At team training this week we said farewell to one of our longer serving team members.
Fiona has been a mountain rescue team member for 23 years; 10 years with Buxton Mountain Rescue Team and 13 with us. But, after a busy 23 years, Fiona has decided to hang up her red jacket.
“I still vividly remember one of my first training sessions as an MR member back with Buxton team. It was a crisp, cold evening in January and we were training. I ended up at the head end of the stretcher and we rehearsed sledging our casualty over snow in crampons in the dark. It’s one of many skills I have learned over 23 years as a member of Buxton team and Northumberland National Park Mountain Rescue Team.”
In addition to being a full team member of both teams, Fiona has also been a specialist casualty carer. She reflected on her time in mountain rescue.
“I have so many memories – some happy; some tragic; some very funny; some I don’t want to talk about. Over those 23 years I have had plans cancelled or changed; nights of sleep disrupted; days out curtailed; called in child care favours and school/club pick ups from friends; been unwaveringly supported by family and friends because Mountain Rescue teams are there for the public all day, every day. We do it for free because we know that one day it could be us in need of those reassuring red jackets and lights in the darkness coming over the horizon in our hour of need.”
Team leader for Northumberland National Park Mountain Rescue team, Iain Nixon commented on Fiona’s time in the team. “Fiona has been a valued member of the team for over 13 years and in that time, she has contributed to assisting with rescuing dozens of people.
We’re sad that she’s leaving the team, but hope that if things change in the future, she’ll consider rejoining.”
The team will formally recognise Fiona’s service at their AGM in October.
