The 50’s and 60’s
In 1950, and formed from the amalgamation of the First-Aid Committee and various other organisations trying to improve rescues in mountainous terrain, the Mountain Rescue Committee (MRC, now Mountain Rescue England and Wales; MREW) came into being. Initially, there was little direct communication with teams beyond the six monthly meetings of the MRC in Manchester. As new teams continued to spring up as a consequence of a number of high-profile incidents, they consequently developed their own management structure, funding strategies, ethos and techniques, each subtly adapted to their own personnel and environment. This occasionally led to fierce rivalry between Teams with different but often equally effective approaches.[i]
One of the tasks overseen by MRC was the continuing establishment and equipping of “Mountain Rescue Posts” with their characteristic cast iron badges. These might typically contain a stretcher, various splints, iodine, bandages, kettle, primus stove, and an eiderdown for use as required. Posts made use of likely pubs, climbing club huts, outdoor centres and the like; places where climbers and mountaineers congregated. They were managed by the hosts with the help of donated funds and under the supervision of a designated individual[ii]. With the emphasis still very much on the idea that mountain groups self-rescue wherever possible, the equipment was made available for use by anyone. This open access came at a price, and occasional instances of theft and vandalism were noted.[iii][iv]
The posts also seem to have become a focus for ad hoc groups of volunteers, and many such groups went on to form the Teams we see today. A rather stylized view of this set-up can be seen in footage from 1959.[v]
In 1950, and formed from the amalgamation of the First-Aid Committee and various other organisations trying to improve rescues in mountainous terrain, the Mountain Rescue Committee (MRC, now Mountain Rescue England and Wales; MREW) came into being. Initially, there was little direct communication with teams beyond the six monthly meetings of the MRC in Manchester. As new teams continued to spring up as a consequence of a number of high-profile incidents, they consequently developed their own management structure, funding strategies, ethos and techniques, each subtly adapted to their own personnel and environment. This occasionally led to fierce rivalry between Teams with different but often equally effective approaches.[i]
One of the tasks overseen by MRC was the continuing establishment and equipping of “Mountain Rescue Posts” with their characteristic cast iron badges. These might typically contain a stretcher, various splints, iodine, bandages, kettle, primus stove, and an eiderdown for use as required. Posts made use of likely pubs, climbing club huts, outdoor centres and the like; places where climbers and mountaineers congregated. They were managed by the hosts with the help of donated funds and under the supervision of a designated individual[ii]. With the emphasis still very much on the idea that mountain groups self-rescue wherever possible, the equipment was made available for use by anyone. This open access came at a price, and occasional instances of theft and vandalism were noted.[iii][iv]
The posts also seem to have become a focus for ad hoc groups of volunteers, and many such groups went on to form the Teams we see today. A rather stylized view of this set-up can be seen in footage from 1959.[v]
Within the current Aberdyfi SRT area there were MRC posts established at the Outward Bound (OB) Sea School (Post 24), King’s Youth Hostel, Arthog, near Dolgellau, and Dolgellau Fire station (Post 47). By this point OB was focused on personal development using the mountains as well as the sea, and so would have had experienced instructors living on site. Arthog Outdoor Education centre, opened in 1962 may well have contributed to the efforts of staff and visitors to Kings YH.
In 1958 the Army Outward Bound School opened at Morfa Camp, Tywyn, providing another rich seam of mountaineering expertise in the shape of another group of instructors.[vi] This has been referred to as a mobile MRC post.[vii]
At OB, many of the instructors lived on site, and students attended 28 day courses. In the early phase of the course, the instructors needed to be quite “hands-on”, but as the students grew in confidence and skill, the instructors took a much more behind the scenes role, freeing them up to take on rescue work. It would also seem that more experienced student groups were commonly taking part in some of the early rescues based around the OB Rescue Post.
