Volunteer profile, Harold Burrows MBE – Operational Support Member

Name: Harold Burrows MBE, Operational Support Member and team President.

I joined NEWSAR in 1999, 22 years ago.  But my involvement in Mountain Rescue goes all the way back to 1966.  Editors note: Fifty Five years ago!

I started to train my first dog with Search And Rescue Dog Association – Wales (SARDA – Wales) in 1986.  My first SARDA call out was in 1988 was for a missing male after a Christmas party in Merthyr Tydfil, second call-out on Christmas Eve was to search for the victims of the Lockerbie bombing of Pam Am flight 103. I travelled up on Christmas night ready to search Boxing Day.

I’ve served in many management positions in Mountain Rescue teams, SARDA (Wales) and the National Search And Rescue Dog Association of UK & Ireland.

I’ve been involved in training and assessing search dogs in Iceland, Greece, Malta, Guam and Australia. I was given an award from the Malta Government in 2013, for the help and support I gave them in setting up their Urban Search And Rescue dog unit.

I’ve been privileged to serve communities across the UK and beyond.