The band formed in the late seventies as The Oyster Ceilidh Band, and rapidly gathered a strong following in the folk scene, releasing a string of successful albums and developing a substantial following as a “must-see” live band.

Over the subsequent 30 years they have toured across 35 countries, released 12 studio albums and have scooped accolades such as fRoots Album Of The Year 2011, and and Mojo 2011 Folk Album Of The Year as well as being 5 times winners of BBC Radio 2′s Folk Awards.

Frontman John Jones was born in Wales, but grew up in Meltham – making him a “local lad” to the Holme Valley Mountain Rescue Team. Over his musical career he has developed a reputation for standing by his beliefs and for his vocal support of the causes he believes in.

Motivated by these factors, and his love of the outdoors, John and the rest of the band very considerately agreed to play a special date in their 2013 Homecoming tour in support of the Holme Valley Mountain Rescue Team’s appeal to secure a new headquarters.

“This is a chance to play a great venue, close to my home and make money to help the Holme Valley Mountain Rescue Team fund their new headquarters – a cause close to my heart.”, said John of the upcoming concert. “It’s a great cause and a great venue.”

The Oysterband will be playing on 29th November for minimal expenses only at the Picturedrome in Holmfirth – whose owner, Peter Carr, has also generously waived his usual venue fee and is offering huge support to the gig.

The Holme Valley Mountain Rescue Team is urgently undertaking a massive fundraising drive to secure a new Headquarters following the recent announcement of the closure of Marsden Fire Station due to cutbacks. The team currently occupies two bays of the fire station building, but its rental agreement with West Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service will terminate in January 2014.

Helen Sheard, a member of the Holme Valley Mountain Rescue Team was the driving force behind organising the special concert. “The idea of a benefit gig first came to me in the middle of a search on a dark night last year.”, says Helen.

“At the time I hardly dared dream that Oysterband would agree to play for us. However, knowing that John Jones, their lead singer, grew up in Meltham where I was born and having accompanied him and his ‘Reluctant Ramblers’ on several walking tours over the years I felt that it was worth a try. What a result! We now have the pleasure of bringing to you one of Britain’s top folk bands as part of their 2013 ‘Homecoming Tour’. Roll on November 29th!”

The HVMRT would like to extend its gratitude to both the Oysterband and the Picturedrome for their support and generosity.

Getting your tickets

Tickets are on sale now – priced at £15, and are available through the Picturedrome website, over the phone from Holmfirth Tourist Information on 01484 222 444, in person at The Box Office in Holmfirth, or by enquiry to media@holmevalleymrt.org.uk.

Download a poster

You can help us publicise the gig by downloading and printing off a poster using the link below:

HVMRT_Oysterband_Poster

The first call came at 1.30 on Saturday afternoon after a woman was injured in an accident involving a horse at a farm in Upper Cumberworth. One member of the volunteer team who lived locally made their way to the incident on foot to assist, whilst the team mobilised a Land Rover with additional personnel to help.

Two paramedics and a doctor form the Ambulance Service were having difficulty accessing and then extracting the casualty due to the snowy conditions. The casualty was eventually moved from the scene using a tractor, while local farmers used other tractors to clear snow from the roads to allow the Ambulance to get through.

Once the woman was aboard the Ambulance, the Holme Valley Mountain Rescue Team was on hand to assist as the Ambulance made it’s way back to the main road.

At 4.30 on Saturday afternoon, the Mountain Rescue Team was mobilised again after the Ambulance Service received a call to a two-year old girl suffering a severe allergic reaction, but were unable to get through the snowy lanes to reach her.

The team dispatched a four-wheel-drive vehicle with snow chains to navigate up to the remote hamlet above Hinchliffe Mill, meeting up with a paramedic who had made his way to the scene on foot.

After treatment at the scene, the young girl, together with her mother and the ambulance paramedic were transported back down the lanes by the Mountain Rescue Team vehicle to an ambulance waiting on Woodhead Road, from where she was taken to hospital for treatment.

