Last Thursday night at the Dove Holes base of Buxton Mountain Rescue Team, the official commissioning of the team’s new response vehicle took place. The event was attended by the Mayor and Mayoress of High Peak, Cllr Stuart Young and Miss Charlotte Young and David Coleman, Deputy Lord- Lieutenant for Derbyshire, President of the Peak District Mountain Rescue Organisation and former Derbyshire Chief Constable. Several representatives of major donors to the team also came along to the informal gathering.

The new mobile Incident Control Vehicle replaces an older version which was retired and passed on to another rescue team in the Severn Valley earlier this year.

The new vehicle is based on an all-wheel drive Ford Transit 350 van, which has undergone extensive conversion by Clarks Vehicles of Doncaster with electrical fitting out by A.P.B. of Peterborough.

The all-wheel drive system will improve the team’s capability when asked to assist other emergency services in winter road conditions. Whilst still carrying all the regular rescue equipment, including crag and rope rescue tackle, the new vehicle is type approved and specifically equipped to carry a patient lying on a stretcher.

The incident control-room is equipped with numerous radios enabling communication with hill-parties, other emergency services and helicopters. Computerised mapping and search-management software together with digital recording of all radio traffic and control-room conversations ensures a full record is maintained of incident command.

The total cost of the vehicle has been £53,000 which was all raised by public appeal. The help of “The Lottery Fund” and “The Bingham Trust” was essential but by far the bulk of the cost has been covered by a multitude of smaller donations from local clubs, businesses and individuals. Without this magnificent community support from the people of the area the project would never have got off the drawing board.

To all who offered help, donations or practical skills, “Thank-you”, from the team and from all who may benefit from the team’s improved operational response over the next ten years.

Photo credits:  BMRT  –  top:  The new vehicle on station at Buxton Fire Station.   The Mayor of High Peak, Cllr Stuart Young, shakes hands with Team Chairman, Richard Doran, at the Vehicle Commissioning Event.