I got involved with the Grampian Police Mountain Rescue Team in 1991 (going out on training days as I lived and worked in the Braemar area) and formally joined the Braemar civilian team in 1996. 

 

When I joined the Police I had to officially leave but was still allowed out on training until a place became available in the Grampian Police Team.  So that’s a long time 30 years in the hills with the MRT and with 25 years of being a serving member.  I have also been the only fully qualified Police MRT SARDA dog handler embedded in a Police MRT. A Search and Rescue Dog Association Handler is someone who is a qualified mountain rescue person who has the addition of a fully trained air scenting search dog who can find missing persons in open areas.  I can and have been deployed all over Scotland. 

 

I was and have only ever been the only female Grampian Police Team member. 

I joined Tayside Police Team in 2017 when I transferred to Tayside where I am now one of three.

 

I have never faced any male/female barriers.  The biggest one was getting into the old sea kings as it was a run and jump but the winch man always jumped out and provided a knee for me to step up on.

 

My proudest moment/best thing is that I have been part of a team of people who selflessly go out in any conditions to rescue people or bring loved ones back knowing that if it ever happened to me then I would hope they would come and get me.  On average I get 3 callouts per month with my team and potentially another two callouts for SARDA.

 

Because I worked in an outdoor shop before I joined the civilian team and had been on many training days I fitted in with no issues – the guys already trusted me to sell them good equipment – I don’t think it would have been any different if I was male as I had already made that bond.

 

I would encourage anyone thinking about MRT to come out and see what we do.