Dave Williams on beach-crags near Tywyn, early 70s
The 1970’s
At the turn of the decade, mountain rescues within our area were being co-ordinated by the Fire Brigade at Dolgellau Station. However there was a growing concern in some circles about what was regarded as ineffective coordination from an organisation seen as having little or no expertise in mountaineering and mountain rescue. This came to boiling point when an article in the Daily Post 27th Aug ’71 praised the Deputy Chief Fire Officer for co-ordinating the search for a missing boy. Those who had taken part in the search took exception to what they saw as a gross misrepresentation of the reality, feeling that the rescue took place “without the aid or interference” of Dolgellau Fire Brigade.[i] What followed was, even by today’s standards, an uncomfortable spat, played out in the letters page of the Daily Post, where OB’s Instructor in Charge of Rescues, in multiple letters of the same date, pulled no punches in detailing what he perceived as the many failings of the Fire Service, accusing them of “inefficiency and ignorance” in matters of mountain rescue, and suggesting they had “little useful effect.[ii]” Copies were posted to Dolgellau Fire Station and to the MRC. Though the need for a better and more enlightened approach to mountain rescue coordination may have been overdue given the ever increasing work-load, the MRC were unsurprisingly alarmed at the public airing of divisions between two trusted and highly valued emergency services. They found the vilifying of Dolgellau Fire Brigade personnel “ungenerous”, pointing out that their rescue work was also a “voluntary service taken on over and above their normal duties, ”and that many people had “a good reason to be grateful to them.”[iii] They urged a more prudent and friendly approach to solving the issue, and encouraged the involvement of the MRC Welsh sub-committee in the matter.
In October ’71, the Daily Post reported again on these concerns, and detailed a proposed mechanism by which North Wales Police, in conjunction with Rescue Team coordinators would assess individual incidents and deploy resources so as to maximize efficiency whilst maintaining cover in areas distant to that incident.[iv] This is essentially the same structure to which the Teams still operate.
At the turn of the decade, mountain rescues within our area were being co-ordinated by the Fire Brigade at Dolgellau Station. However there was a growing concern in some circles about what was regarded as ineffective coordination from an organisation seen as having little or no expertise in mountaineering and mountain rescue. This came to boiling point when an article in the Daily Post 27th Aug ’71 praised the Deputy Chief Fire Officer for co-ordinating the search for a missing boy. Those who had taken part in the search took exception to what they saw as a gross misrepresentation of the reality, feeling that the rescue took place “without the aid or interference” of Dolgellau Fire Brigade.[i] What followed was, even by today’s standards, an uncomfortable spat, played out in the letters page of the Daily Post, where OB’s Instructor in Charge of Rescues, in multiple letters of the same date, pulled no punches in detailing what he perceived as the many failings of the Fire Service, accusing them of “inefficiency and ignorance” in matters of mountain rescue, and suggesting they had “little useful effect.[ii]” Copies were posted to Dolgellau Fire Station and to the MRC. Though the need for a better and more enlightened approach to mountain rescue coordination may have been overdue given the ever increasing work-load, the MRC were unsurprisingly alarmed at the public airing of divisions between two trusted and highly valued emergency services. They found the vilifying of Dolgellau Fire Brigade personnel “ungenerous”, pointing out that their rescue work was also a “voluntary service taken on over and above their normal duties, ”and that many people had “a good reason to be grateful to them.”[iii] They urged a more prudent and friendly approach to solving the issue, and encouraged the involvement of the MRC Welsh sub-committee in the matter.
In October ’71, the Daily Post reported again on these concerns, and detailed a proposed mechanism by which North Wales Police, in conjunction with Rescue Team coordinators would assess individual incidents and deploy resources so as to maximize efficiency whilst maintaining cover in areas distant to that incident.[iv] This is essentially the same structure to which the Teams still operate.
