of Locking Stumps, Warrington.
In January 1996 we were involved in the rescue of Deborah at a very wintry Rivington, when she suffered spinal injuries in an unfortunate snow sledging accident.
Deborah went on to make a full recovery and was even featured alongside the team on Granada TV in 2004, when our Ladybridge Hall Base / HQ was officially opened, thanking the team for her safe recovery.
Since her accident Deborah and her husband John have been very appreciated supporters of the team, making many donations and equipment purchases for us.
The whole team extends its Christmas wishes to Deborah and John.
Thursday 10th December 2 team members a leaping Today callout list members Matthew Hailwood and Mark Scott attended a book
launch at the University of Bolton.
They had been invited because they are
both featured in the book - called "Leap" - by a photographer Ian Beesley
who has a national reputation as a documentary photographer and is a
lecturer in photography at the University.
The theme of the book is people from all walks of life (some famous, some not) pictured mid-leap and when asked Mark and Matthew obliged in full team kit including rucksacks and helmets!
It was made in a collaborative venture between the University and
Bolton Lads and Girls Club. Many celebrities are featured in the book
including the world famous Bolton boxer Amir Khan. Amir is shown in the
picture being interviewed for BBC 1's Northwest Tonight. He and his dad
chatted briefly with Mark about Bolton Mountain Rescue as he signed Mark's
copy of the book on the page featuring Mark leaping.
The book is available from Waterstones and Sweeten's bookshops in Bolton,
priced £9.99, with all profits going to Bolton Lads and Girls Club.
Wednesday 9th December Donation in lieu of Christmas Cards within the team Many thanks to the team's Equipment Officer (Communication & Lighting), Dave Healey, who tonight very kindly donated £20 to the team's funds in lieu of Christmas cards within the team.
...also on Wednesday 9th... Donations in the memory of the late Roger Thurstan Kay. On October 6th 2009, Mr Roger Thurstan Kay of Georges Lane, Horwich, sadly passed away aged 78 years.
His funeral service and committal took place on Wednesday 14th October 2009 at Overdale West Chapel, Bolton.
Today we received seventeen very kind and thoughtful donations in the memory of the late Roger Thurstan Kay, totalling £270.00. Donations in the memory of Mr Kay were also kindly made to the Royal National Institute for the Blind.
The team extends its thoughts and condolences to Mrs Llian Kay wife of Roger, his children Christine and Gillian, and son in laws Peter and Griff, his grandchildren Hannah, Rebecca, Thomas, Beth and Jack, other family members, friends and colleagues.
The team would like to extend its grateful and sincere thanks through the medium of our website, to all those very kind people who made thoughtful donations in the memory of Roger Thurstan Kay, whether their donations were made to the Bolton MRT or to the RNIB.
...also on Wednesday 9th... Mountain Rescue England and Wales Calendar sales news. Further to our website article of Saturday 5th December 2009 (See 'news' section) the team has now received to date 14x orders for the Mountain Rescue 2010 Calendar as sponsored by Goodyear Tyres, and featuring mountain and moorland views of England and Wales.
If you wish to order a copy please view the Saturday 5th December 2009 website article.
...also on Wednesday 9th... Membership recruitment latest. We have now received to date 31x on line membership applications to join the team, all of whom have received an invitation to attend our Thursday evening January 21st 2010 and all day Sunday January 24th 2010 recruitment sessions.
To date 11x persons have confirmed they will attending both the sessions.
Can we please appeal to anyone who has yet to send back their confirmation forms for the January sessions to do so as soon as possible.
In related news the team welcomes back very experienced former team call out list member Mark Parry, who due to changing employment circumstances has now returned to the teams active Call Out list membership.
...also on Wednesday 9th... Further exam successes for team members on our Casualty Care Course Updating our report from 28th October 2009, Team Call Out list members Samantha McKay and Dr Sarah Drake 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 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.
Sunday 6th December Another fantastic donation from 3rd Farnworth Scouts. Earlier this year the 3rd Farnworth Scout Group visited our Ladybridge Hall Base / HQ at the end of which they presented us with a very kind and generous donation of £230.00.
Today we were invited by the 3rd Farnworth Scout Group to attend the School Christmas Fayre at St.Saviours CE Primary School, Fold Road, Stoneclough, Radcliffe, which is where the 3rd Farnworth Scout Group hold their meetings.
Ten team members attended the Christmas Fayre in three Land Rover Mountain Rescue Ambulances, putting on a team search and rescue equipment demonstration in the school yard.
During the Christmas Fayre we were yet again surprised by the kindness of all at 3rd Farnworth Scout Group, when their Assistant Scout Leader Dave Capper presented the team members attending with another generous donation of £100.00.
The 3rd Farnworth Scout Group raised this donation through their Leaders attending the Adult Pike Hike Event on October 3rd 2009, see 'news' item dated the same, as we provided help on this event, with the Scouts obtaining sponsorship for their Leaders.
