Mountain rescue team extension is unveiled

Mr Barry Dodd CBE, the Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, recently visited the Scarborough and Ryedale Mountain Rescue Team at their base in Snainton.
Neil and Becky Robinson present the cheque to Roger Hartley (centre) during the Mountain Rescue Team open day.Neil and Becky Robinson present the cheque to Roger Hartley (centre) during the Mountain Rescue Team open day.
Neil and Becky Robinson present the cheque to Roger Hartley (centre) during the Mountain Rescue Team open day.

He was there to formally open the completed extension and rebuild of the base facilities and to launch their new vehicle.

The team celebrated their 50th anniversary last year and as part of the year they reviewed the team capabilities, equipment and call out trend over recent times.

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The very clear message they took from this was that there was a need for more storage, garaging and an improved method of transporting search parties and casualties.

The Lord Lt presents a certificate to PC Jon Rushton.The Lord Lt presents a certificate to PC Jon Rushton.
The Lord Lt presents a certificate to PC Jon Rushton.

This resulted in a working plan to extend the existing building onto waste ground behind the base to provide secure storage for four vehicles and two trailers.

For a team of volunteers, receiving no direct funding and with annual running costs of around £40,000 and totally reliant on donations, collections and sponsorship a project of this magnitude was a brave and costly decision but something the team felt was justified in light of their increasing workload.

A very kind legacy bequeathed by the estate of the late Malcolm Leslie Chipchase of Snainton provided much of the funding for the rebuild and the aim of the open day was to acknowledge this generosity by asking the Lord Lt to unveil a plaque in recognition of this kindness.

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The team, on behalf of the five North Yorkshire volunteer rescue teams, the North East Search and Rescue Association and the Yorkshire Dales Rescue Panel also took the opportunity of asking the Lord Lt to present a certificate of appreciation to PC Jon Rushton who is shortly due to retire from North Yorkshire Police.

The Lord Lt presents a certificate to PC Jon Rushton.The Lord Lt presents a certificate to PC Jon Rushton.
The Lord Lt presents a certificate to PC Jon Rushton.

Over the last nine years Jon was the point of contact between the police and the five teams, and through his dedication made a significant contribution to the visibility of the teams within the statutory emergency services.

Scarborough and Ryedale MRT welcomed members of the public to the open day and were pleased to receive a £500 donation from Neil and Becky Robinson by way of thanks for rescuing Neil following a Mountain Bike accident in Dalby Forest in October 2015.

Becky had raised these funds through sponsorship of her competing in the recent Great North Swim.