Just as the second incident drew to a close, the team was called to assist ambulance crews in getting to a lady in her nineties who was having breathing difficulties in another hamlet above Holmbridge.

Once again the Team mobilised a four-wheel-drive vehicle with snow chains to help transport the ambulance crew to the casualty.

Several attempts were made to access the incident from Holmbridge, but many lanes were completely blocked by drifting snow. Eventually a passable route was found from Greenfield Road, and the ambulance crew and their equipment were taken to the scene in the HVMRT vehicle.

After assessment, the lady and the paramedics were then transported back to their ambulance so she could be transferred to hospital.

On Sunday morning at 8.00, the team’s services were once again called upon when a lady in a Wilshaw care home required hospital treatment.

Again, ambulance crews were unable to transport the patient from the scene and the Holme Valley Mountain Rescue team mobilised personal to sledge her through the snow on a stretcher, back to the waiting ambulance.

A spokesman for the Holme Valley Mountain Rescue Team, said “It’s been a very busy weekend for us, but the weather this weekend has been fairly unprecedented. The ambulance crews have made valiant efforts trying to do their job in horrendous conditions, but ultimately they aren’t equipped to get through snow like this”

“The Holme Valley Mountain Rescue Team is more than willing to help out where we can, and I think we’ve really made a difference to some people’s well-being this weekend.”

“At the job at Upper Cumberworth it was fantastic to see the efforts of everybody involved – the ambulance crews, the doctor, the farmers who cleared the road – everybody working together to ensure the patient got to hospital safely despite the conditions.”

“Some of the ambulance crews were pretty amazed that we do what we do for free – using our own vehicles, fuel and equipment. From our perspective though, we have the knowledge, training and equipment required to get through in conditions like this and are only too happy to help.”

As a voluntary organisation reliant on donations for our existence, we need your help. Marsden Fire Station, where the team is based, has been earmarked for closure and the team has received 12 months notice to move out.

The team is now forced to find a new headquarters in order to continue its vital operations, so we urgently need to raise £250,000 to secure our future.

Here’s how you can help

We have launched a “Donate a brick” scheme to help raise funds for the new HQ project. Each brick can be personalised with up to 2 lines of text and will be displayed in a commemorative wall in our new headquarters.

Each brick costs a minimum donation of £35.

How do I order bricks?

Please use the links below to download an order form, or to order online:

• Order online
• Postal order form (PDF)

The walker, in his 50s, suffered serious leg injuries when he slipped and fell while taking on a challenging section of the Pennine Way in the Wessenden Valley.

The man, who was walking with a group of eight friends, slipped at the bottom of steep ravine and although it was close to a track, it was too difficult for ambulance paramedics to lift him back up the slope.

Volunteers from the Holme Valley Mountain Rescue Team were called out on Saturday afternoon after one of the walkers raised the alarm.

They joined police and several paramedics from the Yorkshire Ambulance Service.

Mark Schofield, another walker in the area, saw the drama unfold.

“The Air Ambulance flew over us just as the Holme Valley Rescue Land Rover came past us.

“We spoke to some of the injured walker’s friends and apparently they were heading into Marsden to call at the beer festival at the Mechanics’ Hall. The injured man was also due to go to France on a walking trip shortly.

“That section of the Pennine Way is particularly difficult, especially downhill, although two members of the party told us they were familiar with the path having walked the way many times before.”

Owen Phillips, one of the leaders of the Holme Valley team, said: “The man had been on the Pennine Way with friends when he slipped and suffered a dislocated knee.

“They were fairly close to a track but a long way from the road and it was too difficult for the ambulance paramedics to get him back up the slope.

“We got him on a rescue stretcher and were able to carry him down and across to the air ambulance which had landed in the valley bottom.

“It was a fairly routine rescue.”

It was the latest in a series of rescues on the moors for the Holme Valley team in the past few weeks.

They are currently based at Marsden Fire Station but are to lose their headquarters when the station closes as part of cutbacks by the West Yorkshire Fire Service.

