It is with sadness that we report valued Support Group member Hazel Kennedy of Leigh, has decided to leave the team for personal reasons.

Hazel first became known to the team, and particularly to our Team Leader Garry Rhodes, in her capacity as an Emergency Medical Despatcher with GMAS (as was) Control, Belle Vue, Manchester.

Whenever Garry contacted GMAS it was a good chance the voice of Hazel would greet him with; “I’ve got a job for you at ……..”

Hazel went on to leave GMAS Control and join the emergency road crews as an Emergency Medical Technician with GMAS, a post she still holds, based at Bolton South Ambulance station with NWAS (Manchester)

Hazel soon joined the team, firstly as a ’regular’ exercise casualty and then becoming one of the founder members of our Support Group, a few years ago now !

As a serving emergency ambulance technician most team members have been called out to assist Hazel with casualties on steep ground, or across muddy fields, (or more recently snowy streets !)



Within the Support Group Hazel has organized two highly successful Ceilidhs, and looked after Collecting Boxes in her home town of Leigh, Westhoughton and Smithills.



With a background in catering her cakes are a joy to behold (and eat) and along with her mothers cakes their cake stall was a big success at the teams Spring Fair of 2009.



Within the operational team membership many are in debt to Hazel for her help with their medical training, and of course her catering help on our annual ’Foundation Course in Mountain Rescue.’



Hazel has very kindly agreed to continue helping with the team whenever she can, so we’ll still see her around (we’ll hear her first !)

So Hazel its off to pastures new, thanks for everything you’ve helped the team with over the last few years, keep in touch, and no doubt on the next incident you call us to we’ll still hear your familiar cry of “eh you lot hurry up I’ve got an interesting job for you.”