The 2000’s
In 2000 the Team was awarded the Chief Constables Commendation for commitment and valour
At the turn of the millennium, the Team maintained (as it does still) a store of equipment at OB, and use was still being made of OB minibuses, but as a now increasingly independent organisation, other approaches were coming into play.
Dave W had moved on from his instructor job at OB and served as a Snowdonia National Park Authority Warden. A stash of team kit lived permanently in the back of his SNPA Isuzu, and also in deputy TL Chris M’s Peugeot van. More kit was stored at Chris M’s bike shop in Dolgellau, and then later, at the SNPA depot.
In 2000 the Team was awarded the Chief Constables Commendation for commitment and valour
At the turn of the millennium, the Team maintained (as it does still) a store of equipment at OB, and use was still being made of OB minibuses, but as a now increasingly independent organisation, other approaches were coming into play.
Dave W had moved on from his instructor job at OB and served as a Snowdonia National Park Authority Warden. A stash of team kit lived permanently in the back of his SNPA Isuzu, and also in deputy TL Chris M’s Peugeot van. More kit was stored at Chris M’s bike shop in Dolgellau, and then later, at the SNPA depot.
Although still named OBWSART at the time, curiously this seems to have been too wordy and Nick's badge anticipates the name change by a good few years.
Nick Young joined the Team in 2001. The recruitment and training process went like this:
“NY (talking to National Park Warden at foot of Cader Idris): Hello, I’ve not long moved to the area and am interested in joining a Mountain Rescue team. Do you know if there is one around here please?
DW: There is, and as it happens I’m Team leader. Here, fill in this form and come along to the precipice walk carpark next Sunday at 10 a.m.”
“I then went onto the callout list with a ‘T’ for trainee next to my name for couple of years, after which it vanished and I presumably became a full team member. Team issued kit was a Team badge and a VHF radio. The rest was down to me”
“NY (talking to National Park Warden at foot of Cader Idris): Hello, I’ve not long moved to the area and am interested in joining a Mountain Rescue team. Do you know if there is one around here please?
DW: There is, and as it happens I’m Team leader. Here, fill in this form and come along to the precipice walk carpark next Sunday at 10 a.m.”
“I then went onto the callout list with a ‘T’ for trainee next to my name for couple of years, after which it vanished and I presumably became a full team member. Team issued kit was a Team badge and a VHF radio. The rest was down to me”
In 2005, the MRC rebranded itself as Mountain Rescue England & Wales, MREW. Nick’s original badge, still doing service on a seemingly indestructible fleece, predates this change. However, the team name is given as Aberdyfi rather than the unwieldy OBSWART, curiously anticipating the actual name change of the Team by at least 7 years.