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Finding the history of the
Northumberland National Park Mountain Rescue Team ( formerly Northumberland National Park Search and Rescue Team ) has been a difficult task, as the organistion is well over 40 years old.
In the early days records were not kept so well as they are today, so looking back through the mists of time has proved quite
a challenge. However, I struck gold when a former team member, Brian Atkins, put pen to paper for me and outlined a history of
our Team. In addition, another former Team Leader, Cliff Sore, provided me with a rich source of black and white pictures.
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The Northumberland National
Park Search and Rescue Team was founded in the 1960's ( circa 1962/1963. See our memorial page.) after two shepherds died whilst returning home,
in a bad snow storm, from market. Prime mover in creating a local organisation to help people in distress was Tom McGeorge,
an employee of Northumberland County Council who enlisted the help of John Weatherall as the first Team Leader. The original
Team used voluntary wardens from Northumberland
National Park. A prequiste in joining the Team in those early days, was, that new members had to be voluntary wardens of the
National Park. This was because it was felt that such people would have a good knowledge of the area. Hence our
nickname "The Warden's Team". Early Team Leaders were: John Weatherall, Terry Lynn, David Johnson, Tom and Les McGeorge to name but a few. |
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Jack Hope, the Head Park Warden, was appointed as Team Equipment Supervisor. All the equipment, such as it was, was
kept at Headlam Street Police Station in Byker, Newcastle upon Tyne! The Team's pride and joy was the McInnes stretcher.
The Team had no vehicles so all equipment was transported in the back of Team member's cars to the centre of operations.
Later, a second hand landrover was donated to the Team, along with 3 radios.
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As more people joined the Team the social aspect became more important. Camping in any weather became the norm before our monthly training exercises. Today, equipment resources have improved beyond recognition, but this brings problems of raising enough funds to support such a vast equipment store at our base in Ponteland, Northumberland. Over the years as people have left the Team, others have taken their place. Different people have brought different skills to the Team. Search management plays a vital role and former Team leaders ( Pete Roberts and Dave Perkins ) have formulated systems of searching which are now used by the Team today and other rescue teams not only in this country but in other countries around the world. |
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