Bolton Mountain Rescue Team has been recognised for its service to the community with the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, the highest award a voluntary group can receive in the UK. The Team was involved in 99 call outs in 2015 and played a key role in flood rescue and support to its local community and further afield during the events of December.
The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service is the highest award given to local volunteer groups across the UK to recognise outstanding work in their communities and Bolton Mountain Rescue Team is one of 193 charities, social enterprises and voluntary groups to receive the Award in 2016. The Award was created in 2002 to celebrate the Queen’s Golden Jubilee and winners are announced each year on the 2nd of June – the anniversary of the Queen’s Coronation.
As recipients of the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, a representative of the Team was invited to attend a Royal garden party earlier in the year and Bolton Mountain Rescue Team will receive the award from the Lord Lieutenant of Greater Manchester, Mr. Warren J. Smith KStJ JP DLitt LLD later this summer. Garry Rhodes MBE, who retired as Team Leader in March 2016, represented the Team at Buckingham Palace on Tuesday 24th May 2016. He said:
“It was a privilege and an honour to represent the Team at the Royal Garden Party at Buckingham Palace. The Award is recognition of every member’s contribution and service to our local community and it is a particular honour to receive it in HM The Queen’s 90th year.”
The Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service Committee Chair, former broadcast journalist Sir Martyn Lewis said:
“I warmly congratulate all of the inspirational voluntary groups who have been rewarded for their community work with a Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service. The judging panel for this year’s awards were struck by the quality and breadth of all the successful groups. The thousands of volunteers who give up spare time to help others in their community.”
Minister for Civil Society, Rob Wilson, said:
“I would like to congratulate all groups who received this year’s Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, in recognition of their fantastic achievements. The huge amount of work and commitment these organisations put into their local communities is surpassed only by the passion and motivation of the individuals who volunteer.”
Chair, Bolton Mountain Rescue Team, Gillian Leigh said:
“I was delighted to be informed that the Team is a recipient of the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Service, recognition of 48 years of voluntary service by the Team. During that time, our members have given their time and energy over decades to help 1000s of people and it is a service we provide 24hrs a day, 365 days a year free of charge with no public funding.
We have come to the aid of our community; looking for the missing, aiding the injured and rescuing people from the moors and in the urban areas we live and operate in. It’s so much more than mountains and this Award is recognition to all those who are volunteering and have volunteered over 48 years in Bolton Mountain Rescue Team.”
