AS Oldham Mountain Rescue Team celebrates their 50th anniversary this year, the Independent takes a look at their remarkable journey preparing for another winter.
FIFTY HEROIC men and women volunteers who make up the rugged mountain rescue team call it ‘The Shout…’
Alerts by phone or pager can come anytime seven days a week, twenty-four hours a day, to flag up the need for their expert services.
It could be an injured walker stranded on the high sierras above Saddleworth, a woman caught in a snow drift ready to give birth or a plea to find a missing person.
Over the last 50 years Oldham Mountain Rescue Team have dealt with akaleidoscope of incidents – but detailed records from before 1992 were lost in a fire at their headquarters.
However, in the last seven years alone, this resolute team of brave hearts have attended more than 800 incidents and assisted over 700 people.
They work in partnership with Greater Manchester Police, North West Ambulance Service and Greater Manchester Fire and Rescue Service.
Beside key mountain rescue activities, they are a vital back-up during severe weather, major incidents or where their specialist skills and equipment are valued.
Peter Hyde, the team’s longest serving member and a retired telecommunications engineer, recalls some colourful dramas from over the years.
The father of three, who joined the team in 1965, admitted: “I’m afraid my first shout is a long lost memory.
“However, I remember one early incident where there was a panic search for two missing scouts and the police wanted action urgently.
“I was at work in Manchester city centre close to where another team member worked. He had his car so and the police arranged an escort to get us to Oldham police station.
“It was a spectacular drive, the quickest journey home I ever made and it left us both exhausted.”
Peter was also part of the team called in to help after the horrific bombing of a Pam-Am Flight 103 over Lockerbie.
He had to search for debris from the plane in the Keilder Forest and remembers alocal whose intimate knowledge of the labyrinth of tracks got them to the site in his car.
But he added: “Sometimes outcomes are not what everyone hoped for and the team comes up against the personal grief of the casualties’ family and friends.
“On the other hand, the greatest reward is the relief and obvious gratitude shown by the individuals who are assisted and returned to their families.”
Currently, the team is ready to spring into instant action with a fleet of four vehicles, two 4×4 state of the art ambulances, an ambulance/control vehicle and a minibus.
And, over the years, they have worked alongside manufacturers developing modern equipment and techniques which allow challenging rescues with minimum risk to rescuers, casualties and equipment.
OMRT needs £30,000 a year to meet running expenses and relies heavily on public donations raised by fundraising efforts across the community.
The ‘Friends of Oldham Mountain Rescue Team’ is a small group of individuals and companies who support their work with a modest subscription.
Peter added: “Each year, we are proud to host ‘The Oldham Weekend,’ giving other search and rescue organisations the opportunity to try our techniques, share experiences and contribute towards continuous improvement.
“Our vehicles carry a comprehensive range of modern rescue and medical equipment but it is our team members who form the most important resource. Their enthusiasm, time and money are selflessly given for the benefit of others.
“They are backed by two search dogs – invaluable when the team is searching for missing people as they are able to cover large areas of ground speedily and efficiently.”
For further information on the team and how you can help, check their website: www.omrt.org and on Facebook.
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