On Sunday 27th September 2015, Sharon Readey, the Treasurer and Ladies Captain of Blackrod Cricket Club organised a Rounders Tournament, with funds raised being split between her Cricket Club and Bolton Mountain Rescue Team (in memory of one of their players – Elspeth Stears).
The tournament commenced at 10am and carried on in to the afternoon, during a perfect sunny warm day, at Blackrod Cricket Club, off Vicarage Road, Blackrod, Bolton.
Present representing the team on the day was our Chairman Craig Lamb, Chris Tennant and Trainee team member Steve James who attended in our Land Rover Defender Mountain Rescue Ambulance, ‘Bolton Mobile 4,’ being joined by our Equipment Officer – Base and Catering Paul Copley and Gillian Leigh.
Later in the afternoon our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE and Michael Wakerley visited, in our Volkswagen Crafter van based Incident Control Vehicle, ‘Bolton Mobile 6.’
The team had previously benefitted from the kindness of many people who made donations to us in memory of Elspeth, and visiting the tournament was the least we could have done.
Mrs Elspeth Ann Stears died as a result of an unfortunate accident on 2nd May 2015, whilst on the Coast to Coast route, walking in the vicinity of Ennerdale Water, in the Lake District.
Cockermouth MRT attended to Elspeth, along with the North West Air Ambulance, and she was flown to Carlisle Hospital by a RAF SAR Sea King of ‘C’ Flight, 22 Squadron RAF Valley, but unfortunately succumbed to her injuries.
On Friday 22nd May 2015, we reported within our website ‘News’ pages on the receipt of a very kind letter from Mrs Pauline Fraser of Maghull, Merseyside, enclosing a £40.00 donation to Elspeth’s memory.
We further reported on Monday 15th June 2015, that our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE had received a letter from the Co-operative Funeralcare, enclosing fourteen donations, totalling £686.30p all to the everlasting memory of Elspeth.
This evening we warmly welcomed Sharon Readey, the Treasurer and Ladies Captain of Blackrod Cricket Club, and her colleagues Ann Marie Bohm and Val Cresswell, all three from the Rounders Section of the Cricket Club, to our Ladybridge Hall Base / HQ at 19.00hrs.
They were met by our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE, Team Secretary Gillian Gregory and Call Out list member Martin Battersby.
Their visit was to handover a wonderful £300.00 donation to the team arising from their Sunday 27th September 2015 fundraising day.
Whilst present all three also saw the Dedication Plaque we have in our Base / HQ dedicated to the everlasting memory of their friend and player colleague Mrs Elspeth Ann Stears.
Staying until circa 21.00hrs all three departed stating what a wonderful and informative evening they had had, and pledging to return on a full ‘visit’ in the future with more of their members, to find out more about the work of the Bolton Mountain Rescue Team.
The team would like to express its thanks to all who took place in the Rounders Tournament at Blackrod, raising funds for both ourselves and Blackrod Cricket club to the everlasting memory of Elspeth, with especial thanks to Sharon Readey, organiser of the days tournament,
Please also see website ‘News’ report dated Friday 22nd May 2015, Monday 15th June 2015 and Sunday 27th September 2015.
