It was on a March Sunday night in 1959, following a talk given by one Harry Appleyard on his fell walking experiences, that the decision was taken to form a fell walking and rock-climbing club associated with the YMCA in the town. The following month, at a club meet, the idea of forming a rescue group was discussed, and subsequently a letter suggesting this was sent to Brian Stilling, then sec. of the LDMAA. Various meetings followed with the likes of Rusty Westmoreland and George Fisher, and in October of 1959, a letter was posted in the Penrith Herald stating that the Penrith Rambling club had decided to from a rescue team to cover the local area and all interested persons were invited to a meeting at the YMCA. 21 people attended this meeting, the outcome of which was The Penrith Search, Rescue and Emergency Team was born with Joe Corry elected as team leader, Ron Boyle as Chairman, and Harry Appleyard, secretary.
Left to right-Joe Corry, John Robinson, Ron Boyle, Harry Appleyard, Ron Wilkinson, John Taylor, and R. Kingston posing in front of “Nancy” the jeep
A flag day in 1960 raised sufficient money to purchase a stretcher and some lowering rope. When the eager young team took this to Cowrake Quarry just above the town to do a first practice lower, their lack of experience was soon evident with people standing on ropes and getting in each other’s way. Subsequent practices at this location showed a marked improvement.
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In 1967, the team acquired two Pye bantam radio sets for fell going communication, the funds for these raised locally by donations and efforts of the Rotary Club.
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In 1972, a used Land Rover was acquired. Most of the team's “capital” was used to purchase this at a cost of£550, but a “whip round “was necessary to top up the total amount. Purchase of the vehicle did much to improve team morale. In the following year, a second-hand trailer was obtained for the nominal sum of£1 from NORWEB.
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In 1979, the team attended 12 incidents over the year.
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By late 1989, £35,000 had been raised towards the construction of a new base, but still required a further £15,000, the latest cost estimate. Notwithstanding, a ceremony was held in November of that year when the first sod was lifted in Tynefield Drive by local author Angela Locke. In August of 1990 Chris Bonington, who first launched the appeal for the base, was present to open it.
New base opening day-1990-photo Penrith Herald
The Covid-19 pandemic also affected Penrith as it did the other Lake District teams. Incidents were at an all-time high in 2019 (53 in total), but despite the additional challenges and an extended lockdown the Team responded to 37 callouts in 2020.
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Very recently the Team was pleased to receive news of the completion of purchase of land for the construction of a new purpose built base on the Gilwilly Industrial Estate, just East of the M6 motorway.
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