Arran Mountain Rescue Team is set to celebrate 60 years of saving lives.
The organisation has transformed since it was founded in 1964 with just 15 members operating out of Brodick Fire Station.
To mark the occasion, members will be hosting a celebratory event on April 27 at 2pm and are inviting all current and past team crew to join them at their base in Cladach.
A spokesperson said: “This event will be a chance for people to catch up and reminisce. There will be memories, laughter and the camaraderie that defines our team. It promises to be a special day.
“People can secure a spot by contacting us by email at arranmrt@icloud.com by March 30. We want the community to come together to honour the past, celebrate the present and look forward to the future of Arran Mountain Rescue.”
The organisation currently has around 30 members who volunteer their time and are on call 365 days a year. They operate from their purpose-built base, which was made possible by the Order of St John.
The organisation has come a long way since its early beginnings when it took over from Arran Estate workers who used their local knowledge of the area and formed rescue parties when required.
Initially AMRT was a unit of RAF Kinloss and this allowed the Royal Air Force to maintain their ropes and equipment. Training for the team was also provided by RAF Kinloss. This his took place at the Blue Rocks area at Sannox, where the current team still occasionally train.
Helicopter assistance was provided by Wessex Choppers, with choppers dispatched from RAF Leuchars. Back in those days, in order to qualify for insurance, team members had to join the special constabulary to obtain cover.
The current team are all hillwalkers and climbers who have many years of experience and knowledge of the Arran terrain. They train regularly and conduct mock operations to keep their skills sharp.
During February, AMRT has attended two call-outs, the first to assist a woman with a suspected broken ankle on the north side of Glen Rosa and the second to rescue a hillwalker who had become lost high on the north-east face of Cìr Mhòr in sub-zero temperatures.
AMRT relies on donations and fundraising to support its life-saving services. If you would like to find out how you can help support their valuable work, details can be found on their website here.
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