Ellie Sherwin displays her award

Ellie Sherwin displays her award

A dedicated rescue team volunteer was presented with a life membership award in recognition of her service.

Ellie Sherwin is stepping down from active duty with Calder Valley Search and Rescue Team in West Yorkshire, as she is moving away from the area to Pembrokeshire.

Ms Sherwin has more than 30 years’ service with the rescuers, and even met her husband Chris in the team.

She has attended numerous callouts and has taken a variety of roles, including team secretary. She was also a search dog handler and earlier this year was also made a life member of the Mountain Rescue Search Dogs England, formerly Search and Rescue Dogs Association England.

A Calder Valley team spokesperson said: “Through her involvement in MRSDE Ellie has provided an invaluable service, both within the team’s operational area and further afield.

“Starting off volunteering as a ‘dogsbody’, Ellie then joined CVSRT and took on the huge commitment required to train Bonnie, a border collie pup, to become an air-scenting search dog over a two- to three-year period.

“All the hard work paid off with Ellie and Bonnie being awarded the shield for the best performance by a novice dog and handler at their final assessment. Bonnie and Ellie made a successful find within weeks of grading and went on to have many more, saving several lives in the process.

“Following the passing of Bonnie, Ellie successfully trained another border collie, Pepper, who on her 13th birthday, started a well earned retirement following more than 11 years’ dedicated service.

“Ellie has been an excellent ambassador for the team and also MRSDE. Her commitment to both organisations has been instrumental in their development over the years.”

Calder Valley SRT chairman David Warden said: “Ellie is consistently pleasant, uncomplaining and blessed with a commonsense approach to problem solving, making you wonder ‘Why didn’t I think of that?’

“She will be sorely missed by the team who wish to recognise her years of service with the award of life membership.”

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