Holme Valley Mountain Rescue Team
Encyclopedia
The Holme Valley Mountain Rescue Team is a voluntary organisation based in Marsden
, near Huddersfield
in West Yorkshire
. The Team functions as a search and rescue service covering the southern half of West Yorkshire
, and is a registered charity entirely funded by public contributions.
s taking part in a Challenge Hike on local moorland. Since then it has continued to provide assistance to those who get into difficulties while taking part in leisure activities on the moorland of the South Pennines
and Northern Peak District
.
The team's role is not confined to aiding those who get into difficulties on high ground, however. Assistance is often provided to West Yorkshire Police
on searches for missing persons in rural and semi-rural areas, and to Yorkshire Ambulance Service
when casualties need to be extracted from less accessible locations. The team also helps local groups and charities by providing event safety cover, talks and education.
Training exercises are held regularly to maintain a high skills and knowledge base within the team. This includes search techniques, casualty care and handling, crag and ropework, and maintenance and use of the team's own specialist equipment. On a call out, the Holme Valley Mountain Rescue Team may work in partnership with neighbouring teams, or other organisations such as the Police, Fire and Ambulance services, the RAF and the West Yorkshire Air Ambulance
, and holds training exercises jointly with these groups to maintain an effective partnership.
The Holme Valley MRT is a member of the Mid Pennine Search and Rescue Organisation (MPSRO); a regional body of which the following organisations are also members:
The HVMRT is a Registered Charity (No. 1015532) and a Limited Company by Guarantee (No. 2764292).
Defender, and a Vauxhall
Movano van. Both vehicles are registered ambulances and are fitted with blue strobes. They each carry medical and communications equipment, as well as 'party kits' - equipment taken out by each hill party to aid in the initial stabilisation of a casualty, before more specialised equipment can be brought to the scene.
Marsden, West Yorkshire
Marsden is a large village within the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, in West Yorkshire, England, west of Huddersfield and located at the confluence of the River Colne and the Wessenden Brook...
, near Huddersfield
Huddersfield
Huddersfield is a large market town within the Metropolitan Borough of Kirklees, in West Yorkshire, England, situated halfway between Leeds and Manchester. It lies north of London, and south of Bradford, the nearest city....
in West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
. The Team functions as a search and rescue service covering the southern half of West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire
West Yorkshire is a metropolitan county within the Yorkshire and the Humber region of England with a population of 2.2 million. West Yorkshire came into existence as a metropolitan county in 1974 after the passage of the Local Government Act 1972....
, and is a registered charity entirely funded by public contributions.
About the team
The team was set up initially as the Holme Valley Moorland Rescue Team in 1965 after the death of two Boy ScoutBoy Scout
A Scout is a boy or a girl, usually 11 to 18 years of age, participating in the worldwide Scouting movement. Because of the large age and development span, many Scouting associations have split this age group into a junior and a senior section...
s taking part in a Challenge Hike on local moorland. Since then it has continued to provide assistance to those who get into difficulties while taking part in leisure activities on the moorland of the South Pennines
Pennines
The Pennines are a low-rising mountain range, separating the North West of England from Yorkshire and the North East.Often described as the "backbone of England", they form a more-or-less continuous range stretching from the Peak District in Derbyshire, around the northern and eastern edges of...
and Northern Peak District
Peak District
The Peak District is an upland area in central and northern England, lying mainly in northern Derbyshire, but also covering parts of Cheshire, Greater Manchester, Staffordshire, and South and West Yorkshire....
.
The team's role is not confined to aiding those who get into difficulties on high ground, however. Assistance is often provided to West Yorkshire Police
West Yorkshire Police
West Yorkshire Police is the territorial police force responsible for policing West Yorkshire in England. It is the fourth largest force in England and Wales by number of officers, with 5671 officers....
on searches for missing persons in rural and semi-rural areas, and to Yorkshire Ambulance Service
Yorkshire Ambulance Service
The Yorkshire Ambulance Service is the NHS ambulance service covering most of Yorkshire in England. It covers the whole of the East Riding of Yorkshire , South Yorkshire and West Yorkshire along with the majority of the ceremonial county of North Yorkshire...
when casualties need to be extracted from less accessible locations. The team also helps local groups and charities by providing event safety cover, talks and education.
Training exercises are held regularly to maintain a high skills and knowledge base within the team. This includes search techniques, casualty care and handling, crag and ropework, and maintenance and use of the team's own specialist equipment. On a call out, the Holme Valley Mountain Rescue Team may work in partnership with neighbouring teams, or other organisations such as the Police, Fire and Ambulance services, the RAF and the West Yorkshire Air Ambulance
Air ambulance
An air ambulance is an aircraft used for emergency medical assistance in situations where either a traditional ambulance cannot reach the scene easily or quickly enough, or the patient needs to be transported over a distance or terrain that makes air transportation the most practical transport....
, and holds training exercises jointly with these groups to maintain an effective partnership.
The Holme Valley MRT is a member of the Mid Pennine Search and Rescue Organisation (MPSRO); a regional body of which the following organisations are also members:
- Bolton MRT
- Bowland Pennine MRT
- Calder Valley SRT
- Rossendale and Pendle MRT
- The Cave Rescue OrganisationCave Rescue OrganisationThe Cave Rescue Organisation is based in the caving area of the Yorkshire Dales in northern England and was founded in 1935. Although it is staffed by volunteers and funded by donations, it is integrated into the emergency services and will be called out if the police are notified that there has...
- The Search and Rescue Dog Association (SARDA)
The HVMRT is a Registered Charity (No. 1015532) and a Limited Company by Guarantee (No. 2764292).
Team equipment
The Holme Valley MRT owns and maintains a great deal of specialist equipment. This needs to be constantly checked and replaced to meet regulations and this process accounts for a very large proportion of the team's expenditure. The team runs two vehicles. A long wheelbase Land RoverLand Rover
Land Rover is a British car manufacturer with its headquarters in Gaydon, Warwickshire, United Kingdom which specialises in four-wheel-drive vehicles. It is owned by the Indian company Tata Motors, forming part of their Jaguar Land Rover group...
Defender, and a Vauxhall
Vauxhall Motors
Vauxhall Motors is a British automotive company owned by General Motors and headquartered in Luton. It was founded in 1857 as a pump and marine engine manufacturer, began manufacturing cars in 1903 and was acquired by GM in 1925. It has been the second-largest selling car brand in the UK for...
Movano van. Both vehicles are registered ambulances and are fitted with blue strobes. They each carry medical and communications equipment, as well as 'party kits' - equipment taken out by each hill party to aid in the initial stabilisation of a casualty, before more specialised equipment can be brought to the scene.