Wiltshire Search and Rescue celebrates as volunteers recognised

Wiltshire Search and Rescue held an awards evening on Tuesday, where numerous prizes were given out to volunteers.

31 volunteers received their Queen’s Platinum Jubilee medal to mark 70 years of Her Majesty being on the throne.

Additionally, four people received medals for 20 years of service, seven received 10 years, and 14 received medals for five years of service.

Attending the awards cerermony was the High Sherriff for Wiltshire and Swindon Lady Lansdown, Chief Constable Keir Pritchard from Wiltshire Police and Wayne Cousins, Group Manager for Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Sam Jago, a member of Wiltshire Search and Rescue for over 20 years said: “I’m really proud of being part of Wiltshire Search and Rescue and in the 20 years that I’ve been volunteering, it’s been so gratifying to see the team develop and grow.

“We all help our community during some of their most difficult times, and over the time I’ve been volunteering, I’m proud to have helped many families and missing people.”

Wiltshire Search and Rescue, PR led Sarah Wolf added: “The main highlight for me was realising how many hours everybody gives up, every year to help search and rescue.

“They are all an incredible group of people, who are there when their community needs them the most.

“They go all out day and night, whether it’s raining or sunny and they help find vulnerable people.”

In 2021, Wiltshire Search and Rescue was deployed a total of 91 times:

• 67 times for a high risk missing persons
• 20 times to provide COVID Support to NHS
• Two times to assist the ambulance (remote extraction)
• One 4x4 deployment (snow)
• One water incidents (non-missing person)

109 volunteers gave over 25,000 hours for training, fundraising, kit maintenance and callouts, supporting DWFireRescue, South Western Ambulance, Wiltshire Police and Great Western Hospitals to save lives and reduce suffering. 11 volunteers gave over 1000 hours each in the space of a year.