The foundations of the team began in 1959, when Jack Powell a Police Sergeant in Merthyr Tydfil, was asked to bring together some outdoor people to form a team. An increasing number of people were getting into trouble in the Brecon Beacons. By 1963 members included Civil Defence Corp thus was formed the Police Civil Defence Mountain Rescue Team.
One of the first incidents the team were called to, was for a Vulcan Bomber on a low flying sortie which hit the top of Fan Llia and crashed onto the mountain on the other side of the valley. This was an extensive search area conducted in poor conditions, which involved RAF Teams from England and Wales, volunteers from Brecon and our team. The remains of the Aircraft were located with the aid of a helicopter and the Team members had to assist in the recovery of the bodies.
The Aberfan Disaster struck in 1966 and members of the team who were part of the Civil Defence Corp were involved in this major operation, all played an important part with Jack as the Site Rescue Officer.
In 1968 the members of the Police Civil Defence team became the Morlais Mountain rescue team.
The team is a founder member of the South Wales Search and Rescue Association (SWSARA) and is an affiliated to the Mountain Rescue Council for England and Wales. By 1996 the team changed its name from Morlais to become the Central Beacons Mountain Rescue Team.
The Team Today
The Team trains regularly, meeting one night a week and an all day exercise once a month. The team is made up volunteers, who give up there their time to help people in trouble on the mountains. The team covers the central area of the Brecon Beacons. Incorporating Pen-y-Fan, the highest point at 886m and the valley of Ystradfellte waterfalls. The total area that we provide cover for is 1437 square km. There are a total of 4 civilian mountain rescue teams that cover the Brecon Beacons National Park and South Wales. We can also be called to assist in searches with one of the other teams or police authority.
How do we operate?
The team operates from its base at Merthyr Tydfill near the Brecon Beacons. Team members come from all walks of life from students and school teachers to accountants and engineers. The team is called out using a pager system that is activated by the police. A message is left on the "Voice Bank" this informs the team where and what the incident is. The first 5 members of the team who get to base take the first response Land Rover to the incident site and establish a temporary control. The Iveco Control Vehicle then leaves with a crew within 30 minutes. Members who cannot make the Control Vehicle then make their way to the RV Point.