A TOTAL of 28 members gathered for the monthly meeting of Crediton Probus Club on Tuesday, March 7, a day of rather indifferent weather.

Grace was said by Brian Healey and we settled to our usual excellent lunch.

Richard Adams began by telling us that Ken Down had joined our ranks; he was duly welcomed by members. The quote was then given by David Sylvester, then, the draw prize, a lovely basket of fruit, was won by Keith Beetlestone.

Our President, Richard Adams, then introduced the speaker, Mick Burke from the North Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team.

Mick told us that the North Dartmoor Search and Reascue team was formed in 1968.

It is an entirely volunteer organisation whose mission statement “searching for people in remote and impenetrable places” describes exactly what they do. It is one of four search and rescue groups that make up the Dartmoor Rescue Group, itself affiliated to a national body, the Mountain Rescue Council.

Because of this affiliation, the North Dartmoor group operates a Search and Rescue service over the whole of Dartmoor, and the rest of Devon and may be used to support the Cornwall and the Exmoor search and rescue teams.

The founder of the North Dartmoor team, Fred Barlow, developed a group equipped to search for people lost on or near the moor.

It gradually evolved into a team of 32 people (the eventual aim is to increase this to 50) with a very diverse range of skills. It includes a good sprinkling of doctors (three) and paramedics, a former mid-wife, builders and people with other “hands-on” skills together with a solicitor and many more.

There are now half-a-dozen lady members. The team is equipped with state-of-the-art search equipment. Some of their vehicles have been handed on to them by the police.

Potential group members are chosen in June and start a training programme that tries to provide them with orientation skills, expertise in casualty care, navigational and communications skills, rope and swift water rescue abilities and possibly most importantly, the ability to manage a search.

Recruits are assessed after training (which can last up to eight months) and those appointed to the team are then given their kit (which is worth up to £600).

The Ten Tors Challenge (founded in 1959/60) is a very busy time for the team. Organised by the Army, this is now very well run. It is limited to 400 teams of six teenagers.

In 2016 there were 36 call outs for the team (a single call out can last several days) and there have been 11 so far in 2017.

Mick emphasised that North Dartmoor Search and Rescue was an entirely volunteer organisation completely reliant on public support.

Mick was thanked for his very interesting talk by Ray.

The meeting ended with the toast “To the next time!”.

KB