Bay Search and Rescue Team
A team of unpaid volunteers who combine specialist training and local knowledge to provide support for H.M. Coastguard, Mountain Rescue Teams and other Emergency Services on and around Morecambe Bay. Operational Team members take part in regular training and assessment and are prepared to respond to emergency calls subject to work and family commitments. Most team members live on the Cartmel Peninsula but some work outside the local area. Currently the Team is drawn from Levens, Milnthorpe, Cartmel, Grange over Sands, Kents Bank, Allithwaite and Flookburgh. Our aim is to have enough trained personnel for the team to be available 24/7 throughout the year.
Training takes place on one evening and one full day each month. The training syllabus includes vehicle driving and maintenance, radio usage, command and control procedure, casualty care, water rescue, powerboat handling, marine and land search and rescue techniques, mud rescue, working with other teams and working with helicopters. All members are required to update their training and competences regularly.
Operational Team
Gary
Parsons
Operational Team Leader, Chairman, Trustee,
Senior (paediatric) Operating
Department Practitioner. (Royal
Liverpool Childrens Hospital),
(Team Leader Anaesthetics)
UK Resuscitation Council Approved,
(Advanced Life Support Provider),
Adult And Paediatric basic
life support instructor, Nvq3
Certificate of Higher Education
Operating Department Practise,
Level two RYA off shore powerboat
cert, RYA Yacht Masters Navigation
(shore Based) Hagglund driver, VHF Certificate,
Water Rescue Awareness.
Gary is one of the founder
members of the
team and the team Medic. He
works at The Royal Liverpool Children's
Hospital (Alderhey). He teaches
emergency anaesthesia and resuscitation,
and participates in the hospital
crash team. He served with HM
Coastguard Arnside for 6 years
prior to founding the 'Bay Search & Rescue
Team'. He has been decorated
twice with awards for conduct
above & beyond
the call of duty by the Liverpool
Shipwreck & Humane
Society, and by the Chief Coast
Guard, as part of the
team who rescued a man stuck
in Quicksand, whilst the tide
came in round their waists, and
his neck in 1996.
Julian
Buckmaster
Operational Team Leader,
Company Secretary, Trustee, Senior
Hagglund driver, HGV driver,
VHF Certificate,
First Aider, Water Rescue
Awareness.
Julian is the Senior Hagglund driver and responsible for driver training within the team. He is an experienced off road driver, qualified HGV driver and as team Hagglund specialist he oversees all maintenance of our primary rescue vehicle. Jools works locally for a large utility company.
Paul
Calland
Operational Team Member, Treasurer, Trustee, Hagglund driver, Team IT Manager, RYA Powerboat level 2, First Aider, Water Rescue Awareness.
Paul is the Managing Director of a local design and print company and with a long background in computers handles the teams IT requirements. He has worked in the MOD in mllitary vehicle design and is an experienced off road driver. A Queen Scout Award holder he spent many years as a Scout leader including time in the USA teaching American Scouts survival training, canoeing, caving and white water rafting.
Bill
Byford
Operational Team Member, Team Equipment Officer
Hagglund driver, RYA Powerboat
level 2, VHF Certificate, First
Aider, Water Rescue Awareness.
Bill is the team's equipment officer and responsible for the issuing, checking and maintenance of all PPE and team equipment. He is a retired detective who lives at Kents Bank and as a keen digital photographer he records many of our training excercises and callouts.
Stuart
Hamilton
Operational Team Member, Hagglund driver, VHF Certificate, First Aider, Water Rescue Awareness.
Stuart who is a keen canoeist is one of the longest serving members of the team and has served on the board of Trustees for the charity.
Mike
Davis
Operational Team Member, Hagglund driver, RYA Powerboat level 2, VHF Certificate, First Aider, Water Rescue Awareness.
Mike is the manager of a local company and lives in Allithwaite. He has been with the team for a number of years and served on the board of Trustees for the charity.
Darren
Walker
Operational Team Member, Hagglund driver, HGV Driver, RYA Powerboat level 2, VHF Certificate, First Aider.
Darren has lived in Grange Over Sands all of his life, and has always had a fascination with the bay. He was a member of the Royal Life Saving Society for 5 years, and was a teacher for 2 of those. He has served on the board of trustees for the charity.
John
Shaw
Operational Team Member, Hagglund driver, VHF Certificate, First Aider, Water Rescue Awareness.
An experienced team member who as been with the team for many years.
Ben
Jinks
Operational Team Member, Trustee, Hagglund driver, RYA Powerboat level 2, VHF Certificate, First Aider, Swift Water Rescue Technician, Water Rescue Awareness.
Ben is one of the younger members of our team and very enthusiastic. With his plant equipment experience he is taking a hands on role with the maintenance of our Hagglund rescue vehicle.
Stewart
Barber
Operational Team Member, VHF Certificate, First Aider, Water Rescue Awareness.
James
Burrows
Operational Team Member, Hagglund driver, RYA Powerboat level 2, VHF Certificate, First Aider, Swift Water Rescue Technician, Water Rescue Awareness.
Martin
Wright
Operational Team Member, VHF Certificate.
Martin spent many years in the Royal Navy and this background brings extensive skills to the team.
