FOR over 65 years the Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association has been rescuing people and animals from the caves and fells around Wharfedale, Nidderdale, Littondale and mid-Airedale. It is staffed entirely by volunteers who are prepared to respond to a call-out at any time of the day or night in the worst of weather conditions. Here we look at what 2016 brought for the team.

LAST year was very much a rollercoaster time for the Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Team.

July produced a record month of call-outs for the Grassington-based team - ten in total with five in the same week - but this was followed by a seven week period of no call-outs including, thankfully for the volunteers, a fourth consecutive year without a call-out on Christmas day.

During 2016 the team dealt with a total of 42 call-outs as well as four stand downs. This was 15 less than the previous year’s record of 57 but they still required over 1,300 hours out on the fells by its members. Added to this is ongoing training and maintenance work by the 70 volunteers which amounts to a further 5,000 hours of work. The team also assisted with two out-of-area rescues giving support to other teams.

Ilkley Moor and, in particular the area around the Cow and Calf rocks, featured on six occasion, ranging from an injured 12-year-old boy who had fallen badly from his bike near White Wells, to an unconscious female casualty and a climber with neck injuries. All required initial medical treatment by team members and then stretcher carries to awaiting road ambulances and, in two cases, to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance.

The Ilkley district has also always been a strong recruitment area for this voluntary lifesaving organisation and currently some 12 members live in Ilkley, Addingham, Otley, Denton and Menston.

Peaks, such as the ten call-outs in July can be hard for such volunteers to cope with as Phill Nelson, one of the team controllers explains. "With most happening during the working week members were at their employments earning a living but thankfully we still managed to gather in a rescue team on each occasion but it did need some of them seeking several periods away from work during the month.

"Half of the rescues involved injuries and were mainly lower leg. Five rescues were locating missing walkers, with a further five who had become ill. Surprisingly, the team only had one caving incident during the year and further reductions were recorded with animal rescues, mountain bikers and the need to search for vulnerable people. Age ranges showed the youngest as four and the oldest 80."

The seven weeks of respite for the team could not have come at a better time as they were busy returning all their gear back to their headquarters following a £300,000 extension. "It was a huge decision going ahead with such an expensive extension but such is the demand on our services and the essential ongoing training we just had to go for it," added Phill. "Needless to say we are all delighted with the new and increased facilities."

Annual running costs now stand at £45,000 and its own survival depends on the generosity of the public, either as donations or supporting fundraising events. The team does not get any formal government funding. The now annual Wharfedale Three Peaks Challenge saw its third year and it again broke records giving an income of £9,600 The event is now well established with the next one taking part on the last Saturday of June.

The most pleasing statistic for the year is the further reduction in fatalities, down to two. For a good number of years the team had to deal with an average of seven. Adds Phill: "It is of course hard to draw any firm conclusions but we do feel the almost daily advance in technology we strive to acquire significantly speeds up our ability to respond by filling a call-out list literally within minutes plus being able to use the latest technology to instantly inform our members out on the fells to respond to the latest up to date scenario.’’

For more information about the work of the Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association visit uwfra.org.uk where you can also find out how to donate to the registered charity.