Rescuers Honoured by Police
Thursday, 04 September, 2008
Left to right: Phil HAIGH (Picked up the award on behalf of Brian BOARDMAN) John BOLLANDS, Gari FINCH, Jack PICKUP (CRO Chairman) Howard DRIVER (UWFRA Chairman), Dr William LUMB (Swaledale Chairman), Christopher BAKER, Roger SWAINSTON, Andrew PRIESTLEY, A
North Yorkshire Police held an inaugural awards ceremony for Search and Rescue Teams on Tuesday evening.
Members of five organisations from around the area were presented with team and individual awards by Chief Constable Grahame Maxwell at an event held at Solberge Hall near Northallerton.
The awards were held in recognition and appreciation of the rescue organisations' invaluable assistance given to North Yorkshire Police over the years.
The ceremony was also attended by Deputy Chief Constable Adam Briggs, Acting Assistant Chief Constable Sue Cross, guests inlcuded The Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire Lord Crathorne and Jane Kenyon, Chairman of North Yorkshire Police Authority.
Teams honoured included Cleveland Search and Rescue, Cave Rescue Organisation (based in Clapham near Ingleton). Swaledale Mountain Rescue Team, Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association and Scarborough and Ryedale Mountain Rescue Team.
PC Jon Rushton of the force's Tactical Planning Unit who arranged the awards, said: "We wanted a way of showing our gratitude to the members of these teams. We regularly call on them for assistance with various incidents across the county, their dedication and professionalism is unending and greatly appreciated.
"We hope the awards go some way to convey our acknowledgement and thanks for their support."
Chief Constable Graham Maxwell added: "It is an honour to present the awards and to show our thanks for the teams' work. The members are all volunteers who turn out to assist us at any time of the day or night, in all kinds of conditions and this is one way of showing our appreciation for their work."
Individual awards for outstanding service, commitment and dedication were presented to: Roger Swainston of Swaledale Mountain Rescue Team, Gari Finch of Cleveland Search and Rescue Team, Andrew Priestley of Scarborough and Ryedale Mountain Rescue Team Christopher Baker of Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association and Brian Boardman of the Cave Rescue Organisation.
Jane Kenyon presented each team with £3,000 from the force's Disposal of Property Fund. This fund is made up of proceeds from the sale of unclaimed property recovered from burglaries or seized as a result of criminal investigations.
