The skills and service we provide are increasingly recognised by Northumbria police. The close professional working relationship, developed over four decades, resulted in Northumbria police requesting our assistance and expertise a total of 61 times over the period November 2006 to the end of October 2007.

The increasing trend of the last 10 years was again echoed in where we were called out to. Two thirds of call outs over the above period saw the team assisting the police in the search for missing persons in the lowland rural areas of Northumberland and within the open spaces of the Tyne and Wear conurbations. You may seem surprised to read of a mountain rescue team used in this way. However it is of no surprise to us as one of our most developed skills is that of search and search management.

2007 saw a change to the team's name. Prior to this we had long been called the Northumberland National Park Search and Rescue Team. The team is affiliated to the Mountain Rescue Council of England and Wales and in line with their desire to bring all affiliated teams under one common national identity we changed from search and rescue to mountain rescue. The name change is a reflection of the team's true roots and has had no detrimental impact on Northumbria Police perception of the service we provide. As mentioned we have had our busiest year yet.

The past year has seen the team increasing its liaison with Fire and Rescue and the Ambulance service. We are working with Northumberland Fire and Rescue in developing communications back up when fire and rescue are deployed to forest and moor land fires. We are also in discussion in how we could assist with other major incidents fire and rescue will be called to. Liaison with the ambulance service has this year seen a large number of team members undertake 'First Person on Scene' (FPoS) training. This expands the number of FPoS available to the ambulance service particularly when the team is exercising in the more remote parts of Northumberland. The training involved also complements our own casualty care training and benefits the skills base of the team.

All incidents we are called to require good effective management and planning. As with all things now, technology has a role in assisting with this management and planning. Over the last year we have updated and expanded our IT systems both portable, with the team leader, and fixed systems within our 'Incident Control' trailer. This will give us greater ability in handling and recording information as well as improved mapping systems that will inform and assist search managers in their decision making.

During the year team members continued to make their huge commitment to training in the core skills of mountain search and rescue. We train twice a month; this involves a full days exercise (usually a Saturday or a Sunday) and an evening session on the last Tuesday of each month. In addition to this many members undertake advance training in casualty care, search management, technical rescue, search and rescue dog handling. Over the year we regularly joint trained with the North of Tyne Search and Rescue Team and 202 Sq. from RAF Boulmer.

Fundraising is as continuous as training. During 2007 numerous items of equipment needed replacement. Thanks to a donation of £2000 from Rothbury Round table, we were able to replace all team issued climbing helmets (that's a helmet for each team member). All equipment has a life expectancy given its amount of usage and recommended by the manufacturers. In the case of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) this can be anywhere from three to five years and so we are constantly having to plan ahead and have funds in place.

We operate two Landrover 110 Defenders. Both are equipped as ambulances. The oldest has reached the stage where it is starting to cost a lot to maintain and keep on the road. It has life left in it but must be replaced within the next few years to maintain our operational commitment. To purchase a new Landrover 110 Defender station wagon, kit it out with stretcher bed system, communications and navigation systems, blues and twos emergency response lighting and siren, roof rack and box; we need to raise in excess of £30000: We have already raised funds towards this but still have a -long way to go. If you feel you can help to achieve this then please contact us via the team secretary, details at the front of this report. If you wish to make a direct donation then please complete our `Gift Aid' form and send it to our treasurer.

Finally 2007 marked-the-45th anniversary of a tragic event that took place in the Cheviots in November 1962. Two shepherds perished in blizzard conditions when returning home to Ewartly Shank near Alnham. They were forced to abandon the tractor they were driving and tried to make it to shelter on foot. Sadly they were unable and both died in the white out conditions. Following that tragic event the Voluntary Wardens of the National Park in 1963 decided it was time the Cheviots had a rescue service and so the Northumberland National Park Fell Rescue Team was born. During 2007 the National Park and the Team worked to commemorate the above event and on the 24th November 2007 a memorial cairn was unveiled in memory of the two shepherds - Jock Scott and Willie Middlemas. The unveiling and blessing was attended by family and friends of the two shepherds and those still alive who helped in the search for them as well as current and past team members.

The memorial cairn can be visited as it forms part of a permissive walk around High Knowes hill between Ewartly Shank and Alnham village. It stands, with stunning views all around of the high Cheviots, as a reminder to the unpredictability and dangers of the mountains and of the need for our voluntary mountain rescue teams.

Bill Ellis Team Leader NNPMRT.