The hill farming community of Alnham, in Northumberland National Park between Alwinton and Ingram, is preparing to commemorate the deaths of Jock Scott and Willie Middlemas, just half a mile from their remote home at Ewartly Shank on November 17, 1962.

But the tragic loss has since resulted in many lives being saved, because it was this event that led voluntary rangers to set up Northumberland National Park Mountain Rescue – the volunteer organisation that turns out in all weathers to help save lives in remote places throughout the Northumbria Police area. Today the team still includes many National Park rangers.

The anniversary tribute includes a memorial cairn at High Knowes which has been erected by the current generation of rangers and mountain rescue volunteers at the spot where the two shepherds lost their lives in the deep snow.

Shepherds' Cairn is on Alnham Farm, which is owned by John Sordy, whose father farmed the land at the time of the accident and who has been closely involved in the erection of the cairn.

A memorial service will take place at the cairn on Saturday, November 24, led by the Rev Judy Glover.

Participants will meet at St Michael the Archangel Church, Alnham, at 1.30pm for the drive to the cairn.

An information panel with the full story and a walking route to the cairn will be erected near Alnham churchyard to help future visitors understand the significance of the events.

National Park senior ranger Russell Tait, for many years a mountain rescue volunteer, said: "The tragic events of 1962 forged strong links between the community, the emergency services and National Park voluntary rangers and set a standard for rescue operations which have stood the region in good stead to this day.

"The same spirit has enabled the setting up of the cairn. Family members, retired shepherds, members of the emergency services and the mountain rescue team have all come together to contribute to this important commemoration."

Mountain rescue team leader Bill Ellis said: "Members assisted in the construction of the memorial cairn and we feel that it is a fitting tribute to the memories of the two shepherds lost in this tragic event.

The incident led to the involvement of National Park staff in the team that exists today. We are proud to have served the local community for 45 years and we will continue to provide assistance to Northumbria

Police 24 hours a day, 365 days a year."

Anyone interested in attending the anniversary events can contact Russell Tait or Mark Bolton on 01669 620414. Details will also be available on the National Park website at www.northumberlandnationalpark.org.uk with the opportunity to make donations to the National Park Mountain Rescue Team in memory of Jock and Willie.


THE FATAL EVENTS OF NOVEMBER 1962 AND THE LIFE-SAVING TEAM THEY PROMPTED

THE winter of 1962-1963 is still remembered as one of the coldest since records began.

Jock Scott and Willie Middlemas were making their way home from Rothbury Mart.

A blizzard was in force on November 17 as they dropped off their colleague, Willie Bulloch, at Castle Hill Farm and tried to reach their remote farmstead across the moors by tractor.

At that time, the road from Alnham was just a track and there was no telephone line at the farm.

Two days later Willie Bulloch was out tending his flock and Mrs Scott asked him when she should be expecting Jock. Knowing they'd set out on Saturday, he raised the alarm.

Rescue parties including the Police, RAF, shepherds and farm workers began the search. The tractor was found abandoned and Jock's body was discovered buried under drifting snow near High Knowes late on the Tuesday. He was only half a mile from home.

It was not until the following day that Willie's body was found only 100 yards away from where Jock had perished.

Newspapers of the day reported on the Alnham storm search and the tremendous rallying of the "big-hearted Cheviots" community to raise funds for the bereaved families.

This area of country can be wild and very exposed in the winter.
One hundred years earlier, Nellie Herron set off from her workplace at Alnham over the moors to her home at Hartside in the Ingram Valley. She was later found frozen seated on the stone where she had stopped to rest.

But it was the fate of the two experienced hill men that prompted the creation of the Northumberland National Park Mountain Rescue Team to help people in distress, with John Weatherall as the first team leader.

Today the team is a crucial contributor to the emergency services of the region, with volunteers being called out at least once a week and more often in harsh weather.

Over the years, different people have brought new skills to the team. Search management now plays a vital role and former team leaders Pete Roberts and Dave Perkins have formulated systems of searching which are now used by rescue teams in many countries around the world.

A voluntary organisation and registered charity, the team is funded solely by contributions and works hard to maintain its stock of vital, up-to-date equipment through donations and sponsorship.

More information is available at www.nnpmrt.org.uk