Bob Uttley, who was made an MBE. Photo: Calder Valley SRT
Several mountain rescue volunteers have been recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours.
A Peak District ranger also received acknowledgement of his work around the popular climbing crags of Stanage Edge.
Calder Valley Search and Rescue Team president Bob Uttley was appointed an MBE for services to the community in the Calder Valley and Todmorden.
Mr Uttley, who has held the post of president for 23 years, became involved with the team in West Yorkshire after his son Robert, a member of Calder Valley SRT, died while climbing Annapurna III in a whiteout in 1983.
In 1994 Bob Uttley was made honorary president and is only the second president since the team’s formation in 1966, following Phyllis Oakley. During his tenure with the search team, Mr Uttley was instrumental in fundraising £100,000 to help build its current base, the Rescue Post in Mytholmroyd.
A team spokesperson said: “CVSRT are extremely pleased for Bob and would like to take this opportunity to congratulate him. He truly is a fine gentleman and we sincerely thank him for all his years of support for the team.”
Mr Uttley, a retired chartered accountant and financial director, also has strong connections to various organisations in Todmorden including the Choral Society, St Mary’s Church Choir and walking groups and is a keen Walsden and Todmorden cricket follower. He has also been captain, president and ground officer at Todmorden Golf Club.
Brian Spencer of Keswick was also made an MBE, for services to mountain rescue in Cumbria.
A Keswick Mountain Rescue Team spokesperson said: “A big congratulation to Brian.
“Brian has only recently stepped down from the team being one of the longest-serving members of Keswick Mountain Rescue Team with over a 1,000 rescues to his credit.”
A long-time member of Derbyshire Cave Rescue Organisation was appointed an MBE.
Bill Whitehouse of Tideswell joined the team in 1964 and spent 45 years as an operational controller; 32 years as its secretary and 15 years as chairman.
A team spokesperson said: “Bill’s dedication to voluntary rescue services goes much further than that. He has spent 36 years as the chairman of the British Cave Rescue Council and is still the vice-chairman. In addition he has been involved with Mountain Rescue England and Wales for 30 years, UK search and rescue for 16 years and helped establish the mountain and cave rescue benevolent fund of which he still acts a trustee.
“The team are extremely proud of Bill and thrilled to see his long term and varied dedication to search and rescue recognised.”
Harvey Lloyd of Caernarfon received the British Empire Medal for services to the community, mountain rescue, mountaineering and heritage in Wales.
Mr Lloyd was a member of Llanberis Mountain Rescue team between 1972 and 1996 and was also organiser of the Welsh 1,000m Peaks Race.
Bill Gordon, a Peak District ranger, was awarded a British Empire Medale for services to wildlife, particularly the protection of the ring ouzel. Mr Gordon, who lives in the Hope Valley, covers Stanage Edge, one of the national park’s most popular climbing destinations.
A retired police officer was honoured with an MBE for services to mountain and cave rescue in North Yorkshire.
Jon Rushton, of Bedale, North Yorkshire, worked on forging links between the area’s volunteer rescue teams and the police. A Swaledale MRT spokesperson said: “Jon worked with all the mountain rescue teams in North Yorkshire and was instrumental in the close working that we all now enjoy with the police.”
