This evening the team played host to a visit by Ladybridge WI members to our Ladybridge Hall Base / HQ. Here follows an account of the visit.

“Last month Ladybridge Women’s Institute kindly presented a cheque donation to Bolton MRT, after we had been selected as the institute’s charity for 2011. The donation for £720.00 was collected at the time by team members Gill Leigh and Ana Toole. Tonight we had the pleasure of welcoming some of the Committee Members down to our Ladybridge Hall Base / HQ to see how their donation had been spent. Team members Diane Blakeley, Ana Toole, Paul Copley and Kris Kilshaw met the members, later to be joined by Team Chairman Craig Lamb. It was a pleasure to be able to have the opportunity to invite their representatives to the base / HQ at Ladybridge Hall.

Bolton MRT and Ladybridge WI members with Bolton Mobile 1

The first stop was the teams garage to see two of our new Land Rover Ambulances Bolton Mobiles 1 and 3. Diane explained how the Land Rovers had been purpose built specifically for the teams requirements including special internal fittings for loading casualties on stretchers into the Land Rovers.

Part of the donation had been spent on new crag rescue equipment so Kris Kilshaw explained some of the equipment and how it is used including pulleys, harnesses, karabineers and ropes.

Bolton MRT Chairman Craig Lamb answers a variety of questions

Following a few photographs the visitors went upstairs to see the team’s Control Room area and training rooms with Craig, Ana and Diane. Craig then explained the contents of the teams Trauma Sacs (We have six in service) followed by Ana who demonstrated one of the teams pulse oximeters. The WI’s donation purchased for the team, four new pulse oximeters. These are relatively small but crucial pieces of equipment which measure oxygen saturation and pulse rates very accurately.

The team members then answered lots of questions and told various stories from over the many years of some of their most memorable rescues that the team had taken part in. The team members were impressed by the range of questions and the interest shown by all the visitors.

WI President Rhoda Seddon, Team Member Diane Blakeley, WI Vice President Linda Blakeley, Team Member Kris Kilshaw with some of the purchased equipment

All team members of Bolton Mountain Rescue Team would like to thank all the members of Ladybridge WI for their fantastic donation and continued support which has now continued for over 25 years.