The Queen’s Jubilee Medal Awards

Congratulations to Her Majesty The Queen from everyone in Cleveland Mountain Rescue Team and the wider mountain rescue community for an unprecedented 70-years of service. More than 1,700 Mountain Rescue volunteers across England and Wales are honoured to be recognised and included among the frontline emergency, armed forces and prison service workers across the UK who are recipients of today’s Jubilee Medal.

Last night Jo Ropner, the Lord-Lieutenant of North Yorkshire, visited our Base near Great Ayton where she very kindly presented the Queen’s Jubilee Medal to 24 Team Members (a further three recipients were unable to attend). She also presented three Long Service Awards; for 50-years of mountain rescue service to both Dave Cook and Gari Finch plus one for 25-years to Peter Smith. Carl Faulkner also receives an award for 25-years but was unable to attend.

Prior to the presentations the Lord-Lieutenant had a tour of the Base during which she was introduced to Team Members and discussed our work. She then made the medal presentations and after a Toast to Her Majesty, Mrs Ropner cut a commemorative cake made by Team member Mike Lincoln. She paid tribute to all Team members saying ‘The fact that mountain rescue is a voluntary organisation and you all give up your time combined with some very long service awards this evening, I couldn’t help but draw parallels with The Queen at this very time of the Jubilee celebrations which recognises her service over so many years’.

Team Leader Peter Smith spoke about the Team’s achievements over a long time stressing that the evening was recognition for the hard work and dedication of all members over that period and, in particular, during the pandemic. He said, ‘That only happens due to you and your families and you should all celebrate our many achievements’.

Thirty-five Search & Rescue and Support members were present on the evening including a number not in receipt of the Jubilee medal (there is a national minimum requirement of five-years service) but who were very keen to witness the awards being made to their colleagues. Our members’ representative, Dan Slane, accepted a further Jubilee Medal on behalf of all Cleveland Mountain Rescue Team members.

Following the visit, members and their guests spent a few hours enjoying a social evening at the Base – our first such opportunity together for more than two years.