The whole team is very grateful to all the members of the 3rd Farnworth Scout Group for their very kind and generous continuing support of the Bolton Mountain Rescue Team.
Please also see 'news' item dated Thursday 19th March 2009
Saturday 5th December Mountain Rescue England and Wales 2010 Calendar. Today the team received a supply of 2010 Mountain Rescue England and Wales Calendars, as supplied to every Mountain and Cave Rescue Team in England and Wales as part of a continuing major sponsorship of Mountain Rescue England and Wales by Goodyear tyres.
Goodyear tyres currently sponsor MRTs in England and Wales through the free supply of a full set of 4x4 tyres to each team, alongside discount purchases for further tyres including individual team members vehicles.
In a further development of their kind and appreciated support, Goodyear tyres sponsored a 2010 Calendar, featuring UK mountain and hill views, which has now been printed with every MRT in England and Wales alongside our sister Cave Rescue teams receiving 50x copies each to sell for a minimum donation of £5.00 to raise funds for each individual team.
Our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE has stated that, "This very kind sponsorship is yet another example of how major corporate bodies are now increasingly lending their backing and support to UK Mountain Rescue."
The Bolton News in its Tuesday 1st December 2009 issue, carried a feature on these calendars, which resulted within a couple of hours with three immediate orders being placed with our team. With the receipt today of our calendars these can now be despatched soon
Copies of this calendar can be obtained from the Bolton Mountain Rescue Team by placing orders on line via secretary@boltonmrt.org.uk We will despatch orders by post the following day or soonest thereafter.
Alternatively, orders can be placed by writing to Mrs G. Gregory, Honorary Secretary, Bolton Mountain Rescue Team, 7 Montcliffe Cottages, Georges Lane, Horwich, Bolton . BL6 6RS
With all orders please detail a delivery address and telephone contact, your calendar will be sent out with a request for you to return a minimum £5.00 donation for the Bolton MRT. Cheques should be made payable to Bolton Mountain Rescue Team.
As a special festive bonus and to thank you for your support of the Bolton MRT all persons placing an order will also receive free of charge a Bolton Mountain Rescue Team Supporters Car badge.
If mountains and hills are not your 'cup of tea' regards calendars, then do not forget 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.
Copies of the fast selling out 'Greenbank Golden Oldies Girls' Calendars can be obtained directly from Barbara and Gerrald Howell, 4 Greenbank, Chorley New Road, Horwich, Bolton, BL6 6LA, telephone 01204 697401 at £6.00 a Calendar.
See also website 'news' article dated Wednesday 7th October 2009 and Sunday 15th November 2009.
...also on Saturday 5th... Mountain Rescue England and Wales, Team Leaders Day. Commencing in 1998, every year Mountain Rescue England and Wales has held a one day Team Leaders Seminar in early December, for MRT Team Leaders, Deputy and Assistant Leaders, Incident Controllers and Training Officers.
The venue this year was the Catterick Garrison headquarters of the Swaledale Mountain Rescue Team in North Yorkshire. Swaledale MRT incidentally played a major role in the tragic RAF Puma helicopter incident, the inquest of which was recently made public in the press late this summer, Swaledale were also called to help and assist the Lake District MRTs with the recent terrible Cumbria Floods.
Todays Team Leader event was attended by our Deputy Team Leader, Geoff Seddon, who has been a previous Team Leader of our team, and has unbroken Bolton MRT service since the summer of 1969 !
Amongst the many topics covered today were an update on water related issues regarding mountain rescue, very apt considering the massive MR involvement in the recent Cumbria floods, the Gloucestershire floods, flooding incidents in North Wales, Sheffield, Carlisle and Boscastle.
Sessions also included a profile of the Teesdale and Weardale MRT, and presentations on the rising workloads of MRTs, preventative mountain rescue and public education, and mutual assistance between MRTs.
An account on the proceedings of today by our Deputy Team Leader Geoff Seddon, will appear shortly here.
Wednesday 2nd December Visit to Team by Edgworth Real Ale Festival Committee to hand over a very generous donation. Over the weekend of Friday 25th September to Sunday 27th September this year, the Edgworth Real Ale Committee held their fourth very successful Edgworth Real Ale Festival, at the Barlow Institute, Edgworth.
Each year many charities have benefitted from this Real Ale Festival and this year the amount raised for charity exceeded all previous years, with a fantastic £12,000.00 raised in total.
As one of two named beneficiaries for this years Festival, the other being Derien House, the whole team threw its full support into the festival, with team vehicles present throughout and team Call Out list and Support Group members also having a stint on bar duties.
Tonight five members of the Edgworth Real Ale Festival Committee visited our Ladybridge Hall Base / HQ to formally present to the team a cheque donation of an amazing £6,000.00.
Attending from the Edgworth Real Ale Festival Committee were John Barlow, Alex Docherty, Dan Moore, Geoff Capper and Steve Simpson.
They were initially met by our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE, our Chairman Ken Oakes and Deputy Team Leader Geoff Seddon.
