Rescue Centre

The Team has had a variety of buildings during its history. The first base was a wooden hut next to the car park at High Force, in upper Teesdale, provided by Raby Estate. There are many former Team members with fond memories of exercises run from the hut and weekends spent sleeping on the concrete floor.

The next development was a collection of garages rented from Teesdale District Council and located in Barnard Castle. These provided storage for Team vehicles and a limited amount of office space, but nothing more. Team training continued to be carried out at a variety of locations including the Wheatsheaf Inn in Staindrop, Staindrop Comprehensive School and Bishop Auckland Police Station (in the social club – cheap beer!).

In December 1998, towards the end of the lease period for the garages, the Team received an offer from the Durham Police Authority of some land behind Barnard Castle Police Station.  After a frantic two years of planning and fund-raising (including help from the National lottery) the purpose built Rescue Centre was officially opened by Lord Barnard on Saturday 31st March 2001.

The new Rescue Centre consists of a double garage area for the vehicles, which includes a rope training wall, shaft rescue platform and adjustable slope.  Adjoining this is a humidity controlled drying room. The base also includes a control room with archive store, disabled toilet facilities, briefing room, kitchen area, and an upstairs large meeting / presentation room. As well as ample storage and maintenance areas for all the Team's equipment, the base is also equipped with a powerful multi-media computer system and an array of audio-visual equipment including video projection.

The Team Vehicles

TWSMRT operates two purpose built vehicles. The Control vehicle (CONTROL) is based on an Iveco van and has a side door entry to the control area which has seating for 2 controllers plus another 5 personnel. The vehicle is equipped with a range of radios for communication with search groups, helicopters, other Teams and the police. There is also a computer system that allows for logging of all information collected during a search. An additional flat panel display allows the search controllers to view the log as well as a computerised map of the search area supplied by the police. The back of the vehicle is used for storage and is separated from the control area by a steel bulkhead. The storage area is large enough to accommodate a portable generator, the pump for the vehicle's pneumatic radio mast and a selection of search, rescue, medical and climbing equipment. The vehicle also has a Vanex awning fitted to one side to provide a weatherproof room for Team briefing and multiple casualty care. The vehicle can also be used as an ambulance for transporting a casualty on a stretcher.

The other Team vehicle is a 110 Landrover known as MOBILE. This vehicle is mainly used to transport search groups around the search area and has seating for the driver and 6 passengers. It has a similar radio fit to CONTROL and if necessary can also be used to control a second search operation. MOBILE carries a variety of equipment similar to CONTROL both in the rear of the vehicle and in a weatherproof roof box. Again the vehicle can quickly be configured to carry a casualty on a full length stretcher for transporting either to hospital or from rough terrain to a tarmac road for hand over to an NHS ambulance. As with all Team equipment a great deal of fund-raising was required to purchase both these vehicles and the Team gratefully acknowledges the generosity of all those who donated money for their purchase. MOBILE is know as “Stan's Van” in recognition of the 25 years of service given to Mountain Rescue by Stan White who died in 2002 and was for many years the Team Secretary.