THE EARLY YEARS The North Moor Section consisted of local volunteers initially led by Controllers Fred Barlow and Ernie Bassett with the support of the Dartmoor National Park Warden for the area, Ian Boyes. The first President of the Team (from 1969 to 1986) was Rear Admiral Keith Lawder. He was a pioneer and guidebook writer of Dartmoor rock climbs. From the outset, the North Moor Section had a structure based on democratic processes, for example, Team leaders being elected and decisions being made by consensus. This was contrary to the usual command structure as operated by the Army, Police and Fire Service. This reflects the membership at the time, which was drawn from all walks of life. Over the years Team members have come and gone, but two of the founder members, Mike Ireland, (who remains an active member) and Fred Barlow B.E.M. (who is currently Team President) still belong to the Team.

THE MIDDLE YEARS

The North Moor Section was involved in a number of well-publicised rescues. These included the O Brook and Fur Tor (in 1981 with searchers drawn from several Sections of the DRG and culminating with the North Moor Section carrying two casualties the considerable distance back from Fur Tor). During the snow emergency of 1978 the North Moor Section was on duty for 5 days continuously.

In April 1978 all Sections of the DRG were awarded the Chief Constable's Commendation.

The increasing number of call outs highlighted the need for permanent Team vehicles. The issue of transport had been overcome to this point by the use of commercial vehicles from members’ employers. For example, a Morris 1000 Pickup was regularly used to transport the stretcher and Team equipment. When dealing with call outs on Northern Dartmoor the Team had to use an advanced base. This role was fulfilled by the use of an ex-roadmen’s hut, purchased from Devon County Council in 1983. This yellow “caravan” as it was affectionately known served the Team well for many years and could often be seen at OP 15 (an Observation Post at the end of the ring road).

RECENT YEARS

The UK was blighted by a “Foot and Mouth” outbreak in 2001, with Devon being one of the epicentres. Access to the countryside was restricted, the Dartmoor National Park was closed and Ten Tors was cancelled. The Team was required to adopt special measures if called out to contaminated areas. In that eventually, it was mandatory for Team members to burn their personal equipment used during the search in order to avoid spreading the disease! This preempted a shift to an increasing number of off-Moor searches.

As well as covering Dartmoor and rural Devon, the North Moor Team’s operational area now occasionally extended to Cornwall, Somerset and Dorset. For example, searches were undertaken in Cornwall at Hayle, Venton Gimps, Truro and St Austell. In Somerset the Team’s help was requested for searches near Street and Minehead. The Team also frequently assisted in “cross-border” searches on the Jurassic Coast. Such activity preceded the formation of Search Teams for Exmoor and later Cornwall. These newer Teams based many of their structures on The North Moor Section model.