Search dog handler John Coombs
A mountain rescuer has gained a long-service award after 25 years as a search dog handler.
Edale Mountain Rescue Team member John Coombs was presented with his award by Neville Sharpe, president of the Search and Rescue Dogs Association England.
Mr Coombs has worked with four search dogs: Spider, Bonny, Biscuit and more recently Flash.
Ed Proudfoot of the Edale team said: “He’s attended over 500 searches and made 34 finds.
“John’s services are not just available to the Peak District teams however. He frequently travels to other areas of the country to assist other teams in the search for missing and vulnerable people. John was one of the dog handlers involved in the search for April Jones [the murdered Machynlleth schoolgirl].
“However it’s not just people John and his dogs specialise in, but also lost property which can help gather crucial evidence or just help a fellow team member recover lost keys on the hill.
“Not only has John devoted his time to training working search dogs, but he also has found the time and commitment to be involved as equipment officer within Edale team in two stints encompassing 10 years.
“At a national level John was Sarda England’s training coordinator and now he sits as the Peak District’s search dog coordinator.
“It take a huge amount of commitment to train just one search dog. The fact that John as a volunteer has trained and worked four over a 25 year period is really a fantastic achievement.
“We take this opportunity to thank John for his on-going services to mountain rescue.”
Kate Gilliver
20 February 2015Many congratulations, John, from SARDA South Wales!
Wayne
20 February 2015Many congratulations from your understudy and former colleagues Wayne and Dodge
25 years in mountain rescue is no mean feat in itself but 25 as a handler deserves the recognition
Lyndon Jones
21 February 2015Congratulations John, it's nice to see people who have done the hard work receive recognition.
I think I have known you through most of your work with SARDA England, as it mentions you have worked all over the Country when it was required.
As the Call out Co-ordinator in SARDA Wales for many years I remember we lost a few Dogs of the call out list due to age, injury or the dog handler circumstances in life changing and it left us particularly short of dogs in the North East of wales a big area with Wrexham the largest population in North Wales very vulnerable. Dogs can take anything from two to four years depending on the bread and other factors you can't just buy them off the shelf.
I will personally never forget the assistance that was so readily given few people realise that calling dogs from the peak district was quicker than dogs in Mid and South Wales.
There can be no better reward than to know you have made a difference either saving a life, or recovering a loved one to allow them to greave.
Thanks John for the help you gave me.
Alison Royle
22 February 2015Wow! Many Congratulations John, what a fantastic achievement! It must be an amazing feeling to know that you have made such a difference to so many lives.
Hope to see you soon at local training and at the next national meet.
Dogsbody Alison
Andrew Pealing
20 June 2016Hi John,
This article has just been sent to me. (Things happen at a slower pace in New Zealand)
That's fantastic. Well earned. Congratulations.
So good to see your smile again.
You're a credit to the whole Search Dog world.
Over here in NZ, we still use a bit of scribbled paper I have with some of your young dog training techniques.
Take care.
(Note to moderator. If possible, please pass on my email address to John)