Read more: Examiner http://www.examiner.co.uk/news/local-west-yorkshire-news/2013/02/25/injured-walker-rescued-by-holme-valley-mountain-rescue-team-from-steep-ravine-86081-32872966/#ixzz2NLDi9iIo

The girl, from Berry Brow, had been walking her dog along a woodland path with friends when she lost her footing and slipped down a steep embankment, tumbling over a small crag.

The alarm was raised and police and ambulance crews soon located the injured party but called in for assistance evacuating her.

Members of the Holme Valley Mountain Rescue Team arrived on scene and used ropes to descend to the casualty to provide on-site treatment for an ankle injury.

After treatment the team were preparing to evacuate her on ropes and a stretcher up through the woodland, but the Fire Service Water Team arrived,providing an option to go across the water and back up the fields to the main road.

The girl was evacuated across the river on a floating raft, before being carried back to Woodhead road by firefighters and members of the Holme Valley Mountain Rescue Team.

She was then transferred to a waiting ambulance and taken to Huddersfield Royal Infirmary for treatment.

The Holme Valley Mountain Rescue Team were also called out to assist on a separate incident in Linthwaite yesterday, but were stood down after the Yorkshire Air Ambulance arrived and effected a rescue.

The Holme Valley Mountain Rescue Team is entirely run by volunteers and funded on a charitable basis by donations from the public. The team is currently trying to raise funds to secure a new headquarters following the announcement of the closure of Marsden Fire Station, where it is currently based.

Faced with the closure of Marsden Fire Station, where it is currently based, the team now urgently needs to raise funds to secure a new headquarters.

Huddersfield Sports Centre generously supported HVMRT to host a sponsored climbing event on Sunday, where teams of climbers from across the region competed to scale the heights of various peaks around the world.

At the end of the day, six of the seven challenge peaks were “summited”, with the total height climbed by all participants on the day being 23,500 metres.

Kevin Robinson, of the Holme Valley Mountain Rescue Team dreamed up the event and rallied local climbers to the cause. He summed up the event; “”The Seven Summits Challenge has been a great success thanks to the many people climbing, organising, donating and supporting the team.

“When the event was first envisioned, a great day like today was the pinnacle what we thought we could achieve. So many people working so hard and having so much fun to raise money for a very important cause.

“I’m immensely proud of the official figure of 23,500m climbed on the day. Thank you to everybody involved and all of our families and friends for such wonderful support.”

Climbers from the Holme Valley Mountain Rescue Team completed two peaks during the course of the day, before moving on the help contribute to other team’s target peaks.

Members of the ROKT Junior Climbing Team also completed two peaks. Mr Robinson praised their efforts: “The ROKT junior climbing team were an absolute inspiration, they were the first to reach the top of their mountains, and also gained the highest personal number of meters climbed!”

Members of neighbouring Calder Valley Search and Rescue Team also competed – as did Calderdale Mountaineering Club who presented a cheque to the Holme Valley Mountain Rescue Team to help with the appeal.

The Mayor of Kirklees also called by to offer support and have a taste of climbing.

Early estimations show the event could have raised around £3,500 for the Holme Valley Mountain Rescue Team.

The Team would like to thank Everyone who came to climb and show their support on the day, especially the ROKT Junior Climbing Team, the staff and management at Huddersfield Sports Centre, Xamax clothing for donating the event T-shirts, SCR Envelopes for printing publicity material and of course the Mayor of Kirklees for supporting the event.

[video file="hvmrt_seven_summits"]

HVMRT Proposed new Headquarters Building

Faced with the closure of Marsden Fire Station, where we are currently based, the team now urgently needs to raise funds to build a new, dedicated headquarters building in the Robert Ashton Memorial Park, Meltham, to ensure we can continue to provide essential search and rescue services into the future.

Permission for the new building was finally secured last year after a long planning process but the second serious challenge facing the team is to raise the money required to fund the new build.

Huddersfield Sports Centre are generously supporting HVMRT to host a sponsored climbing event on Sunday 27th January 2013.

The Seven Summits Challenge event is open to any climber who wishes to participate, and we would particularly welcome climbing clubs and members of other Mountain Rescue Teams to join us for the event.

