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BBC News
09-06-2025
- General
- BBC News
'You just do it because it helps people'
Most people celebrating their 80th birthday do not run the risk of being called away to a work emergency - but that will be a possibility for Gari Finch. The soon-to-be octogenarian from Great Ayton, in North Yorkshire, has been a volunteer at Cleveland Mountain Rescue for 54 years, and so far he has at least 1,500 call-outs to his Mr Finch's teammates know better than to suggest that after this latest milestone, he should hang up his distinctive red uniform and enjoy says he will continue in the volunteer role he has done since the early 1970s "as long as I'm still of some use"."I'm still in my 20s in my brain - it's the rest of my body that's not there," he says. Cleveland Mountain Rescue was established in 1965, and is run entirely by a group of about 70 volunteers, with no paid members of staff. A keen climber and walker, Mr Finch says he was inspired to join in 1971 to "put a little bit back into society"."I thought, if I fall off a crag or have an accident, I would like someone to come and help me," he told Naga Munchetty on BBC 5 Live."So, consequently, when the opportunity came, I joined up."Alongside his full-time teaching job, he was a search and rescue officer for over 25 years, responding to accidents and incidents across the North York Moors, the coastline between Sandsend and Hartlepool, and the Tees Finch was even part of the team sent to Scotland to help recover debris from the Lockerbie disaster in 1988, the UK's deadliest terror atrocity, when a bomb in the hold of a Pan Am flight to America exploded above the town. In 2013, Mr Finch received an MBE from Queen Elizabeth II in recognition of his dedication to mountain rescue services - although, according to him, it was "a team effort". Mr Finch says his late wife, Sandy, also played a vital role in the operation of Cleveland Mountain Rescue, "taking up the reins" and speaking to emergency services in his absence if an urgent call came died nearly six years ago, and Mr Finch credits the friendships he has formed at the mountain rescue organisation for helping him through that difficult period."Apart from helping people, the camaraderie and banter and friends I've made over the years is brilliant," he explains."That's what's keeping me going, to be perfectly honest." Cleveland Mountain Rescue has also reached a significant anniversary this year - 60 years in operation, making Mr Finch its longest-standing Greive, public relations officer at Cleveland Mountain Rescue, says: "Gari joined the team in 1971, and 54 years later he is still an active member. "He epitomises what volunteering is about: giving up his time, using his skills to help others."To this day, Mr Finch still plays an active role in the team as a radio operator, helping to coordinate search and rescue efforts, as well as using his skills to train others."I think I'm still of some use," Mr Finch says."I'm still on the call-out list, so when there's a call-out, off I go to the base to prepare the Land Rovers and the radios."You don't do it for money or anything, you just do it because it's there to be done. It's something useful and it helps people." Listen to highlights from North Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North.
BBC News
21-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Orphaned ducklings saved by Redcar couple 'doing well'
A couple who rescued a clutch of unhatched duck eggs after their mother died now have 10 rapidly-growing ducklings living in their Carter and his girlfriend Stephanie Weeding began incubating the eggs at home in April using heat orphaned ducklings - which would not have survived more than a few hours without their help - started hatching after a week and are now thriving at Mr Carter's home in Redcar, 35-year-old chef said "more had survived than if they'd been in the wild", adding he was "chuffed" the birds were doing so well. He said: "Five weeks ago, we wouldn't have said we're going to have 10 little ducklings running around in the garden."But they're doing well and causing havoc, it's all good." The mother duck had become something of an unofficial mascot at the cafe where Mr Carter works in Great Ayton, near staff were left "heartbroken" when she died during the Easter bank holiday, and the timing of her death made it difficult for anyone to contact the RSPCA and other local charities for the couple collect tropical butterflies they had heat lamps at home, which they used to incubate the eggs. The ducklings have since been learning to swim in a makeshift backyard pond and Ms Weeding said they particularly enjoyed eating dandelions and "can't get enough of peas".The couple added their next step was to introduce the birds to living alfresco permanently, as they are currently only outside during the Weeding said: "In the next week they'll be moving into a coup and once they're sprouting adult feathers we'll be released them back into the wild." Follow BBC Tees on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
