Steve Pymm, an ex-deputy team leader, shot the two rounds from a shotgun, to mark the Patterdale team's anniversary

A mountain rescue team had a double shot of history as members gathered to celebrate its half century.

Patterdale Mountain Rescue Team’s former deputy leader fired two rounds from a shotgun, to mark the 50th anniversary of its formation – the original signal to call out volunteer member to muster for a rescue.

Guests joined current and past members at Patterdale Hall today to celebrate the team’s first 50 years.

Chairman of the trustees John Williams put together a slide show of images jog memories. He said: “Since the team was established by Dr James Ogilvie in 1964, many people have been active hill members of the team and, of course, there are also many people who’ve supported us in the background and made things work smoothly.”

Three team leaders past and present were at the event as well as several founder members and Christopher Ogilvie, son of the founder, who spoke about his father’s early rescues.

Mr Ogilvie said: “I think Eddie Pool, here to celebrate with the team, remembered some of those early rescues too.

Patterdale MRT marks its first 50 years, with May, daughter of team members Bernie and Anja Gilmartin and Corrie, the team's search dog

“I certainly recall my father talking about making do for a stretcher with two sticks and a sheet of canvas. While some ideas fizzle out after an initial bang, the team goes on and I think Dad would have been proud to see it going from strength to strength and still with that same commitment.”

Steve Pymm, an ex-deputy team leader, shot the two rounds from a shotgun, as Dr Ogilvie used to do to signal a callout to team members in the valley before the advent of pagers and mobile phones.

Stephen Gorton, 87, was one of several founder members at the event and he still lives in the valley: “I have to say that I first joined Patterdale MRT as a conscript rather than as a volunteer,” he said. “I was a close neighbour of Dr Ogilvie and he made sure that several of us nearby were all drafted into the new team.

“Today’s team may be a different generation but it is still the same team and Patterdale parish is proud of it.”

Chairman with team Leaders past and present: Dave Freeborn, Martin Cotterell, John Williams, chairman of trustees, and Mike Blakey, current team leader

John Williams, chairman of the trustees, said: “This was an occasion to thank our colleagues in mountain rescue across the country for their support, to thank all the partners who work with us such as the air ambulance, the RAF, the local first responders and our neighbouring teams, and also to thank our many supporters in the valley, the Ullswater Steamer and numerous B&Bs and hotels who support our fundraising.

“The team took 31 years to complete its first 1,000 rescues and yet we are already well past 2,000 call outs today with a total of 2,064.

“It was good to celebrate our first 50 years but reassuring to see that we are looking good for the next 50 too.”

The Patterdale team’s patch includes Helvellyn, England’s third highest mountain, with its twin arêtes Striding Edge and Swirral Edge, scenes of many rescues.

Other incidents its members have responded to include the Lockerbie bombing, the Carlisle floods and the Grayrigg train crash.

Patterdale MRT is planning an open day at its rescue centre in Patterdale and an evening lecture on Saturday 25 October. Detail will be announced in the near future on its website.