An element of healthy competition is planned, with climbers encouraged to enter as part of a team with the goal of climbing the furthest height and raising as much money as possible for the team.

Despite this though, the event will be relaxed and fun, and is open to climbers of all ages and abilities.

As an added bonus, Huddersfield Sports Centre have kindly offered 1 week of free climbing to all participants.

Each participant will also be presented with a t-shirt, specially designed for this event, which will be printed and donated by Xamax clothing.

All you need to do to take part is to register at Huddersfield Climbing Wall (within Huddersfield Sports Centre) before 20th January and raise over £50 for Holme Valley Mountain Rescue Team.

Please contact fundraising@Holmevalleymrt.org.uk for more information.

You can also donate through MyDonate, using the link below.

HVMRT Members sample the Nook Brewhouse’s new brew “Rescue Red”, outside the Nook in Holmfirth

The Nook pub is something of a local institution in Holmfirth, and a long-time supporter of the Holme Valley MRT.

The Brewhouse opened in 2009 and in the few years since has gone from strength to strength, collecting awards and distributing its ales across the country.

After consultation with the HVMRT, the Nook Brewhouse very generously embarked on a project to help raise funds for the team by producing a special, commemorative ale, proceeds from which would go towards the team to help with the current fundraising drive to build a new, dedicated HQ building in Meltham.

The new brew, Rescue Red, is a 3.8% amber-red coloured ale, with hint of maltiness, a subtle hoppy aftertaste and a flowery aroma.

Nick Mason, of The Nook Brewhouse said “In recognition of the vital role the Holme Valley Mountain Rescue Team gives to West Yorkshire, The Nook Brewhouse has specially brewed its own ale of which 10 pence in every pint is donated to the team.

“Rescue Red will be available at The Nook Pub throughout the festive season and is already proving to be a great hit with the locals and real ale enthusiasts alike.”

The Holme Valley MRT would like to thank the Nook Brewhouse for their continued support, and hope Rescue Red proves popular enough to thrive and continue!

The team replanned its usual Sunday training exercise in order to cover more ground around Yateholme, and extend the search area further up onto the moors, south of the reservoir.

Mr Bryson was last seen leaving his home in Scholes at 0630 on the morning of Tuesday 27th November.

The team were called in to assist with the search shortly after his disappearance, but concentrated on popular walkers’ paths and woodland surrounding the reservoir.

This weekend’s search broadened the area covered onto open moorland and high ground adjoining the Yateholme area, looking for any evidence or indication that the missing man may have been in the area.

Despite a considerable time-lapse between Mr. Bryson’s disappearance and the weekend’s search, no further sign of him has been found to date.

Mr Bryson was last seen wearing a dark suit and Barbour style jacket. He is around 6′ tall, of slim build and balding on top with with greying hair around the sides.

Anyone who thinks they may have seen Mr Bryson is requested to contact Police on 101.

Neil Bryson was last seen leaving his home in Scholes at 0630 on the morning of Tuesday 27th November.

The team was called in on the afternoon of Wednesday the 28th to help serach woodland areas around the reservoirs at Yateholme.

The area, a local beauty spot, is popular with dog walkers, mountain bikers and horse riders and was frequented my Mr Bryson, who walked there with his family.

As light faded on the night of the 28th, the Holme Valley Mountain Rescue Team called in  neighbouring Oldham Mountain Rescue Team and several SARDA search dogs and handlers to assist with the search.

The search concentrated on woodland and the many paths and tracks that run through the area.

Unfortunately the search effort revealed no result and was called off at 2230.

On Sunday 2nd December, West Yorkshire Police requested the team to return to the area in daylight to cover further ground. Again, efforts were concentrated on woodland and again SARDA dogs and the services of Woodhead Mountain Rescue Team were called in to help.

With no result and all requested areas covered, the search was called off at 1700.

Mr Bryson was last seen wearing a dark suit and Barbour style jacket. He is around 6′ tall, of slim build and balding on top with with greying hair around the sides.

Anyone who thinks they may have seen Mr Bryson is requested to contact Police on 101.