Chris Lloyd

Panel Discussion: The Sustainability of Mountain Rescue:

Chris has been involved with the Ogwen Valley team since 1975, enjoying the day-to-day camaraderie of hill walking, rock climbing, rescuing and socialising. But it wasn’t long before he found himself at the serious end of mountain rescue with a couple of body recoveries. He witnessed the development of the team as it transitioned from Ogwen Cottage to their base at Bryn Poeth — a time when all team members were expected to carry out their share of ‘base duties’, including manning the radio, washing the pots and cleaning the loo. It was his first such duty in November 1977, when a fellow team member and good friend was killed in a mountaineering accident in the Ogwen Valley: a very bleak day for the team.

Over the years, he has been team member, equipment officer, trustee and current chair (his third stint in the seat). He instigated the team’s CIO status (one of the first teams to do so), compiled the first ‘Rule Book’ and a comprehensive list of team members since the team’s inauguration in March 1965. He assisted with the excellent book, Risking Life and Limb documenting the first fifty years of the team, and continues as team archivist.

He is, he says, ‘more of a porter’, adding that ‘there are no elves in MR’ and continues to lead by example in respect of those ‘base duties’.