Follow us on FacebookStiperstones Dawdle or Dash, 26th December 2025
Team members rounded-off the year by supporting the organisers of the annual charity Boxing Day "Dawdle or Dash" race on the Stiperstones (Shropshire). On what was another sunny (but cold) boxing day. We kept warm by 'stamping' the runners as they arrived at the half-way point. We also provided drinks and mince pies (courtesy of the Stiperstones Inn and Shop) to runners and dawdlers. The first entrants reached the Devil's Chair within 12 minutes of the race start at the Stiperstones Inn, but were a little slower on the descent.
Land Search Call-out, 12th September
On Friday 12th September we were asked to support colleagues in SARA with a search in the Forest of Dean. Several members responded, with two arriving at the scene as the missing person was located. The others were stood down.
Shropshire Fire & Rescue Service Open Day, 16th August
Once again we took our display along to the annual SFRS Open Day at Shrewsbury Fire Station where children and adults were encouraged to have a go at crawling through a tube, then seeing how 'low they could go' through our newly built squeeze box.
It was a hectic day, but once the children got the hang of what to do they were like 'energiser bunnies' running round and through the tube and box. Occasionally they encouraged parents to try their hand too (more mums than dads!).
To ‘spice’ things up the gap on the squeeze-box could be reduced to see how low they could go. The idea of getting a sticker for completing the obstacle course may have helped with their enthusiasm.
Thanks to Shropshire Fire and Rescue Service for inviting us and to everyone who kindly made donations during the day and chatted to us about cave rescue and underground places in the area.
Redhouse Swallet Cave - Rescue Evaluation, 5th July
Following the amazing discoveries and extensive new cave passages and chambers discovered in Redhouse Swallet Cave in the Forest of Dean Gloucestershire Cave Rescue Group (GCRG) held a 'rescue evaluation' event. The current problem being that to reach the new discoveries cavers have to crawl/wriggle through very tight, wet passages and 'ducks' or sumps. This would make extracting an injured caver very difficult and involve team members from most of the surrounding cave rescue teams. This event was aimed at introducing surrounding teams to the system and to come up with ideas on how to make a rescue feasible/easier!
ResCon 25, 6th to 8th June
Over the weekend of 6th–8th June the Britsh Cave Rescue Council (BCRC) rescue conference was held at Settle in North Yorkshire. This year it was hosted by the Cave Rescue Organisation (CRO) who are celebrating their 90th birthday in 2025.
On the Friday night to mark the anniversary of the founding of the first cave rescue team in 1935 Bill Whitehouse (BCRC Vice Chair) presented a 90 year Long Service Certificate to CRO President Ben Lyon and Chair Martin College, followed by a few short speeches.
After a night of heavy rain, delegates were transported to Selside for a series of workshops and activities on the fell and in Upper Long Churn. The morning sessions were restricted underground due to the depth and force of the water, but despite the occasional shower water levels soon dropped enough to allow activities to continue. Delegates experienced a range of workshops; from comms, stretcher hauling and belay loading on the surface to stretcher handling, dam building and comms underground. A damp but interesting day!
Following the excellent Saturday evening meal a number of presentations were made by Bill Whitehouse, BCRC Vice-Chair, to members of CRO to mark their 40 years of service to cave rescue. The night was rounded off with a barn dance, chats around the bar and a few fruit juices.
Sunday’s workshops were based around the venue and included rope-rub and drop testing outside, and stretcher haulage rigging inside the barn. These were then followed by talks from the Mining Remediation Authority and the Mines Rescue Service.
Thanks to Sean Whittle (Conference Secretary) and CRO for organising an excellent weekend, featuring a range of activities, plus the various workshop leaders and, not forgetting, the excellent caterers.
AGM, 13th May 2025
We held our AGM online on Friday 13th May. Josh Rowson stepped down as Equipment officer - thanks for all your hard work in loking after the kit over the past few years Josh. Jonathan Wilkes bravely offered his services and was duely voted into to the role. All other officers were reappointed.
BCRC AGM Weekend April 5-6, 2025
This weekend, members of MCRO joined representatives of cave rescue teams across the UK for a weekend of training, discussion, socialising and on the 6th the British Cave Rescue Council (BCRC) AGM in the beautiful Peak District at Buxton.
Kings Medal Awards, 25th January, 2025
On Saturday 25th January team members and supporters assembled at the Severn Valley Railway Station, Bridgnorth, where His Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Shropshire, Anna Turner presented 18 members of Midlands Cave Rescue Organisation with the King's Coronation Medal.
The King's Coronation Medal has been awarded to emergency personnel who were in paid, retained, or voluntary service, including Cave Rescue, for five years on the Coronation date.
Thanks go to all our team members, who are all volunteers on call 24/7, and their family, friends and employers who support them.
Winter Training Day, 12th January, 2025
Once again our first training session of 2025 took place in the excellent facilities at Arco Professional Safety Services training centre in Eccleshall. See the Training page for a little more detail.
