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 a minimum of one evening and one full day each month but usually there is something going on every week! 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, quicksand rescue, working with other teams and working with helicopters. All members are required to update their training and competences regularly.

Operational Team

Gary ParsonsGary Parsons

Station Officer/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.

Paul CallandPaul Calland

Deputy Station Officer/Treasurer/Trustee, Hagglund driver, Team IT Manager, Public Relations, 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 business and computers acts as the team treasurer and handles the teams print, website and 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.

Mike DavisMike Davis

Training Officer, 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. As well as being a very active team member he is also very involved in the Scouts at District level so often away camping and canoeing. Apart from Gary he is the longest serving member of the team and has served on the board of Trustees for the charity, so his experience is essential to the team. Mike received the Scout Association Award for Bravery for his part in our operations in Cockermouth in 2009.

Ben JinksBen Jinks

Operational Team Member/ SWRT/Trustee, Hagglund driver, RYA Powerboat level 2, VHF Certificate, First Aider, Swift Water Rescue Technician, Water Rescue Awareness.
Ben works for a plant company driving all sorts of plant equipment and machinery. Although one of the younger members of our team and the youngest trustee, he is very enthusiastic and heads up our swiftwater rescue roles and team training. With his plant equipment experience he is taking a hands on role with the operation and maintenance of our fleet of rescue vehicles and specifically the Hagglund bv206 ATERV's.

James BurrowsJames Burrows

Operational Team Member/SWRT, Hagglund driver, RYA Powerboat level 2, VHF Certificate, First Aider, Water Rescue Awareness. Swift Water Rescue Technician.
James works in his family carpet business and is the teams strongest swimmer (can do a length of the local training pool, underwater WITH a bouyancy aid on!)

Stewart BarberStewart Barber

Operational Team Member/SWRT, VHF Certificate, First Aider, Water Rescue Awareness, Swift Water Rescue Technician.
Stewart has been a team member for a few years now, and works as a site maintenance and groundsman for a local lodge park company.

Mark JamesonMark Jameson

Operational Team Member, Powerboat Level 1, First Aider, Off road driving certificate, off road trailer certificate, work at height trained. Amateur radio and comms specialist.
Mark works at Lancaster University in communications and IT, keen watersports and motorsports enthusiast (has made his own catamaran and runs a caterham sports car),

Faz AliFaris 'Faz' Ali

Operational Team Member, Numerous work at height qualifications & training courses; Advanced Industrial Climber, High Structure Rescue & Evac, IPAF Licence, Full Radio Licence, First Aider, Offroad driving certificate, electrical safety.
Faz works at Lancaster University in as a Network Specialist. Vast Radio and electronics experience.

Martyn FoggMartyn Fogg

Operational Team Member - Junior,
Our youngest team member.
Martyn is still a student, but keen to work up to Swiftwater Rescue Technician accreditation now he has been with the team for a while.

Colin HodgsonColin Hodgson

Operational Team Member - Probationary, VHF Certificate, RYA off-shore safety, RYA First Aid, RYA Safety Boat Operator, RYA/MCA Yachtmaster (shore based), RYA/MCA Small Craft Basic Sea Survival. Colin has many years experience working in team and management training all around the world so brings loads of experience to the team

Dave AbelDave Abel

Operational Team Member/SWRT - Probationary,
Swiftwater Rescue Technician,
One of our newer team members and based in Milnthorpe,
Dave is an experienced boat Handler and a Qualified Diver.

Paul AstlePaul Astle

Operational Team Member - Probationary, VHF Certificate. High structure rescue and advanced industrial climbing, Ladder inspection and PPE inspection, IPAF powered access, First aid at work HSE certificate, Off road driving. Currently an active Special Police Officer in Lancashire.

Jamie WarrenJamie Warren

Operational Team Member - Probationary,
Full time Height Safety and Rescue Trainer, qualified first aid trainer and rescue trainer. Health and Safety certified through NEBOSH. Swiftwater Rescue experience. Experienced in surfing, white water rafting and kayaking.

Helen ClarkHelen Clark

Operational Team Member - Probationary, IOEH Health and Safety, First Aid At Work Certificate.
Leader in the Scout movement for many years, involved with outdoor survival, training and camping. A lover of extreme sport Helen has recently taken up kite surfing, off road driving and wind surfing. Training for the Great North Swim in September 2010.

 

Support Team

David & Jane Binks

Support Team Members, David was originally a teacher and has many years experience in Mountain Rescue. David and Jane help with operational support, training, fundraising and events. They conveniently live the nearest to our station.

David Archer

Support Team Member, Recently semi-retired and moved to the area David still lectures in welding, including undersea welding, and engineering. He helps with operational support and is also taking responsibility for the upkeep of our workshop and vehicle garage.

Martin Wright

Support Team Member, VHF Certificate. Martin spent many years in the Royal Navy and this background brings extensive skills to the team.

Dave Marwood

Team Mechanic, Dave runs his own business locally, specialising in agricultural equipment servicing and repairs and is repsonsible for the servicing and maintenance of our Hagglunds and Landrover. He can be contacted on 07791 042144

Richard Roberts

Trustee, Richard is a Director at Gedye & Sons (Solicitors) in Grange-over-Sands and as well as his obvious exemplary legal expertise, has extensive experience in charity work.

Bev Marrow

Secretary, Reponsible for taking minutes at all our operational and trustee meetings amongst other things, as well as helping with vital fundraising. Bev also works at Gedye & Sons in Grange-over-Sands


Other Support/Fundraising Team members:

Many and varied but our thanks go to:
Alan and Jill Parsons, Diane Blood, Sue Calland, Mandy Parsons, Steph Park, Emma, other long suffering spouses, girlfriends, family and friends
and especially Louie Parsons...
for his efforts at the Cumbria Steam Gathering 2009!

Please also see some of our benefactors and sponsors on our links page

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Stretcher casualty

hagglund loading

casualty care