A tragedy which led to the formation of a rescue team in Calderdale has been remembered as part of the group’s 50th anniversary.
The Calder Valley Search and Rescue Team was set up in the wake of the death of Robert Akrigg.
And Mr Akrigg’s son joined team members in a commemorative walk around the area where his dad lost his life.
In November 1965 the 55-year-old reservoir keeper had set out in blizzard conditions with his son Donald to check water gauges near Hebden Bridge.
The pair parted company having arranged to meet up later. Donald returned to the rendezvous, but Robert never arrived.
Water Board employees accompanied by the police, local farmers and estate keepers were joined by Mountain and Fell Rescue Team members from across the north of England to begin a search.
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As the week progressed it increased in intensity and by the third day more than 300 people were searching the moors, staying from first light until dark without success.
Tragically he wasn’t found during the search and it was only when the heavy snows of that winter receded some 65 days later on February 11, 1966, that his body was discovered.
A week later on February 18 the moorland rescue team was formed.
The team has paid respects to Mr Akrigg by staging the walk. Team members, supporters, families and friends were joined by Donald Akrigg and his wife, along with Chris Ambler, who worked for the water board at the time.
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Team member Tim Ingram said: “On reflection, even following official footpaths in spring weather, the conditions underfoot were difficult to negotiate, but helped all the walkers gain a better understanding of the difficulties Robert would have had finding his way in the blizzard conditions.
“Eventually all participants made it back to the starting point for some welcome refreshment at the Pack Horse Inn at Widdop. The perfect opportunity to recount stories from the past and remember the team’s origins.”
The team costs £35,000 a year to run and relies totally on voluntary donations. It has 50 team members including three doctors, three paramedics, nine swift water and flood rescue technicians, four search dogs and four vehicles.
Last year the team had 58 callouts which equated to 3,290 volunteer hours.
