Cumbria-based outdoor business Lyon Equipment is celebrating a major success in securing a high-profile training contract with Mountain Rescue England and Wales (MREW).
Earlier this year, MREW invited tenders to train a group of MREW members to become technical rope rescue instructors in their regions. Lyon Equipment’s tender was successful, and training will commence in October 2017.
The company will provide four courses, delivered to MREW regions in the South West, South Wales, Pennine/Peak District and North East England.
Most MREW teams conduct rope rescue, although the frequency of use of these skills varies from region to region. Teams that use rope rescue skills frequently have well-developed capabilities and supporting training processes. The training provided by Lyon Equipment will focus on regions that use rope rescue skills less frequently.
Personnel attending the courses will be selected by their teams/regions, and on completion of the training these individuals will then cascade that training to the remainder of their teams. The aim is that the courses will considerably enhance the technical rope rescue skills of the individuals and teams involved, while also assisting with inter-operability between teams.
Lyon Equipment’s Training Manager, Bill Batson MBE, will be head up the training. Bill has a long history of mountain and cave rescue and is an operational member of the Cave Rescue Organisation in the Yorkshire Dales. He is also a Search and Rescue Dog handler, currently with two operational search dogs. Prior to joining Lyon Equipment, Bill served with the Royal Air Force Mountain Rescue Service for some 27 years during which time he served as Team Leader and Chief Instructor.
