NEWS ARCHIVE
CALLOUT MEMBERSHIP - 13 FEB 2008 |
One of our Trainee members had a pleasant surprise at the end of our weekly training night this week when she was moved up to full callout membership. Lynda, who has been a trainee with us since last year has successfully completed her logbook and has reached all the required standards that are necessary to become an operational member. Its bit of a family concern for her as her son is currently a serving member of Buxton
MRT. Well done Lynda.
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| NEW RADIO’S - 10 FEB 2008 |
The Team has just taken delivery of new handheld radios which will raise our communications equipment to a higher standard. Following discussions and feedback from SAR teams around the country the new sets were supplied by Team Simoco. Our thanks go to Sgt Mike Rose of Devon and Cornwall constabulary for assisting us with securing funding for them and to Phil Turner of Team Simoco for all his help during the purchasing process. Over the coming weeks all members will be trained on their usage and we look forward to deploying them on live incidents soon.
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NEW TRAINEE’S - 10 FEB 2008 |
Following our recent induction training day the team has taken 4 potential trainees on to its books. The day, which includes a tour of the centre, introduction to team equipment and working practices and a navigation assessment was run by the team’s training officer and other callout members. The potential new members also got chance to talk to current trainees about their experiences so far. The potential trainees will now start an intensive training schedule which will include all basic skills required by members of a SAR team.
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BONING UP PAYS OFF |
Congratulations to 2 of the search dog teams who both moved one stage further to qualifying their second search dogs last week. Search Dog Matt passed his indication test with his trainee search dog Scooter and Search Dog Catherine passed her control/obedience test with Bizzy.
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| TEAM MEMBER LEAVES |
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Dave Johnson
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It may only be the start of the year but the Team is losing one of its most active members. Dave Johnson, who joined us as a D of E trainee 5 years ago is off to join the Royal Air Force.
Dave has been a stalwart member of the Team in those 5 years helping out in many ways. Every task set to him has been taken on with effort and enthusiasm. He has helped particularly with water safety training and been of great assistance with our
'potential trainee' induction programme.
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Dave will be sorely missed by us all at DSRT (TAVISTOCK) but we
wish him the best in his new chosen career. His sense of humour and love of the latest climbing/walking/water kit will be missed. He has promised to come training any time that he is home on leave so at least we won’t be losing him altogether.
Good luck Dave. |
DRG TRAINING WEEKEND
Team members attended the Dartmoor Rescue Group on17/18 November at Okehampton Camp. This year we were joined by members not only from the other 3 DSRT’s but also WILSAR, HANTSAR, SARA, BOLTON MRT, KIMMERIDGE COASTGUARD and EXMOOR SRT.
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Team members arriving at simulated RTA
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The weekend included a full scale SAREX on the Saturday with each search party being made up of a combination of members from the visiting teams. Their were various casualty sites to deal with including missing walkers and a RTA involving 12 casualties at a remote location there was plenty to do.
Rescue 169 from RMB Chivenor put in an appearance and some search parties were deployed by air to the search areas. The Saturday night saw a fundraising raffle for children in need and the annual skittles tournament. Sunday morning was an orienteering exercise that was planned by a member of DSRT (PLYMOUTH).
The weekend was a huge success and gave our team members the chance to look at how other teams work and swap training ideas. Our thanks go to all that attended and especially to the Group training team for organising the weekend.
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TWO NEW CALLOUT MEMBERS
As well as receiving new jackets today there was a pleasant surprise for two of our trainee members when they were accepted on to the callout list. Congratulations to Cyril and Nikki.
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| SWAST PRESENTATION |
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Hamish Anderson awards a plaque to DSRT
Tavistock's
Nicki Lyons
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During the summer DSRT (TAVISTOCK) played host to Tavistock ambulance station crews whilst their building underwent a major refit. For Approx 8 weeks the local ambulance crews and their vehicles were based from our rescue centre so that the Ambulance cover could be kept in place. As a Thank you to the Team Paramedic Supervisor Hamish Anderson presented a plaque to us recently which will be displayed in our rescue centre. |
CHARITY AUCTION
Team members attended Edgehill College, Bideford on Tues 30th October to represent DRG at a charity auction. The money was raised in memory of Charlotte Shaw, The young girl who tragically died during Ten Tors training this year.
There was a varied amount of lots ranging from bottles of whiskey through to a vasectomy! Bidding was furious and a total of £6500 was raised on the evening. We would like to thank Staff, students and all supporters of the event for their generous contribution to the team. The money will be used for a variety of different projects.
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NEW SEARCH DOG
Following a 3 day assessment in South Wales DSRT (TAVISTOCK) is pleased to welcome a new Search Dog onto its callout list. Alex Lyons with his new dog Max successfully passed all their areas during the test in which they were assessed by members of various SARDA teams.
Alex and Max worked extremely hard over the 3 days to complete the 5 mountainous areas required by SARDA standards. Alex who has been with the team for over 20 years is the longest serving operational SARDA handler in the UK. Max will take the place of Alex’s current operational dog Aiken who will now be retired. |
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Alex, who has previously worked Mac, Scruff and Aiken and served in various posts within SWERA and DRG is one of 4 operational handlers in the Team. The Teams Training Officer Jamie Reading who attended the assessment said “This is a fine testament to all the commitment and Training that Alex has put in over the years and we are extremely happy for him. It was a real pleasure to watch Alex and Max in operation. We wish him and Max all the best”.
