Tonight the Team met with Mrs Sheila Smith & Mrs Jackie Mather, mother & sister respectively of the Late Andrew Smith who tragically drowned in Anglezarke Reservoir on the evening of Wednesday 14th May 2008, after going to the rescue of his partner’s 12 year old daughter.

31 Team members attended this multi-agency incident, alongside fire, police & ambulance personnel.

Sheila and Jackie visited tonight to say a very thoughtful thanks to a small number of Team members who were present representing the entire Team.

They initially met with our Team Leader, Garry Rhodes, Deputy Leader Geoff Seddon and Team Chairman Ken Oakes, who were all present at this terrible accident.

Sheila, at the conclusion of her visit, handed to our Team Leader Garry a very kind and thoughtful letter of thanks enclosing a donation ’..for the wonderful work we do..’. In her letter she also commented ’..you and your team, are without doubt remarkable people..’.

Jackie, on behalf of her brother Graham Smith, handed to Garry an extremely thoughtful letter, expressing very kind remarks about the role of the Team and it’s members that night, when Andrew tragically drowned.

In Graham’s letter, he kindly and very thoughtfully commented ’..I can only imagine, the extraordinary levels of committment and determination required to perform the neccassary tasks at every incident, to which you and your Team at Bolton Mountain Rescue respond to..’

Along with Graham’s kind letter, was a cheque donation of £50 from his friends, work mates & colleagues at the Heinz Distribution centre, Kitt Green, Wigan, as a token of thanks towards the working of the Team.

The thoughts of the Team are with Shelia, Jackie, Graham and all other family members of the Late Andrew Smith.