Today from circa 10.30hrs until 15.30hrs, the team attended Darwen Fire Station Open Day, with sunny warm weather prevailing throughout the day.
Present at the Open Day was the based Fire Appliances and the joint based NWAS (Lancashire) Emergency Ambulance and crew, alongside food stalls and other attractions.
Sixteen team members attended, alongside two of our Land Rover Defender Mountain Rescue Ambulances, radio call signs ‘Bolton Mobiles 1 and 2,’ alongside our Volkswagen Crafter van based Incident Control Vehicle, radio call sign ‘Bolton Mobile 6.’
During the day, team members Gary Melia, Michael Wakerley, Trainee member Heath Doran and our Training Officer Alistair Greenough, assisted by our Chairman Craig Lamb, undertook a double rope vertical line rescue demonstration from the Fire Station (open metalwork) training tower, with public address system commentary provided by experienced and very long serving team member Diane Blakeley.
Considerable interest was shown in our vehicle and team search and rescue equipment demonstration, with a fantastic £19.46p being kindly donated by members of public in support of our work within the Darwen and area community.
At this same Open Day, our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE and Training Officer Alistair Greenough, met with LFRS Darwen Fire Station Watch Manager Tony Keane, joined by colleague Watch Manager (Retained Duty System) Steve Brown, to discuss joint liaison opportunities between Bolton MRT and LFRS Darwen Fire Station crews, to build upon past links and strengthen our existing links.
From this meeting today, on Wednesday evening 30th September 2015, the team will be visiting LFRS Darwen, to gain an insight in to the work of the based crews, their kit and appliances, including their water rescue capabilities.
On a date yet to be arranged, for a Monday evening soon, a small group of Bolton MRT members, including our Team Leader and Training Officer, will be further visiting Darwen Fire Station, to give a presentation on the work and role of Bolton MRT, and to give a demonstration of the comprehensive search and rescue equipment in use by the team.
Garry and Alistair also talked to Watch Manager Tony Keane about some forthcoming Bolton MRT training exercises, which might present joint training opportunities for LFRS Darwen to become involved in.
