Rescue Services are there to help us when things go wrong – we all know that. But how many of us know how they started, how they operate and who pays for them?
I found this fascinating page on the Mountain Rescue England and Wales website.
It is well worth a read, and shares some fascinating information on the risks and tenacity of the people involved.
Walking the hills for pleasure was once a pastime only for the wealthy; for others like farmers and shepherds it was a necessity and being rescued in the event of an accident was a vain hope. Walking the hills for pleasure is now a national pastime and we have the rescue services to thank for making it a safe environment for us.
Mountain Rescue services are continuously working toward improving equipment and efficiency, and for those of us who have grown up with satellite and mobile phone it is hard to imagine that once there was rarely even a phone line at the foot of a mountain or in the local hotel.
Mountain Rescue England and Wales is now a highly organized and efficient organization with HRH Prince William of Wales is their patron.
Moountain Rescue England and Wales include a full history as well some useful advice on staying safe in their book: ‘Call Out Mountain Rescue. A Pocket Guide to Safety on the Hills’ which is only £9.99, and supports a good cause.
It is available from editor@mountain.rescue.org.uk