Aberdyfi RNLI lifeboat station closed in 1931 but reopened as an inshore lifeboat station in November 1963, based also at the Outward Bound Sea School.[viii] With both the lifeboat and Mountain Rescue Post on site, the school would have become well versed in search and rescue strategies and the instructors were probably were heavily involved in both. In a report of a challenging mountain rescue undertaken by OB, one of the problems cited was that the “Lifeboat was already out on a different call-out” suggesting that this represented a conflicting demand on manpower resources.[ix]
A sub-committee of the MRC was formed to deal with the provision in North Wales. In 1969, meeting attendees included, amongst others, RAF Valley, Ogwen Valley, the Search and Rescue dogs association, the Army Outward Bound School and OB’s Capt. Fuller. The minutes also note that over the last few months, “personnel from some posts and Teams have attended the Flight [C Flight, 22 Squadron, Search and Rescue] at RAF valley for instruction on dry winching and liaison with Search and Rescue Helicopters in Rescue work.” Despite the dates used by many Teams (including our own) as their official formation, it is clear that many were operating in a recognisable format by the late 1960’s[x]
In 1958 the Army Outward Bound School opened at Morfa Camp, Tywyn, providing another rich seam of mountaineering expertise in the shape of another group of instructors.[vi] This has been referred to as a mobile MRC post.[vii]
At OB, many of the instructors lived on site, and students attended 28 day courses. In the early phase of the course, the instructors needed to be quite “hands-on”, but as the students grew in confidence and skill, the instructors took a much more behind the scenes role, freeing them up to take on rescue work. It would also seem that more experienced student groups were commonly taking part in some of the early rescues based around the OB Rescue Post.
Aberdyfi RNLI lifeboat station closed in 1931 but reopened as an inshore lifeboat station in November 1963, based also at the Outward Bound Sea School.[viii] With both the lifeboat and Mountain Rescue Post on site, the school would have become well versed in search and rescue strategies and the instructors were probably were heavily involved in both. In a report of a challenging mountain rescue undertaken by OB, one of the problems cited was that the “Lifeboat was already out on a different call-out” suggesting that this represented a conflicting demand on manpower resources.[ix]
A sub-committee of the MRC was formed to deal with the provision in North Wales. In 1969, meeting attendees included, amongst others, RAF Valley, Ogwen Valley, the Search and Rescue dogs association, the Army Outward Bound School and OB’s Capt. Fuller. The minutes also note that over the last few months, “personnel from some posts and Teams have attended the Flight [C Flight, 22 Squadron, Search and Rescue] at RAF valley for instruction on dry winching and liaison with Search and Rescue Helicopters in Rescue work.” Despite the dates used by many Teams (including our own) as their official formation, it is clear that many were operating in a recognisable format by the late 1960’s[x]
[BACK]
[i] https://www.mountain.rescue.org.uk/fact_file/fact-file-2-history-of-mountain-rescue/
[ii] https://www.mountain.rescue.org.uk/fact_file/fact-file-2-history-of-mountain-rescue/
[iii] NWMRA minutes September 1973
[v] https://youtu.be/imnMRIftjZk
[vi] https://www.raptcmuseum.co.uk/the-corps/timeline/
[vii] Undated meeting minutes circa 1971
[viii] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aberdovey_Lifeboat_Station
[ix]OB Incident Report dated 11/11/74
[x] MRC Wales Sub-Committee minutes August 1969
[i] https://www.mountain.rescue.org.uk/fact_file/fact-file-2-history-of-mountain-rescue/
[ii] https://www.mountain.rescue.org.uk/fact_file/fact-file-2-history-of-mountain-rescue/
[iii] NWMRA minutes September 1973
[v] https://youtu.be/imnMRIftjZk
[vi] https://www.raptcmuseum.co.uk/the-corps/timeline/
[vii] Undated meeting minutes circa 1971
[viii] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aberdovey_Lifeboat_Station
[ix]OB Incident Report dated 11/11/74
[x] MRC Wales Sub-Committee minutes August 1969