Meet the Team

The GRS team is made up of team members with various backgrounds and experiences. Members past and present have helped in disasters and joint training with the following countries;

▪ United States of America	▪ Canary Islands	▪ Turkey
▪ Slovenia	▪ Croatia	▪ Bosnia
▪ Kosovo	▪ Mozambique	▪ Japan
▪ Hong Kong	▪ Switzerland	▪ South America
▪ Majorca	▪ France	▪ Ireland

This list is ever increasing with the new deployments we attend.

Scroll below to view some of the teams profile.

	Peter Gadd Team Leader Pete has been involved with Mountain Rescue for over 31 years. He's been involved with training and working dogs before with SARDA Wales and has now qualified with Buster on the Water Search Project.

	John Carrie Team Leader John has been working in the Pre-hospital field for the past 9 years. John joined GRS to both provide team personnel with medical assistance and to also assist other Emergency Medical Teams when it comes to Disaster work. He's also a serving member of the Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation. John has been involved with some of the most high profile Water Rescue's of the past number of years in North Wales. He works for the North West Ambulance Service and has recently completed the Swiftwater Rescue Technicians Course.

	Lyndon Jones Team Leader Lyndon has a wealth of experience in the Search & Rescue environment. He's over 25 years experience with SARDA Wales, holding various positions including Call Out Co-ordinator and Head Search Manager.

	Tim Vollum Water Incident Team Leader Tim has spent much of his life on water and has worked his way through most continents as a river guide. He currently provides Swift Water Rescue courses and Professional River Guide training both in the UK and many other countries. Currently based in Bala, North Wales, Tim runs his own outdoor adventure company called Get Wet and is also a member of Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation. Tim is a Sail & Powerboat Instructor and holds the RYA Commercial Skipper qualification.

	Allen Ince Operational Support Team Leader Allen is an all round mountaineer who loves to push himself. He regularly partakes in Challenge Walks for various charities. As a mechanical engineer his professional experiences come into their own when undertaking the challenges faced when setting up camp in remote locations. He's also a Specialist member of the Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation.

	Collin Singer Team Member An experienced dog trainer, handler and instructor, Collin served for nearly 25 years in the Royal Air Force Police. A qualified Provost Marshal's Dog Inspector, throughout his service career he was involved in all aspects of dog handling, working with dog handlers from British Civil Police Forces, HM Customs, HM prison Service, Royal Navy, MOD Police, the United States Air Force, the Greek Cypriot Police Force and other agencies. Collin currently owns Wagtail UK Limited providing specialist detection dogs to a number of agencies worldwide including the MOD and Police Forces in the UK. Wagtail have also exported dogs to mainland Europe and the Middle East including Saudi Arabia and Iraq. In September 2004, Collin qualified as a handler on the Human Remains Project with his dog Inkie.

	Louise Elizabeth Wilson Team Member Louise has studied a Three Year Course in Animal Behavior and Welfare and is Qualified with a Diploma in Higher Education. She works full time with domestic and working dogs at Wagtail UK Limited, based near Chester. She started Volunteering for Global Rescue Services in December 2004 and has qualified with her Dog "Twister" (Springer spaniel) to be a Cadaver Search Handler. She Joined Global to help expand the team and to help in Volunteer rescue work and further her knowledge on Dog training methods.

	Carl Hancock Team Member Carl has been a member of GRS for 3 years. He's been awarded with the Level 1 Dog Handler qualification for collapsed buildings & confined spaces. Carl is qualified with Baxter on the Human Remains Project.

	Eilian Williams Team Member Eilian is an experienced dog handler and trainer. An ex member of the British Army, he's trained search dogs in Landmine detection, Arms and Explosives detection and security/tracking. He's got experience of working in Somaliland, Eritrea, Iraq and Belize. He's currently training as a Cadaver Detection Dog Handler.

	Emma Whittle Team Member Emma joined GRS as a Trainee handler with her dog Jen in 2006. A keen outdoor person, Emma joined us to train as a Cadaver Detection Dog Handler. She has completed the Rescue 3 Swiftwater First Responder Course and has recently qualified as a Cadaver Search Dog Handler.


	Rachel Williams Team Member Rachel is GRS's newest trainee handler. She's a Critical Care Physio by trade, but fancied something different with her new Patterdale Terrier.

	Clare Foster Team Member Clare is an Outdoor Instructor by trade with extensive experience of working in Outdoor Centres. Clare hopes to transfer some of hr skills to the rescue environment whilst training her new dog.

