FORMER soldier Bill McOwan is the new controller of the Tavistock branch of the Dartmoor Search and Rescue team. Tavistock resident Mr McOwan, 55, has taken on the role from Bud Francis, who had spent 14 years at the helm. A member of the Tavistock team for ten years, Mr McOwan said he would relish the role of controller: 'It is something I feel I can do well and enjoy,' he said. 'We have a great bunch of people — it's a very big team effort.' The new controller spent 40 years in the Army, 22 of them with 29 Commando Royal Artillery Regiment. Bud Francis will continue to be a team member, having enjoyed 23 years so far. He said he felt it was time to stand down and pass the role onto someone else: 'I still have a lot of time to give but it will not be all of my time,' he said. New team members are being sought to join the Tavistock branch's trainee induction programme starting in June. Applicants should be able to navigate, enjoy the outdoors and be between the ages of 18 and 60. For an application pack please write to: The Training Officer, DSRT (TAVISTOCK), The Rescue Centre, Abbey Rise, Tavistock. RIGHT: Bud Francis (left) with his successor Bill McOwan. Picture by James Bird
