New headquarters for mountain rescue team

HARD work is going into preparing Oldham Mountain Rescue Team's new Boarshurst Lane HQ

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SADDLEWORTH'S heroes of the hills have moved to a new operational headquarters to boost their life-saving endeavours.

Oldham Mountain Rescue Team have taken procession of a new industrial property in Greenfield and they are seeking help from generous-spirited locals to help provide essential equipment to support their volunteer services.

The new centre at Boarshurst Lane is nearly twice the size of their old unit with an extensive mezzanine area and will boast massively-enhanced facilities.

These will include large and small indoor training rooms, a bespoke medical equipment area, a larger kit and drying room along with two separate kit storage areas.

A new operations office and a new kitchen area will help keep the team fed and watered when they are on calls.

And they will benefit from a large vertical indoor training wall which will enhance the team's technical rescue skills and be used for training through winter months.

Matt Neild, OMRT's recently appointed leader, said: "The team has to thank its willing volunteers who, despite having full time jobs and families and being on call 24/7, 365 days of the year, have worked tirelessly over recent weeks to make the unit operational.

"There's still a huge amount of work to be done and the jobs will continue over the coming weeks and months.

"We'll keep everyone up to date with progress on our Facebook page and hope to have an official opening next year so supporters can come and have a look around and meet the team."

Meantime, the team are appealing for help to provide a range cooker, 900mm with electric hob and single oven space, a relevant-sized cooker hood and extractor fan and large catering size pots, pans and ovenware.

They are also seeking a standard fridge to fit a gap 600mm wide, meeting room chairs and hanging rails for clothing/kit.

Said Matt: "We have pumped about £5,000 into the operation but we are very conscious of the marvellous and generous community support."

The team have experienced a series of moves in their 53-year history but in 1986 they moved to The Barn in the grounds of The Cross Keys Inn, Uppermill.

Support

"This property was made available to us by JW Lees and became our spiritual home, our HQ and operating base.

"It will continue to remain our Headquarters, meeting venue and site for official team festivities.

"And a special thank our landlords David and Craig for their continued support and hospitality."

If anyone can help please can they message OMRT privately via their Facebook page www.facebook.com/OldhamMRT or mail:webcontact@omrt.org.

You can follow OMRT on Facebook or via or their website at www.omrt.org.