Cave Rescue Organisation – Long Service Awards Night
The Cave Rescue Organisation (CRO) recently held a Long Service Awards night to recognise the contribution made by many of its’ long serving members to the Team’s mission of ‘Saving lives above and below ground in the Yorkshire Dales’.
About 70 members gathered to celebrate the event, held at the lovely surroundings of Bentham Golf Club. The evening was led by the CRO Chair, Sean Whittle and presentations were made by the President of the Team Mr Ben Lyon. Ben is the founder and owner of Lyon Equipment, a long-standing partner and sponsor of the CRO.
Long Service Awards were presented to a total of 25 members. CRO Team Awards were presented to 9 members for 10 and 20 years service. Awards from the MREW and the BCRC were given to 16 members: – 7 for 25 years service, 7 for 40 years service and, amazingly, 2 for 50 years service.
The latter were awarded to Jack Pickup and Roy Holmes, both of whom have been very active members of the team since the 1970’s. Both still continue to ‘turn out’ as Operational Support members – providing valuable logistic support to incidents.
In total the recipients of the awards have amassed a total of 675 years service to mountain and cave rescue. An outstanding achievement indeed!
The Team also gave Awards to 2 new ‘Life Members’ of the Team – Dave Gallivan and Fred Weekes, both of whom have now ‘retired’ from active service but were recognised for their outstanding contribution to the team whilst they were members.
This was a great social event for the team, and a fabulous opportunity to reflect on the value its’ longest serving members have given to the local community over many years.
In his address to the members, Ben Lyon said it was ‘wonderful to see so many long time members, and familiar faces’ but he added that it was ‘heartening to see younger members coming through to carry on the great work’. Everyone had an excellent evening.