Visit by team to St. Peter’s Smithills Dean CE School by Bolton MRT

Today the team made an afternoon visit to St Peter’s Smithills Dean CE School, Bolton, with our Team President Bob Hutchinson and Training Officer, Elaine Gilliland attending in one of our Land Rover Mountain Rescue Ambulances.

Bob and Elaine arrived at St. Peter’s Smithills Dean CofE Primary School this afternoon to a welcome cup of tea in the staffroom while the children were still in the playground at the end of their lunchtime break.

They were then shown through to the Year 6 Classroom by Mr Barlow and Mrs Chesterton who had invited Bolton Mountain Rescue to give a talk to the children on safety in the hills/mountains to assist with their project on Mountains. The quiet classroom was soon overtaken by the excited children coming in from lunchtime break, and immediately they started to ask questions.

After registration, Bob gave a short presentation on Mountain Rescue and showed some pictures of rescues and training that the team do. All of the children were very enthusiastic and asked lots of questions about the team and walking in the hills and mountains. Elaine then showed the children what clothing and equipment members of the team carry around with them and quizzed the children about what they should carry when they are out walking, and what would they do if something untoward happened out on the hill.

After a short afternoon break, the children hurried outside to the playground where the Team’s County Landrover BM1 had been parked and Bob and Elaine showed small groups around the vehicle explaining the equipment and radios to the children – and more and more questions were asked by the very inquisitive group.

All too soon the afternoon was over……..with the children still asking questions as Bob and Elaine packed up to leave.

The team would like to thank Mr Barlow and Mrs Chesterton for the invitation to speak to the children and to Mrs Lancashire for allowing us this opportunity to help the children, and Bob and Elaine would like to express a special thank you to all the children for making them feel so welcome.