Bowland Pennine Mountain Rescue Team (BPMRT) was formed in 1980 through the amalgamation of two organisations; South Ribble Fell and Search Team (SR) and the Northern Rescue Organization (NRO) formed in 1962. The team is a registered charity made up entirely of volunteers who are on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.
BPMRT operates within Mountain Rescue (England and Wales) guidelines, and is part of the Mid-Pennine Search and Rescue Organisation, supporting the statutory emergency services, working on behalf of Lancashire Police and the North West Ambulance Service. They assist people in remote and inaccessible locations and work closely with Lancashire Police, Northwest Ambulance Service, and other statutory emergency services.
Their specialist capabilities include search planning and management, medical treatment, stretcher evacuation, technical steep-ground and crag rescue, and swift-water and flood rescue. They receive no government funding and rely on donations to remain operational.
Changes to UK driving license regulations introduced in 1997 mean that volunteers who passed their test after that date no longer automatically hold the (D1) entitlement required to drive the team’s 16 seat minibus. As long serving members retire and younger volunteers, who typically lack this entitlement, join the team, the number of qualified minibus drivers has steadily declined, reducing operational flexibility.
The minibus is an essential asset, enabling the team to transport personnel during large scale searches, provide medical cover at fell races and support training exercises across the region. To safeguard this capability, the team recently purchased a second-hand nine-seater minibus that can be driven on a standard Category B license.
However, maintaining the same overall transport capacity required an additional vehicle and to meet this need, the team approached the West Lancashire Freemasons’ Charity (WLFC), whose generous donation of £25,000 has enabled the purchase of a second nine seat minibus. This vital support ensures the team can continue to respond effectively, train efficiently, and serve the community with the resilience and readiness required.
The vehicle will be a vital asset in helping them transport volunteers and equipment, quickly and safely to incidents across Lancashire and beyond. From searching for missing people to responding to emergencies in remote and difficult terrain, the minibus will enhance the team’s ability to provide lifesaving support.
Bowland Pennine Mountain Rescue Team runs a fleet of four ambulances comprising of three Land Rovers and 1 Nissan Pick-up, Trough 1 Zero, Trough 4 Zero are stationed at the main base in Garstang. Trough 3 Zero is located at the southern end of the area in Penwortham, Preston. Trough 2 Zero is within the Trough of Bowland at the Outward Bound and Training Centre in Dunsop Bridge. They also have a mobile incident control vehicle and two 9-seater minibuses for troop movement, which are located at the vehicle and training base in Garstang and the Penwortham base.
All the team vehicles have an active service life span of about 15 years where possible, which depends on funding and donations. Currently Trough 5 Zero, the mobile incident command vehicle, is the oldest vehicle and due to be replaced when they have the funding in place.
The Freemasons contribution reflects their long-standing commitment to supporting local charities and organizations that make a difference to people’s lives. Bowland Pennine Mountain Rescue Team relies on public donations and fundraising to operate. This generous support from the West Lancashire Freemasons brings them one step closer to ensuring their team has the equipment and vehicles they need to serve the community effectively. More information about Bowland Pennine Mountain Rescue Team can found by clicking here.