This evening the team welcomed to its Ladybridge Hall Base / HQ the many young visitors from 6th Worsley Scout Group, including Beavers, Cobs and Scouts.
Accompanying these enthusiastic young visitors were their Leaders and some parents, who had all journeyed to gain an insight into the work of the team.
They were met by our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE, and new Full Team Members Elaine Gilliland and Michael O’Brien, both of whom have just finished their one year long trainee team membership period.
Garry welcomed the visitors from 6th Worsley Scout Group, revealing that 6th Worsley was his old Scout Group, from the days when he first joined as a Wolf Cub in 1965 (when it was called 1st Little Hulton) through to becoming a Scout and Venture Scout, (gaining his Queens Scout Award and Explorer Belt along the way) through to becoming a Cub Scout Leader with the same Group.(Garrys dad Vernon Rhodes was the Group Scout Leader, with the family connection continuing with Garrys brother Andrew also being in 6th Worsley)
Garry then went on to explain the unique connection between 6th Worsley Scout Group and Bolton Mountain Rescue Team.
A founder team member Glen Atkinson, was also the Scout Leader at the time at 6th Worsley, John Entwistle another 6th Worsley Scout Leader was an early stalwart member of the team, joined by Howard Hill (now deceased), another 6th Worsley Scout Leader and the Team Leader of our team immediately before Garry took up the post.
Indeed Garry explained to the interested visitors that his early Scout ’hiking’ activities were usually in the company of Bolton MRT members on the local moors.
Another Scouting link exits in Bibbys Farm Scout helper Alan Mason, also a former Scout Leader of 6th Worsley, and a family friend of Garry and his parents, who assists the team so much nowadays with our Bibbys Farm based Annual Joint Foundation Course every October. (Alan being well known to some of the Scouts present tonight from their camping and activity trips to Bibbys Farm)
All our visitors were split into two groups being shown over our Team Landrover Mountain Rescue Ambulances and their rescue kit contents, by Elaine Gilliland, joined by team members (and current Scout Leaders) Mike Marsh and Steve Fletcher.
Meanwhile Garry and Michael demonstarted to the Beavers, Cubs and Scouts, our Trauma Sacs, how to use our vacuum splints and pulse oximeters, followed by demonstrations of how to load and use our Troll Alphin Mountain Rescue Stretcher.
Such was the interest of all present that they were all able to rig up the stretcher with the helicopter winch straps fitted in no time at all, whilst all having a go at using the pulse oximeters and applying vacuum splints to each other.
Nearing the conclusion of their visit, Garry faced a gruelling question and answer time off all present, the usual things were asked that Garry has come to expect of such vsits, ie, “who is the fattest casualty you have ever resued,” “what is the most gory accident you have dealt with ?” “what is the funniest mountain rescue you have ever been on ?” “and how many rescues have you done.”
Thankfully Garry survived the many questions to gratefully accept on behalf of the team a truely wonderful £43.00 donation of all present.
Thanking Garry, Michael, Elaine, Mike and Steve, our visitors left at 9pm a lot wiser about the work of the team and now aware of the important historic links between the team and 6th Worsley Scout Group.
