EXACTLY 70 years ago later this month, a group of men enjoying a quiet drink in a pub in the dales were asked by the local police to help out in the search for a missing walker.

The walker sadly died, but the event sparked off what was to become the Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association (UWFRA) - and its current chairman Peter Huff is the son of one of its founder members.

Based in Grassington, the fell rescue association will celebrate 70 years in existence in two weeks time, on Thursday, August 30.

It is a remarkable story of a volunteer service which began with a very small group of dedicated men with the joint aim of helping people - and animals, whether they be cattle, sheep, horses or dogs. No matter what they are, if they are in distress and caught out on or below the fells, the association’s team of volunteers will go out to help, 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year.

Its proud record over the years, which currently stands at 1, 315 call outs, including 1,586 people, 433 sheep, four horses, and two parrots - and one which clearly fulfils the ideals and aims set out by the association’s founder members all those years ago.

Back in August, 1948, those men in the pub were asked by police to help locate a missing walker, who was believed to be above Starbotton. The walker sadly died, and the men helped to bring back the body.

The idea of a locally based volunteer rescue service was born. The area’s police sergeant, George Wilson, was the first chairman, and he also provided the ream with its first home to store all its equipment - an empty police cell at Grassington Police Station.

A founder member of the fledgling service was stationmaster, Len Huff, and he stepped forward with an old LMS parcels van. The van, which cost just £1, became the new, and larger headquarters, which was then followed with a former signal box, which cost £10.

The team used the signal box until moving to its current building, the first ever purpose built mountain rescue headquarters which was officially opened by Prince Charles in 1978.

Len Huff went on to be a leading light in the team for over 25 years and it is fitting and remarkable that after 70 years of saving lives the team’s current chairman is his son Peter.

‘’It was certainly a special moment when I was elected chairman and my dad would have been so proud of this as well as how the team has progressed to its current high level of professionalism and dedication,” said Peter.

There is now 65 men and women in the team using the latest state of the art technology.

Peter added: “Its been an amazing journey for the team. We have had many experiences from the sense of elation when a difficult rescue is brought to a successful conclusion with a life or lives saved to the utter sadness when this has not been the outcome. It is hard to sum up our feelings as we approach our 70th anniversary, but right at the top is the camaraderie the team always creates and the friendships and respect we enjoy in the extended community We have become a major part of dales life which gives us immense satisfaction.”