News

Podcast – Episode #2 – Wendy Dodds

You might be interested in a new podcast hosted by one of our team members, Chad Dixon. In this episode he talks with the legendary fell runner, Wendy Dodds. In the first episode, Chad talked with John and Susan Noake, who between them have over 100 years of service to Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team! https://open.spotify.com/episode/1C3BZYmfpM9AK81L995HXO?si=JLa8nGFXS9OQvwmXToQ7Qw&context=spotify%3Ashow%3A3zDRIXz8kht5J6UYoCUraU&nd=1 You can also access Episode #1 via the link

By John Bamforth, ago

Class of 2022 Success

We are delighted to announce that last night the ‘class of 2022’ probationers successfully completed their final hill assessment with 8 becoming full team members with an additional 2 to follow. All the group have been a credit to themselves individually and as a group and are welcomed into the team. Congratulations from the whole team.

By John Bamforth, ago

Video of a callout

For those interested, here’s a short video showing sections of the callout and stretcher carry from our last callout. It illustrates why we need many team members for a long carry from the high fells…. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gbxd7wG5Bhs

By John Bamforth, ago

Welcome to the Dark Side

Sunday 30 October is Mountain Rescue Awareness Day as well as being the first full day after the UK clocks go back. As the days shorten and the evenings draw in, it gets darker earlier in the afternoons and it’s a good time to think about safety for your day in the mountains during the colder months. https://www.mountain.rescue.org.uk/2022/10/welcome-to-the-dark-side/  

By John Bamforth, ago

Medical Student Visit

Earlier this week we welcomed a group of enthusiastic 3rd and 4th year medical students to the base. We provided an insight into the casualty care we provide on the hills. The medical students are studying at the National Centre for Remote and Rural Medicine (UCLan) near Whitehaven. It was a fun evening and great to develop links with our local community.

By John Bamforth, ago

Mid Copeland GDF Community Partnership Funding

Wasdale MRT is delighted to have been awarded £75,497 by the Mid Copeland GDF Community Partnership. This will enable the team to buy its fourth emergency vehicle kitted out with blue lights, casualty care and radio communications equipment. The vehicle will respond to the ever-increasing number of 999 callouts that the team receives, which on average occur on one in every three days. Andy Pratt, Chair of the Mid Copeland GDF Community Partnership, said: “This Read more…

By John Bamforth, ago

Fundraising at Eskdale Show

Saturday 24th September saw a gloriously bright and breezy day at the Eskdale show. The cream of local Herwick flocks were there for this historic national competition and an Eskdale farmer won best in show which was wonderful. WMRT occupied a prime position and saw lots of visitors and shoppers at the stall, many of whom spent their money on merchandise, and also contributed generously. There was plenty of interest in Mobile 2, especially from Read more…

By John Bamforth, ago

Adventure Smart Lake District

All you need to know about why we are pushing adventure smart is attached- the question I have for you as friends is what do you think ? Especially what do you think about the funding initiative for injuries to our volunteer team members. As the numbers of call-outs grow the probability of injury becomes greater and certainly we have had a few near misses in addition to the hits. Use your camera to scan Read more…

By John Bamforth, ago

Seascale Beaver Scouts Visit

Seascale Beaver Scouts have been waiting for 2 years to come and visit the Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team’s headquarters at Gosforth due to the strict Covid restrictions in the team. It was therefore great to be able to extend a June invitation this year for them all to come along to the base with their leader Willow, their scout sub-leaders and parents. It was very touching to be presented with a basket of gifts and Read more…

By John Bamforth, ago

Charity Tournament Fundraiser

On Monday 13th June, an incredibly generous cheque for £800 was presented to the team by Mr Bob Smith and his grandson Dexter. Bob organised a charity tournament for the Egremont Pool League in May and raised a huge amount of money which he divided between several emergency services. We’re extremely grateful to Bob, all those red-hot pool players (including Dexter) and those who supported them on our behalf.

By John Bamforth, ago

Mountain Rescue volunteers awarded Jubilee Medal

Over 1700 Mountain Rescue volunteers are honoured to be recognised and included among the frontline emergency, armed forces and prison service workers across the UK who are recipients of today’s Jubilee Medal in celebration of Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee. Congratulations to Her Majesty from everyone involved in Mountain Rescue on an unprecedented 70 years of service.

By John Bamforth, ago

A sad farewell to Pete Baines

The team said a sad farewell to a stalwart of the team since February 1980. Pete Baines sadly passed away peacefully at home after a long illness earlier this month, and his funeral was held yesterday in Nether Wasdale. In his time, he has been Quartermaster, Buildings Officer, committee member, Trustee, and latterly Duty Team Leader. He was also a skilled and experienced Casualty Carer, providing first aid on the fell. He regularly took on Read more…

By John Bamforth, ago

Congratulations to the ‘Class of 21’

Huge congratulations to our ‘Class of ‘21’ probationary members who successfully completed a mock callout this morning as their last training exercise. Following a great morning on the fell in the sunshine in Mosedale they returned to base for a richly deserved buffet. They are now full team members. Joining them on the training exercise was the ‘Class of ‘22’ who have also now transitioned to become fell-going probationary members. Rather predictably they did not Read more…

By John Bamforth, ago

Thanks to Drigg Gala

Last Friday, Fiona Roberts and Terry Wake presented a cheque to the team on behalf of Drigg and Carleton Gala.  It’s a popular community event which they have run every year until the pandemic took hold. The cheque was for £100 collected in 2018 so the presentation has been much delayed, but no less welcome for the wait. Thanks for the support and we will be at this year’s event on Saturday 11 June. You Read more…

By John Bamforth, ago

Stretcher Training

Monday’s team training was a practical exercise. We removed a stretcher from a tricky position at the base of a crag, then transferred onto the stretcher wheel when we reached easier ground below. These are core skills for us and it is good to train with a few rucksacks so we are well drilled for the real emergencies.

By John Bamforth, ago

Winter Training

The team have just enjoyed an excellent long weekend in the Scottish Highlands carrying out Winter skills training. The course was attended by both experienced team members and probationary members. Despite some challenging Scottish winter conditions, lots of new skills were acquired and existing skills refreshed and improved. A great time was had by all. A big thanks to Duddon and Furness Mountain Rescue Team who helped to cover the patch whilst many of the Read more…

By John Bamforth, ago