A Tavistock couple decided to give donations they received for their 40th wedding anniversary this year to Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team to thank them for their help.

Fred and Pam May hosted a party at the Red and Black Club to celebrate their 40th wedding anniversary last month, where they asked their 70 guests (68 of whom were family members) for donations to the charity instead of gifts. They raised a total of £403.50 which they passed to the Team on Monday lunchtime.

In March 2018, Pam required urgent medical treatment one evening but when Fred rang for an ambulance, no units could get to their house (situated off the steep Green Lane in Tavistock) straight away as the ground was laden with snow at the time, during the infamous ‘Beast from the East’ storm. Members of the Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team heard the call and immediately responded to Fred and Pam’s house, one of whom was Nathan Woodhouse (pictured above). When an ambulance crew arrived, the Search and Rescue Team assisted with Pam’s transfer to Derriford Hospital.

Pam said: ‘This year for our anniversary, we asked for donations to give to the charity to say thank you for everything they did to help me a few years ago. I looked around the house and thought we’ve got enough things, a local charity should benefit instead. We always see in the paper all the life-saving work the Search and Rescue Team on the moors.’

Pam and Fred married at Tavistock Methodist Church in 1982, just at the beginning of the Falklands war. Fred’s brother served as best man but was on standby in the Royal Navy at the time. He attended the service but was then immediately called away, leaving a close friend of Fred’s to stand in his place for the reception after the ceremony.

Nathan said: ‘It’s great to see Pam doing so well and it’s a pleasure being able to help the local community. This donation is fantastic, we really appreciate Fred and Pam’s kindness.’

Fred and Pam’s donation will be put towards the Search and Rescue Team’s new building.