As you all no doubt aware, WILSAR have over the past 4 days been involved in a high profile missing person search in the Marlborough area of Wiltshire.

This phase of the operation has now been concluded by Wiltshire Police.

On behalf of Steve Upton, chairman of WILSAR, Inspector Graham Copestake , Wiltshire police and myself as ALSAR chairman, I would like to thank all those who attended to assist in the past 2 days in the Savernake Forest.  I would also like to thank all those who offered assistance should the operation extend beyond today.

We have had searchers from Hampshire, Dorset, Oxfordshire, SEBEV, Sussex, Essex and many LS Dog teams (as foot searchers) working alongside WILSAR in an operation that worked almost seamlessly.

Offers of further assistance have come from Cheshire, Staffordshire, YALSAR and WMSAR who were ready to send whatever resources they could spare without leaving themselves short should they also be called out.

To those teams who I have not mentioned please accept my apologies but it has been a very long 4 days and my memory is full of many things as you will all no doubt appreciate.

We often say that if required ALSAR can put members of several teams together who due to a common basic syllabus can work as a coherent team.  The last few days have proved that this claim is true.

All those concerned have been very impressed by the standard of all those from ALSAR and LS Dogs who deployed into a variety of sectors. That it worked so well is a credit not only to those who were there but to the training that is carried out in teams around the country.

It has been with a certain degree of pride that when asked I have been able to say that we have been able to bring in volunteers from around the country to assist in the search. It was also the case that when on the ground you could not tell other than by badge who was from what team.

So on behalf of WILSAR can I say thank you to all concerned that made this difficult task a lot easier than it could have been.

This has been a chance for ALSAR to showcase what it does well and how effective it can be.  I can say without reservation that you have and would have acquitted yourselves to the highest standards.

I am honoured to be the Chairman of such an organisation that when asked can react with professionalism and enthusiasm to what can be a difficult situation.

Many thanks and with much appreciation.

Adrian Edwards

Adrian Edwards
Chairman
Association of Lowland Search and Rescue