The Team would like to thank SARDA (SOUTH WALES) and SARDA (ENGLAND) as well as all the “bodies” who made this assessment possible. Watch our callout page for details of their first callout.
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JOINT SAREX
On Tues 9th Oct, Members from all 4 DSRT’s came together to participate in a Joint search exercise at Pork Hill. The purpose of this event was to locate Councillor Alan Hoskins who had kindly been out raising funds for Dartmoor Rescue Group. Cllr Hoskins has been getting sponsorship for this exercise and all monies raised will go towards DRG funds. With over 90 members attending it was a good turnout and the chance to train alongside other teams was enjoyed by all that took part. The Counciller was successfully found by a DSRT
(TAVISTOCK) search dog team at approx 2030hrs. We would like to thank Cllr Hoskins for giving up his time and for his support in assisting our worthy cause.
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| SEARCH MANAGERS COURSE
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Two of Tavistock's members
Bill McOwan (controller) and Tim Forster (Equipment Officer) recently
attended a national week long course on search management at the University
of Bangor North Wales. The course which is run by Mountain Rescue England
and Wales covers all aspects of search management and missing person's
behavior. Following their successful completion of the course this
now takes Tavistock up to five qualified search managers. Well done
Tim and Bill!
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TEAM LEADER DEVELOPMENT
WEEKEND
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Eleven
members of the team with a colleague from Cornwall Search and
Rescue Team attended a weekend event held by Tavistock in September.
The course was taught by Bill Batson (Ex Chief Instructor RAF
Mountain Rescue Service) and was aimed at developing team leader
skills. The training modules covered incident site management,
working with SAR helicopters, search techniques, fatal incident
procedures, technical rescue, mountain and water hazards, major
incident procedures and inter agency cooperation.
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The course
culminated in a search and rescue exercise on the Sunday afternoon,
where the course delegates put their new found skills into practice.
The course was the first of its type to be run in the region and
marks the start of a new joint training initiative between DSRT
(Tavistock) and Cornwall Search and Rescue Team. To see pictures
from the weekend please go to our gallery.
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ABBOTS
WAY 2007
| During Sunday 6th October, Members of the Team based at Peat Cott, along with colleagues from DSRT’s PLYMOUTH and ASHBURTON provided Rescue cover for the annual Abbots Way walk with runs from Buckfastleigh to Tavistock. With about a 1000 people taking part our services are normally called upon but we’re pleased to say that this years event passed off without major incident with the Team treating 2 people for minor injuries and Team members spent the rest of the time doing some training before sending out sweep teams to clear parts of the route. We congratulate all that took part. |
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MORRISONS COLLECTION
Team members recently spent
the weekend at Morrisons Supermarket Tavistock, showing some of their
equipment and talking to the public. The Team raised nearly £2500
and we would like to thank all the members of the public that donated
to our cause. These much needed funds will be used to purchase new equipment.
LONG SERVICE AWARDS
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A presentation evening
was held over the summer at the Tavistock Rescue Centre to mark
the achievement of long service to some of its members. Among
those receiving awards were: for 10 years service Denise Richards,
Bill McOwan, Dominic Guly and Peter Swaine. 15 year service awards
went to Paul Hudson, Colin Heard and Chris Dixon. 20 year service
awards went to Alex Lyons, Nicki Lyons, Terry Bumford and Bud
Francis. Four other team members were due to receive awards for
service but were unfortunately not able to make the evening.
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These were Rhod Davey (10years),
Andy Hodges (10 years), Adrian Byrne (10 years) and Henry Guly (15 years).
In total the length of service with these members alone add up to over
235 years! The Roy Harris Memorial trophy was also awarded at the presentation.
This award went to Jamie Reading (the current Training Officer) for
his outstanding dedication and commitment to the team in the last twelve
months. Presenting these awards was our Patron Lord Burnett. Well done
everyone who received an award.
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20 YEARS IN SARDA
Tavistock team member
Alex Lyons was recently awarded a first for Mountain Rescue England
and Wales when he received an award from SARDA England recognising
his 20 years of continuous operational service as a search and
rescue dog handler. Alex is now currently training his fourth
dog Max and working Aiken. The Team would like to take this opportunity
to say well done to Alex on this remarkable achievement.
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25 YEARS IN MOUNTAIN RESCUE
At the presentation evening
held over the summer another award was presented. The current Chair
Nicki Lyons received a certificate from Mountain Rescue of England and
Wales recognising her 25years long service to Mountain Rescue, this
was another first for Tavistock, as she is the first member to achieve
this award. Nicki is currently an operational dog handler and has served
as Tavistock's Equipment Officer and Assistant Training Officer over
the years. We all congratulate Nicki on this achievement.
STAGE TWO TEST
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Trainee
search dog Indie and her handler Jamie Reading successfully passed
their SARDA stage two test at the training weekend held in the Brecon
Beacons at the start of September. The area they searched was one
of the more technical ones they have done so far, but they successfully
located all of the dogsbodies in their area. Jamie said "this
was a hard going area but Indie worked extremely well and I am so
proud of her". They have now moved on to stage three and hope
to go for assessment to become fully operational in January or April
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