News Items
Click on the year to read the news - 2007 2008 2008
News From 2008
Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec
NEW SEARCHDOG FOR COCKERMOUTH MRT
Laura Connolly and her searchdog Jake passed their final assessments at Buttermere. Laura and Jake join Cockermouth's other 3 searchdog teams so you should be safe in their area!
POLLY'S LEGACY
Following the death of SARDA Lakes friend Polly Lander, her parents and partner Chris decided to share the donations received at her funeral between a number of charities which represented Polly's life - Read Elly Whiteford's moving tribute to her very dear friend, and an incredibly brave lady.....click here
DOGSBODY 'SCARY' RETIRES AFTER 12 YEARS
Longserving SARDA dogsbody Margaret O'Kane (also known as Scary) has decided to retire after 12 years of laying about on a cold wet fellside being mauled by the searchdogs.
SEARCHDOG COMET PASSES AWAY
We received the sad news that Searchdog Comet passed away after a short illness on 3rd Dec 2008. Handler Mike Blakey of Patterdale MRT said -
I wish I had the words to explain the bond between a search dog and handler but unfortunately I don't. The saying 'a man's best friend'
doesn't quite go far enough. I'll be spreading Comet's ashes on the top of Great Mell Fell sometime soon.
Thank you to all who have shown such concern and interest for the both of us. It is appreciated.
WAINWRIGHT CHALLENGE IN SUPPORT OF SARDA LAKES
The Wainwright Society are inviting the public to each scale one of the Wainwright Summits IN 2009 in support of SARDA England and SARDA Lakes and has set a challenge to each walker to raise a minimum of £10 per peak!
ELIZABETH SEPHTON LEGACY
Elizabeth, wife of the later Bill Sephton, a keen supporter of SARDA Lakes passed away after a lengthy illness. Bill and Elizabeth lived in the Nottingham area, and Bill gave slideshows about our work to many local people. SARDA Lakes has received a letter from her son Paul to say she had requested that donations at her funeral should be directed a number of charities, and has sent us a cheque for £300.
SEARCHDOG COMET RETIRES
Handler Mike Blakey has announced that Searchdog Comet has finally hung up his jacket. Comet graded in 2000 and has been one of the most sucessful searchdogs - with many finds to his name. Mike plans to give Comet the 'run' of the fireside but intends to continue with SARDA and is currently training with new puppy Moss. We all wish Comet a happy and quiet retirement!
DONATION BY ROOKING HOUSE
Rookin House Equestrian and Activity Centre based in Troutbeck decided to support SARDA Lakes in a very unusual way! After one of their dogs had pups they rehomed them and the money they received from the new owners (£325) has been donated to SARDA Lakes.....many thanks
SEARCHDOG BRIN PASSESS AWAY
Handler Mike Hadwin let us know that after a short illness, retired searchdog Brin has passed away. Brin and Mike worked with the Cockermouth team for 10 years and were very successful. Brin hung up his jacket a couple of years ago to have a peaceful retirement with Mike and Trish and new searchdog Fly.
Wedding News
Christyne Judge (handler of retired searchdog Skye) got married on October 5th to Dave. Christyne and Dave are both Police Officers and are now living in the lovely village of Hawkshead - Skye attended (naturally) as a pageboy .... congratulations to you both!
Great North Swim
Handler Kaz Frith, along with bodies (Penrith and Coniston MRT members) Daryl Garfield, Kim Chick and local SARDA supporter Pauline Powell competed in the 1 mile Lake Windermere Great North Swim on 13th Sept. They all made it (Kaz even did it without a wetsuit despite the 15deg temperature!) and have raised over £500 for the team.
Polly Lander
The sad news reached us that good friend and dogsbody Polly Lander (Pictured on right) had died after a long battle with Leukemia. Polly made an impact on anyone she met and we miss her. Polly's partner and family made the decision to pass on donations in Polly's memory to SARDA Lakes.
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Ambleside Folk Festival 2008
With apologies for the delayed information, we are extremely grateful to Mik Mead, the performers, raffle organisers and anyone else who contributed to raising over £800 for SARDA Lakes. The donation will be put to very good use.
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JUL 2008
Twins for handler Steve Walter!
Many congratulations to handler Steve Walter and wife Safron (both members of Wasdale MRT) on the birth of twins Issac and Isla (who both weighed in at just over 3lbs!!)
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Keswick Masonic Lodge - Donation
Many thanks to the Keswick Meridian lodge whos Worshipful Brothers presented search dog Dottie and handler Kaz Frith with a cheque for £250
GoApe - Donation
Many thanks to the UKs leading Ropes Activity company GoApe who donated £600 to SARDA Lakes
18 Jun
SARDA Lakes received two sets of donations - £250 from the Meridian Lodge of Keswick and £600 from the UKs leading Ropes Activity Company Go Ape
1 Jun - Become a 'Friend of SARDA Lakes'
The new supporters club 'Friends of SARDA Lakes' was officially launched - TV Star, Julia Bradbury (of Wainwright Walking fame) was delighted to be asked to be out Patron - saying that 'Anyone who’s seen me on Wainwright’s Walks on TV will
know that I mention the micro-climate quite often; the
weather can change in a moment. Even the most
organised and prepared people can be caught out.
Search dogs play a vital role in locating them. I
proudly support SARDA, and I would encourage you
to join the Friends
You too can join our growing band of supporters by clicking on the image opposite and finding out more!
1 May
Trainee searchdog Jake and Handler Laura Connolly pass their first assessment in Coombe Ghyll
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21 Apr
Searchdog Skye retired from active duty after a repetition of a leg injury
16 Mar
Two trainees graded - Ian Higginbtham and his German Shepherd and Roger Pickup and his border collie Beinn both completed their assessments on 16th March and now join the callout list.
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21 Feb
Royal Mail issued a new set of stamps to celebrate Working Dogs - one of the stamps - the 46p - features Merrick from SARDA Southern Scotland. Les Telford from SARDA Lakes was pictured with searchdog Kess to help launch the issue.
10th Feb
Searchdog Dottie (Kaz Frith) assisted with a search in Southern Scotland for a vulnerable missing man. Along with Searchdog Corrie, Dottie found the
body of a male.
10th Feb
Trainees Beinn and Vinny (along with other SARDA Lakes dogs) took part in the East Cumbria Search Panel exercise on the Pennines. They both found the missing persons and therefore passed a further day's assessment - taking them closer to grading.
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JAN 2008
20th Jan
Trainees Beinn and Vinny attended the SARDA England course in the Lakes and both have moved further towards grading and are now both on 5 assessment passes!!
16th Jan
Searchdog Dottie and handler Kaz Frith found a vulnerable missing person following a search lasting over 1.5 days - he was taken to hospital and treated for hypothermia (this was Dottie's first find)
12/13th Jan
A training weekend was held at Loweswater - and included a night exercise for two of the dogs under assessment and also a couple of the graded dogs. Another excellent weekend and Trainees Vinny and Beinn were awarded another 2 passes towards their grading.
9th Jan
Searchdog Comet and handler Mike Blakey found the body of a walker who had fallen to his death on Helvellyn - this was the culmination of a very busy few weeks for Lakes teams
Copyright © Kaz Frith 2007 SARDA Lakes. All rights reserved.