THE changes in rescue equipment over the past 40 years can be seen at an exhibition at Tavistock Museum, which celebrates the 40th anniversary of the Dartmoor Rescue Group. The exhibition, on display for the next six months, was opened by mayor of Tavistock last Saturday. It includes a coroner's report from 1967 on the death from exposure of two young army cadets on Dartmoor which triggered a series of events and letters to newspapers — also included in the exhibition — which led to the founding of the group. Jenny Hale of the DRG said local mountaineers, hill walkers, climbers and an Arctic explorer had met and realised they could help. They taught themselves how to go about a rescue and contacted Hamish MacInnes, a rescuer in Glencoe, for information. The small group of moorland enthusiasts started helping the police with search and rescue on Dartmoor. In due course a recognised official team was formed and the DRG was subsequently founded in Tavistock. The room which houses the exhibition was the original control room. Currently the group consists of four sections (based on Ashburton, Okehampton, Tavistock and Plymouth), each capable of functioning independently, plus the main 'original charity' which co-ordinates common training, equipment and communicatons issues and is main contact point for organisations. Until recently there was one charity. This changed a few years ago when the teams became self governing. Each team was renamed Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team followed by the name of its home base. The Dartmoor Rescue Group still exists but is now an executive committee whose primary role is to oversee liaison between the four DSRTs and is made up of representatives of the teams. On display are photographs of the teams and press cuttings from various callouts. There is also old and modern equipment, old and modern clothing, an old and a new 'MacInnes' stretcher and a rescue sack with its equipment laid out for viewing.
