Product Description

Mountain rescue in the Peak District evolved massively over the twentieth century; there was no rescue service to cope with accidents that occurred in the 1920s and '30s, when walkers and climbers would try to navigate the uplands in severe weather conditions, although there was an RAF presence throughout the war years to deal with crashed aircraft. The mountain rescue service was not set up until 1964, following a fatal accident. This illustrated book chronicles the development of the rescue service into the efficient, streamlined and essential service that exists today, covering significant rescues, the geography of the area, the helicopters used by the service, cave rescues, SARDA dogs, and the in-depth training the service requires. Almost all of the photographs included in this book are previously unpublished and offer a fascinating and unique insight into the dramatic world of mountain rescue in what can be one of the harshest yet most deceptive environments in the UK.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #228781 in Books
• Published on: 2007-10-01
• Original language: English
• Binding: Paperback
• 130 pages

About the Author
Both Ian Hurst and Roger Bennett have first-hand experience in dealing with mountain rescue and contributed to the setting up of the rescue service. This is their first book.

Customer Reviews

Comprehenive, engaging and entertaining!
For those of us who spend our weekends on the moors of the Peak and our lunch breaks gratuitously trawling MRT websites this is essential reading.
Carefully integrating the specific history of MR in the area with broader historical considerations such as the access struggle, improvements in communication technologies and the development of MR in Britain generally, this book provides a fascinating and intelligent insight.
Not afraid to point to necessary criticisms of what has happened in the past and illustrated throughout with a wealth of archive photos,(some of which are quite amusing!) a better charting of MR from enthusiastic and often under equipped amateurism to the neo-professionalism of today is hard to imagine.
Finally whilst the author's length and depth of involvement in local MRTs clearly provides the insider authority, their ability to write to the highest standards, makes this book a winner - despite their curious caveat in the introduction that they are "not professional authors"!
Buy this book, please, it's a cracking read and proceeds go to support MRTs in the Peak.