New vehicle for rescue team

SCOTTISH CHARITY St John Scotland has continued its support of mountain rescue activities across Scotland, by providing £20,000 towards a new vehicle for the Oban Mountain Rescue Team.

The new Land Rover Defender cost £46,000 in total, taking into account the customisation required for a mountain rescue vehicle. The funds from St John Scotland covered the basic cost of the vehicle. The new Land Rover has been provided as part of an ongoing scheme to replace a vehicle gifted to the Oban Mountain Rescue Team by St John Scotland in 2002.

The Oban MRT also had their base provided by St John Scotland, who purchased the former fire station where they are now based in 2004 at a cost of £189,000 plus subsequent refurbishment costs of £65,000. St John Scotland has supported mountain rescue teams across Scotland since 1997, and has donated in excess of £3 million over the past two decades.

St John Central Scotland chairman, David Niven met with Oban Mountain Rescue Team’s shout managers Ross Lilley and Tom Adams at Morrison’s Garage in Stirling for the handover, where the vehicle was then driven to the base in Oban.

Mr Niven said: “We are delighted to continue our support of mountain rescue across Scotland. The work Mountain Rescue Teams carry out is critical and St John Scotland appreciates that the Oban Mountain Rescue Team is made up entirely of unpaid volunteers.”

“St John Scotland is proud to be able to provide £20,000 towards this new vehicle and since 1997, we have supported the dedicated, brave volunteers who give up their own free time to conduct lifesaving work, helping those in need.”

Oban Mountain Rescue’s chairman and shout leader Ross Lilley said that the generous donation was hugely welcomed by the team.

Mr Lilley said: “The Oban Mountain Rescue Team, despite not being a big organisation, does well to attract skilled volunteers, however we are very reliant on community fundraising, as our service costs between £30,000 and £40,000 per year to run. We’re very grateful for the support we receive as, without it, we couldn’t afford to run our vehicles, and that would mean being unable to reach people in need of our help.”

“The funding we have received from St John Scotland that has gone towards this vehicle makes a huge difference and we’re very fortunate to have received it. This Land Rover will last the Oban MRT for around 10 – 12 years, and it will help us get to those in difficult to reach areas. The Oban Mountain Rescue Team wouldn’t exist without St John Scotland, as they stepped in to provide our main rescue post, so we are very grateful for their continued support for our vehicles.”