Sadly we have to report that very experienced and long serving Team Call Out list member, Neil Aspinall, has decided to stand down from the team for the immediate future.

Neil, aged 42, of Eccleston, Chorley, joined the team in January 2001, after many years of associating with the team as a local voluntary Countryside Ranger.
During his considerable time in the team Neil has brought to the team a wealth of intimate local knowledge about the local moorlands and surrounding areas.
Famous (Indeed infamous perhaps) in the team for his sometimes outspoken views, that more often than not brought a close to proceedings / or had everybody in fits of laughter!

In recent years Neil has greatly assisted our Elected Vehicles Officer Chris Greenhalgh, as his ’Unofficial Deputy,’ and also contributed much personal time throughout late last year and early this year with regards to our purchase of three brand new Land Rover Defender Mountain Rescue Ambulance vehicles.

At our Annual Team Dinner this May, Neil was the proud recipient of a certificate issued by our regional body, the Mid Pennine Search and Rescue Organisation, honoring his steadfast ten years contribution to the Bolton Mountain Rescue Team and Mountain Rescue in general.

We will all miss Neil’s booming laughter, and dare we say it, his larger than life character.

We all wish you good health Neil, and fingers crossed you will be back with the team very soon.

Neil Aspinall receiving his MPSRO 10 years in Mountain Rescue Certificate at this years annual Team Dinner, from our Team Leader Garry Rhodes MBE