This evening at the conclusion of our weekly training session, at our Ladybridge Hall Base / HQ and in the presence of the thirty one Call Out list members and one Support Group member attending, very experienced team member Ken Oakes, of Lostock, Bolton was awarded a Certificate honouring his fifteen years service to the Bolton Mountain Rescue Team.

Awarded via our regional body, the Mid Pennine Search and Rescue Organisation, the framed certificate was handed over to Ken by our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE, who outlined to those present Ken’s service since he joined the team when he was still a serving GMP Inspector, on 15th May 1996.

Garry commented that Ken has held three positions within the Team Council, all three for long periods of office, including the posts of Equipment Officer (Medical) and Equipment Officer (Vehicles) and latterly from 2006 to this March, 2011, the important position of Team Chairman.

When he joined Ken brought to the team his valued hill walking experience, and his considerable experiences as a Police Officer, which has contributed greatly to the development of the team.

Fifteen years later, Ken is still a fully active member of the team, and has a considerable wealth of experience of operational call outs with the team and training exercises ‘under his belt.’

Here’s to your Twenty Years Certificate!