Simon Steer, right, chair of Scottish Mountain Rescue, presents the award to Allan McGee. Photo: David Williams/Reiver Photography

A man who first volunteered to work with a mountain rescue team as part of his Duke of Edinburgh’s Award has been rewarded for almost 40 years’ service with the team.

Allan McGee was one of two members of the Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue Team who were presented with Scottish Mountain Rescue’s distinguished service awards.

Mr McGee and his team colleague Steve Penny received their accolades at the recent Aviemore Gathering of teams from across the UK and Ireland.

The awards were made in recognition of the two men’s continued outstanding service to mountain rescue.

Dave Cawthorn of Tweed Valley MRT said: “Allan McGee is the quintessential mountain rescue team member.

“He has been a member of Tweed Valley Mountain Rescue Team for nearly 40 years having joined aged 16. He initially participated within the service section of the DofE Award scheme and decided to stay on.

“From this time until the present his commitment has been outstanding and Allan has been central to the development and progression of the team.

“As a mechanic he originally served as vehicle officer for some 10 years. He has also served as equipment officer and depute team leader but in recent years, now as experienced paramedic.

“His major contribution has been as medical officer and assistant leader. With the Lockerbie disaster as a major landmark in Allan’s rescue career he has helped steer the team through very difficult waters.”

Mr Cawthorn said he continues to be one of the most involved, active and enthusiastic members of the Tweed Valley team, continuously developing and improving the skills and operational procedures of the team.

“Most recently he has embarked upon the search manager’s course where his years of experience will be of great benefit and enable him to continue to contribute to the future workings of the Tweed Valley,” he said. “There has never been a time throughout his dedicated period of service where Allan has been on the periphery of events and his experience and wisdom is always sought at times of transition by team members and team leader alike.”

Steve Penny, left, receives his award from Simon Steer. Photo: David Williams/Reiver Photography

Steve Penny is also a veteran of the team, which covers a wide area including West Lothian, Midlothian, Edinburgh and the part of the Scottish Borders.

Mr Cawthorn said: “Steve has spent 24 years in mountain rescue, starting with Galloway MRT in 1991 before moving to the Borders and joining Tweed Valley MRT in January 1992.

“He joined the Search and Rescue Dogs Association that same year. Throughout this time he has made a significant and ongoing contribution to Scottish mountain rescue on a regional and national level.

“He served as secretary to the Mountain Rescue Committee of Scotland between 2004 and 2010 and as vice-chair from 2012 to the present.

“He trained as a search manager in 1997 and introduced this structured approach to missing person searches to TVMRT. He is currently a member of the search working group, heavily involved as a trainer, in the development of a Scottish mountain rescue search management process.

“Steve has been compiling and submitting team incident reports and annual summaries for over 20 years. He has held several team positions including secretary, assistant leader and several stints as team leader. He has been a search manager within team since 1997.

“Steve dedicates an inordinate amount of time to MR issues, developing systems and strategies that benefit the organisation as a whole.”

Mr Cawthorn said his colleague has responded to constant change with a proactive and structured management style. “He has nurtured strong links with the police and other partnership groups in the service of the Scottish Borders’ community and now nationally assisting Police Scotland in meeting their responsibility for land-based search and rescue,” he added.

Tweed Valley MRT has 40 unpaid volunteer team members.