Today we had a great team with us from Holme Valley Mountain Rescue who gave an excellent presentation of what services they provide. Their HQ is in Marsden and the area covered is M62 to Barnsley and Marsden to Pontefract. Can and do also help out of these areas if a need arises and do help Woodhead and Calder teams. They receive no Government funding and rely on Grants and gifts along with donations from Companies and the public. They are now a registered charity.
Formed in 1965 following a rover scout hike disaster in 64 and are all volunteers. Their talk on how work alongside both ambulance and fire services was eye opener especially when in black spot communication areas, they link their mobile equipment to fire engine as sometimes theirs are better! Walkers; runners ;bike riders; climbers ; dog walkers are all helped if needed.
All terrains are covered by them, and they carry all needed equipment to cover all problems in a rucksack and all can talk to each other. Some are specialist trained which can prove helpful depending on situation. They also have Search dogs who use sniff air technique and have 2 4 by 4 and a control van. They do sometimes find a dead person and have to leave it as a crime scene situation until Police arrive.
Request for all older mountain bike riders to take care as falls etc are on the increase.
A thoroughly good presentation.