Two experienced team call out list members have recently left the team after giving us valued and committed service.

Mike O’Brien, who joined the team in February 2008, started in the outdoors originally with the Air Cadets.

During his team membership Mike spent some time as a Team Council member in the elected position of Equipment Officer – Ropes and Stretchers.

He also helped with many building maintenance tasks to our Ladybridge Hall Base / HQ, and was recently involved in the selection of some new team member kit issue items, namely new helmets and waterproof mountain jackets.

With the birth this month of another baby in his young family, Finley (his fourth child – all boys), and a recent change in his employment adding more responsibilities, combined with another impending complete career change, when in October he joins the full time emergency services, Mike has decided to leave the team for family reasons and to concentrate on his future employment.

David Crawford joined the team in November 2010 from a mountaineering background, and with recent retirement from his consultancy work, has been spending more time with his family, immediate past and planning future trips – having recently summited Kilimanjaro.

David, as with Mike, was a regular and reliable attender at team call outs, training and other team commitments.

David over the last few years in the team has been helping our Secretary Gillian Gregory, ‘source willing volunteers’ from the team to speak at and help at our many lectures – such was David’s gentle nature in asking that few could ever refuse!

Both had a wealth of experience on a great many incidents attended by the team, and also had particular interests in mountain rescue medical care issues.

The team membership wishes both Mike and David all the best in their futures beyond the team membership, David in his retirement and future outdoor activities and trips abroad, and Mike with his young family and in his future emergency services employment.