Kirkby Stephen Mountain Rescue Team currently consists of some 35 volunteer men and women from wide ranging backgrounds, including lawyers, accountants, teachers, hoteliers, businessmen, electricians, engineers, a doctor, a professor and many others. Each member shares a common commitment with each other – the willingness to be called out at a few minutes notice to help people in trouble on the hills, or in the community.
Team members also meet at least twice each month to practise and train in all aspects of search and rescue. More information can be found on our Training page. The team operates from a purpose built base in Kirkby Stephen. The base is fully equipped with all the sophisticated kit necessary for modern mountain rescue. It also has garaging for the three specialised Land Rovers which enable the team to respond to incidents wherever they might occur. The upkeep of the vehicles and the base itself, along with the continuing need to maintain and replace the vital equipment, represents a significant cost, which is met solely by way of fund-raising efforts and charitable donations.
Kirkby Stephen Mountain Rescue Team as it was in January 2008
Kirkby Stephen Mountain Rescue Team is part of the Lake District Search And Mountain Rescue Association. The leaders of each of the 11 member teams meet regularly to develop cooperation and coordination. Joint exercises are held from time to time, which enable teams to work effectively together when, as is often the case, two or more teams are involved in a real incident. Websites of the other LDSAMRA teams can be accessed via the Links Page on this site.
Team Leader -Arthur Littlefair
Arthur, once a local builder’s merchant and now retired, joined the team in 1970 and became leader in 1991.
Deputy Team Leader - Adrian Cottrell
Before moving to Cumbria, Adrian was a successful a Formula 3 racing driver and manager of a motor racing school, He now runs a precision engineering company. A keen rock climber, Adrian has been with team since 2006
Deputy Team Leader - Kath Dyer
Kath, who has been a team member since 2004, works as a production planner in the logistics chain for a food manufacturer. Kath is keen climber and walker who also enjoys glass lampworking and silversmithing. A member of Sarda Lakes, Kath acts as a regular dogsbody.
Deputy Team Leader - Steve Howarth
Steve, who run a fire security business, has been a team member since 2006. Steve also heads up the Swift Water rescue group within the team.
