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The SARDA Scotland logo, as used by the founder Hamish MacInnes in 1965 |
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TRIBUTE TO BEN, MOUNTAIN RESCUE SEARCH DOG Ben the Border Collie was born near Abergele. He was destined to become a Search and Rescue dog. The aim was to train him in all aspects of search. He became a member of the RAF Valley Mountain Rescue Team (MRT) along with myself. I had been in the RAF MRT for many years, serving in Scotland, England and Wales. Ben was put on ration strength and trained with the help of all at RAF Valley MRT Service and the Search and Rescue Dog Association (SARDA Wales) On completion of training came the assessments which both Ben and myself as a handler passed. Ben became operational. During his working life he helped save the life. of a 68 year old man who was found in a river in winter time as a result of an indication. He also found a young man of 22 who had sadly taken his own life. He also caught 2 burglars who broke into a builder's yard in the local area. He had picked up airscent of people coming over the back garden wall; he came back to me and indicated which was in the form of a bark. He took me a distance of about lOO yards to where we could see 2 torch lights. I recalled Ben so he would not get injured. The 2 ran away. Having called the police the 2 suspects had left, leaving their bikes behind. Well to cut the story down, a policeman came around to thank us, as they had caught the suspects and had linked them to other crimes. As I said to him it was all down to Ben. Ben had worked on avalanches in Scotland as well as many mountain, lowland and river searches in Wales and had become accustomed to being abseiled many times and on 2 occasions completed descents on the death slide. He also completed many hours being flown and winched in helicopters. One weekend myself, Bob Tomlin and Ian Ellis (who was the current team leader of RAF Leeming MRT) tackled and completed successfully the 15 Welsh 3000' peaks there and back a distance of 80 kIlls and 22605 feet of ascent. This was a charity event of which the proceeds went to help Special Needs Children at Ysgol y Bont here on Anglesey. |
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In January 1999 it was a proud moment for both of us when I received an AOCinC's Commendation. The presentation took place in the Station Briefing Room with members of 22 Squadron Search and Rescue Helicopter Flight and Ben was invited as well. |
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RAF Mountain Rescue started in Llandwrog near Caernarfon and Ben became the first ever recorded Mountain Rescue Search Dog ever to become qualified at RAF Valley MRT on Anglesey. Sadly, RAF Valley MRT has now gone and with great sadness Ben contracted Multiple Sclerosis (MS) in June and he died in my arms on the 2nd September 1999. I took him to Holywell PetCemetery to be cremated. I came home that day with his ashes. I will be scattering his ashes over the South Ridge of Snowdon, which was Ben's first operational search. He was a fine and loveable dog who was faithful to the end and showed great courage throughout his life, and he will be sadly missed by all who knew him. |
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