With a team group photograph taken during which the very appreciated large donation of £6,000.00 was handed over, our Chairman Ken Oakes then handed over to the Edgworth Real Ale Festival Committee a plaque of appreciation from the Bolton MRT.
The Committee members were then treated to a buffet at our Ladybridge Hall Base / HQ after which they watched the rest of the team members conducting a series of 'mini' exercises in the use of team casualty care equipment, in the grounds of our Base / HQ.
Our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE, explained to the Committee members on the night that this very substantial donation will be utilised to purchase six full sets of Drysuits and associated PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) to fully equip our integral Water Search and Rescue Unit within the team, which to date has relied on team members to provide their own personal equipment.
Garry went onto explain that this generous and very supportive donation will also be used to purchase a small boat within the team to support our Water Search and Rescue Units' operations, alongside any residual part of the donation being used to fund further appropriate water search and rescue training within the team.
When these items are all purchased the team and the Edgworth Real Ale Festival Committee members will get together once more for an official handover of this kit and another photo opportunity.
The team would like to express its fullest thanks to all on the Edgworth Real Ale Festival Committee, and to all associated with the 2009 ERAF, which raised such a large amount of money for ourselves and for Derien House.
We would also like to wish all on the Committee our best wishes for the 2010 Edgworth Real Ale Festival, for which planning has already begun.
See also 'news' articles dated Thursday 20th August 2009, and Friday, Saturday, Sunday, 25th / 26th / 27th September 2009
...also on Wednesday 2nd... Meeting with East Lancashire Mark Benevolent Fund Limited. (Executive Committee member John Crawford) This evening three senior team members had the pleasure once again of a meeting with John Crawford, the Treasurer of the Executive Committee of the East Lancashire Mark Benevolent Fund Limited.
The East Lancashire Mark Benevolent Fund Limited is the Masonic Charity of the East Lancashire Mark Freemasons, representing some 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 Team Chairman Ken Oakes, Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE, and Life Vice President Tony McNally.
The reason for tonights visit was for John Crawford as the representative for the East Lancashire Mark Benevolent Fund Limited to further discuss with our team representatives how they are planning to help and support the team with particular regards to linking such support to their 2010 Centenary Year.
Johns visit was to update the team on this support since he last visited the team alongside other members of the Executive Committee of the East Lancashire Mark Benevolent Fund Limited on August 20th this year.
Following this very important meeting, the team is extremely pleased to announce that the East Lancashire Mark Benevolent Fund Limited, will be supporting the team in a very large, major and significant way in 2010.
At present we have been asked to keep all details of this amazing support confidential to the team, with an announcement of what exactly the support entails being made public by the team in association with the East Lancashire Mark Benevolent Fund Limited, in late April 2010, keep watching our 'news' pages.
The team is very honoured to be receiving the continuing support of our friends at the East Lancashire Mark Benevolent Fund Limited, and in turn we will be present with our team vehicles and a search and rescue equipment demonstration , as per 2008 and 2009, at the East Lancashire Mark Fellowship Day at Middleton Masonic Club, Manchester Old Road, Middleton, M24 4DY on Sunday 29th August 2010, from 12.00 noon onwards.
Please also see previous 'news' articles dated Wednesday 6th February 2008, Sunday 24th August 2008, Thursday 20th August 2009 and Sunday 30th August 2009.
...also on Wednesday 2nd... Very kind donation from Mr and Mrs Tatlock. Tonight we are very pleased to announce the receipt of a kind and thoughtful Christmas £50.00 donation from Mr and Mrs Tatlock of Great Lever, Bolton.
The whole team membership extends its’ thanks to Mr and Mrs Tatlock for their much appreciated and valued support of the Bolton Mountain Rescue Team.
...also on Wednesday 2nd... Very kind donation from Miss M.Kelly Tonight we are very pleased to announce the receipt of a kind and thoughtful Christmas £30.00 donation from team friend and supporter Miss M.Kelly of Morris Green, Bolton.
Miss M.Kelly is a friend of the mother of former team search dog handler and current Secretary of the National Search and Rescue Dog Association (NSARDA) Dave Marsh.
The whole team membership extends its’ thanks to Miss M.Kelly for her appreciated and valued continuing support of the Bolton Mountain Rescue Team.
...also on Wednesday 2nd... Very kind donation from Mr E. and Mrs J.Marsh. Tonight we are very pleased to announce the receipt of a kind and thoughtful Christmas £30.00 donation from Mr E. and Mrs J.Marsh of Bolton.
Mr E. and Mrs J.Marsh are the father and mother of former team search dog handler and current Secretary of the National Search and Rescue Dog Association (NSARDA) Dave Marsh.
The whole team membership extends its’ thanks to Mr E. and Mrs J.Marsh for their appreciated and valued continuing support of the Bolton Mountain Rescue Team.
See also ‘news’ article dated Sunday 29th November 2009 for news of another donation kindly made by Mrs J.Marsh
