Rescue teams honoured

Pictured are PDMRO officials Matt Dooley, Chairman, Keith Montgomery, Treasurer and Ian Bunting, Operations Officer

The Peak District Mountain Rescue Organisation (PDMRO) has been awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Science from the Sheffield Hallam University for “its outstanding, sustained contribution to public safety and wellbeing through the service of selfless, dedicated volunteers".

The award was collected on behalf of PDMRO by Matt Dooley, Chairman, Keith Montgomery, Treasurer and Ian Bunting, Operations Officer.

The PDMRO comprises seven mountain rescue teams in Buxton, Derby, Edale, Glossop, Kinder, Oldham and Woodhead, plus Derbyshire Cave Rescue Organisation and the Mountain Rescue Search Dogs England.  

It was founded in 1964 after a tragedy where three scouts lost their lives.

Since then the teams have provided a search and rescue service for the Peak District National Park and its surrounding areas 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

In recent times this has included assisting the police in searches for missing vulnerable people in more semi-rural locations. 

The organisation is part of emergency service response to major incidents, including flooding and snow events.

The teams were present at the Toddbrook Dam incident in 2019.  

The teams consist of more than 350 dedicated volunteers who give their time freely to assist others. 

In 2021, teams responded to 464 requests for assistance from the whole-time emergency services and spent over 20,000 person hours dealing with the incidents.  

This award is not only dedicated to the current members of the teams, but also the hundreds of people who have served with the PDMRO teams over the last 58 years and have laid the foundations for what the organisation is today.

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