NNPMRT

Saturday 24 November 2007.

Today past and present members of Team attended a memorial service at High Knowes near Ewarty Shank. This service dedicated the memorial cairn to the two shepherds who lost their lives in a dreadful storm in November 1962. The two shepherds, John (Jock) Scott and William (Willie) Middlemas had set off from Castle Hill, after a day at Rothbury mart. At this time the road across the moor was little more than a track and they soon lost their way due to horrendous blizzard conditions which overwhelmed them. They were found in the days that followed a few hundred yards from each other, only a half a mile from their home. The search effort included local farm workers, shepherds, the Police and the RAF.

A Rescuer's Story

Former police Inspector Jim Thompson knows first hand about the horrendous conditions facing the rescue teams, it was one of his first assignments as a newly qualified police constable.
Jim said: "I was based at Morpeth police station and I vividly remember when we got the call. I went up on the Tuesday just after Jock's body was found and the conditions were arctic. "The ground was frozen solid, strong blustery winds had blown the drifts level and the snow was very tightly packed. It took us a good hour to get up to the spot and when we did the conditions were extremely difficult to work in as it was so exposed."
"We had nine dogs up there helping with the search as well as RAF Mountain Rescue. The RAF team were using long measuring poles to determine the depths of the drifts as it was almost impossible to tell how far down the actual ground was."
"It wasn't until the sun broke through on the Wednesday morning that the snow started to soften and the dogs picked up the scent. It was a young dog called Rex who found Willie buried under 6ft of snow." Jim recalls how the community spirit helped spur the rescue teams on."
"The whole time we were there the community were extremely helpful and rescuers were given a hot meal by the Sordy family every night, something which everyone really appreciated."

Today's service at the memorial cairn was given by the Rev. Judy Glover.

This tragedy was instrumental in the setting up of this Rescue Team. The first of its kind in Northumberland and in the North East of England.

Read more in the Northumberland Gazette>