	Lee Evans Team Member As a qualified outdoor instructor, Lee has come on board with the Water Search Project. Lee is assisting with the training of the Water Search Dogs and brings with him experience of maintaining Water Rescue Equipment. Lee has also qualified as a Water Search Dog Handler and has recently completed the Rescue 3 Swiftwater First Responder Course.

	Paul Fox Team Member Paul has joined Global with a wealth of rescue experience. As well as attending some high profile water rescue's within North Wales, he's also an active member of the North Wales Cave Rescue Team & a retained Firefighter with the North Wales Fire & Rescue Services. Paul has recently completed the Rescue 3 Swiftwater First Responder Course.

	Amanda Burnham Team Member Amanda is a highly experienced Freelance Outdoor Instructor. Based in North Wales, Amanda has a wealth of local area knowledge. Amanda has recently come on board with the Water Rescue Team and has also started training her dog on the Water Search.

	Ric Foster Team Member Ric is a big paddler and runs his own company Bala Graphics. Very use to big white water and when he's not paddling hard, he's going to be helping with the Water Rescue Team. He's both an experienced Kayaker and Powerboat Helmsman.

	Darren Clarkson-King Team Member Darren spends his life obsessed by water. He has kayaked around the world and has spent a great deal of time in the Himalaya running rapids and guiding people on adventures. Having kayaked down both Everest and K2, he calls Wales his home. Darren runs a bespoke expedition company, www.purelandexpeditions.com. Darren is also a canyon and gorge walking guide.

	Sam Jones Team Member Sam has been in the hills since he could walk. He enjoys climbing, fell running and a bit of kayaking. He's also completed the Offa's Dyke long distance walk. He's hoping to go to university shortly to study Disaster Management followed by a career in the Military. Sam has been involved with GRS since it began. He's now a Water Incident Member and has recently completed the Rescue 3 Swiftwater First Responder Course and RYA Level 2 Powerboat.

	Richard Butler Team Member Richard is an avid skier & skiing instructor. He has completed the Duke of Edinburgh Award and has also taken part in many different activities such as the three peaks challenge. Richard joined GRS at first to help train the dogs, but is now a member of the Water Incident Team and has recently completed his RYA Level 2 Powerboat.

	Dylan Jones Team Member Dylan joined Global Rescue Services in January 2010. He has always had an interest in hill walking and fell running and likes to try any outdoor activities. He's completed the sandstone trail and three peaks challenge. Having recently graduated from Sheffield Hallam were he studied Building Surveying, he has been unable to get a suitable job, so for the time being is working on a farm in Oswestry.

	Wayne Roberts Team Member Wayne has a wealth of experience in both civilian and military remote area medicine and is currently working as a Remote Medical Practitioner for the UN in Afghanistan. Apart from his medical skills he is also a qualified mountaineering instructor and spent 10 years as an active member of Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation.

	Dr. Adam Brown - MBChB Team Doctor Adam is an Emergency Medicine trainee currently working as a registrar in Bristol. He trained in Birmingham and has travelled and worked in Africa, Central America and New Zealand. He's also a serving member of HM Forces. He enjoys Pre-hospital care and the challenge it provides. The future holds military deployment, further expeditions, and furthering his role within GRS.

	Chris Thresh Team Member Chris has a vast amount of pre-hospital experience, having served in Saudi Arabia, Northern Ireland, Croatia, Iraq, Italy and Canada whilst on deployment with HM Forces. Chris is also a keen mountaineer and rock climber.

	Paul Howden Team Member Paul, an avid climber has travelled all over the world whilst serving with the British Army. Paul looks after our Medical Stores whilst on deployment and is a back up medic should his medical skills be needed.

	Mervyn Jones Team Member Mervyn has been involved in mountaineering and rescue work for more years than he cares to admit. He's the former Secretary and a founding member of GRS. He's also a radio amateur and member of RAYNET (Voluntary Emergency Communications) Mervyn is also our UK contact when abroad. He keeps us all in order and is a focal point for relatives and loved ones whilst we're on deployment. .

	Al Read Team Member Al is a retired Lt. Commander from the Royal Navy. Having served all over the world, Al is able to bring his wealth of experience to the team. He's a keen mountaineer and has led expeditions into uncharted areas of Greenland. He is a Team Leader for Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation, Advanced First Aider, Search Management instructor and teaches technical rope rescue.

	Ron Williams Team Member A mountaineer for more years than he cares to admit to. He has been in Mountain Rescue for the past 30yrs, with the Ogwen Valley Mountain Rescue Organisation. He is also a search manager with the North Wales Mountain Rescue Association