The North Wales Mountain Rescue Association (NWMRA), an evolution of the MRC sub-committee, was formed in May, 1973, to formalize the existing Mountain Rescue system in the region. At the initial meeting, many of the proto-Teams, based around their individual rescue post, were identified by their particular post number, although Rhinog, Llanberis and RAF Valley MRT were named in full.[v] In their meeting of September the same year, OB sends its apologies as they were “out on a call-out”[vi]. It is the date of the formal recognition of the OB Team by NWMRA that we pin our birthday flags to; potentially a decade or more since rescue operations from the School began. Similarly Llanberis team describe themselves as formed 1968, recognised by the MRC 1973[vii]
As the decade moved on, things became more formalised, with further NWMRA discussions about how a Team should be constituted, and about nationally agreed badging. The Police undertook to provide insurance cover for only those individuals called-out to a rescue and there was some consequential issues arising over the public use of MR Post equipment. [viii]
By 1974 Ogwen Valley MRO, Moelwyn MRT, Valley MRT, Rhinog MRT, Llanberis MRT and OB were all recorded as Teams within North Wales[ix]. This year also saw Dave Williams, our longest serving volunteer, take up an instructor post at OB. Dave took over managing the Team around 1977; a position that morphed into Team Leader further down the line.
As the decade moved on, things became more formalised, with further NWMRA discussions about how a Team should be constituted, and about nationally agreed badging. The Police undertook to provide insurance cover for only those individuals called-out to a rescue and there was some consequential issues arising over the public use of MR Post equipment. [viii]
By 1974 Ogwen Valley MRO, Moelwyn MRT, Valley MRT, Rhinog MRT, Llanberis MRT and OB were all recorded as Teams within North Wales[ix]. This year also saw Dave Williams, our longest serving volunteer, take up an instructor post at OB. Dave took over managing the Team around 1977; a position that morphed into Team Leader further down the line.
As to how voluntary the OB rescue team was in those days is a moot point. It was taken as read that this service fell within normal instructor duties, and, according to Dave, they were “not asked.” The phrase “press-ganged” was also used. As it was so finely integrated into the workings of the School, the Team management structure was initially one and the same as the School, and terms like Team Leader were not used; “Instructor in Charge of Rescue” being a term appearing on paperwork. Tony Mills, a senior instructor by 1974, was recounted as being one of the first Team managers, though with the School operating rescues for perhaps the previous 5-10 years, perhaps this represents a formalisation of roles associated with incorporation into NWMRA.
Tony Mills, 3rd from left on front row, leading a hill-party on Cader Idris, '73/74
No specific MR kit was issued to the OB “volunteers,” who already had an equipment allowance in their capacity as instructors, and the Team made use of the School’s equipment and 3-ton canvas-backed trucks. For communication, the Team was issued with VHF radios by North Wales Police: 4 hand-sets and 1 vehicle set. With the Team essentially based at the School, there was no need for establishing a base beyond some dedicated storage space; a habit that has persisted for the subsequent 50 years.
In a time before mobile phones, having a switchboard manned 24h a day and having staff who lived on site, and could therefore be easily contacted ,made the OB school a natural hub for rescue coordination, with the centre deploying a hasty party to assess an incident with the option of calling on staff from other centres as required.
In a time before mobile phones, having a switchboard manned 24h a day and having staff who lived on site, and could therefore be easily contacted ,made the OB school a natural hub for rescue coordination, with the centre deploying a hasty party to assess an incident with the option of calling on staff from other centres as required.
[BACK]
[i] Letter dated 27/8/71 from F.A. Fray, Instructor in charge of Rescues OB to Liverpool Daily Post and Echo
[ii] Letter dated 27/8/71 from F.A. Fray, Instructor in charge of Rescues OB to Chief Fire Officer
[iii] Letter dated 7/9/71 from MRC to OB
[iv] Daily Post 1/10/71
[v] MRC North Wales Sub Committee minutes March 1973
[vi] NWMRA minutes September 1973
[vii]http://www.llanberismountainrescue.co.uk/about/history#:~:text=The%20principals%20of%20the%20numerous,Mountain%20Rescue%20Team%20was%20formed.
[viii] NMWRA minutes December 1973
[ix] NMWRA minutes May 1974
[i] Letter dated 27/8/71 from F.A. Fray, Instructor in charge of Rescues OB to Liverpool Daily Post and Echo
[ii] Letter dated 27/8/71 from F.A. Fray, Instructor in charge of Rescues OB to Chief Fire Officer
[iii] Letter dated 7/9/71 from MRC to OB
[iv] Daily Post 1/10/71
[v] MRC North Wales Sub Committee minutes March 1973
[vi] NWMRA minutes September 1973
[vii]http://www.llanberismountainrescue.co.uk/about/history#:~:text=The%20principals%20of%20the%20numerous,Mountain%20Rescue%20Team%20was%20formed.
[viii] NMWRA minutes December 1973
[ix] NMWRA minutes May 1974