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50 Years Saving Lives: Peak District Rescuer Honored
12 Jun
Summary
- John Mottram, 80, honored for 50 years of mountain rescue service.
- His team responded to few calls yearly initially, now approaches 70.
- He helped raise over £62,000 for rescue efforts.
John Mottram, an 80-year-old resident of Buxworth, has been awarded an MBE in the King's Birthday Honours List 2026 for his half-century of service to mountain rescue in the Peak District. He joined the Kinder Mountain Rescue Team in 1971 as one of its first volunteers and continues to support the team at 80 years old.
Mottram reflected on the significant rise in incidents the team handles, noting that initial call-outs were as few as four or five per year, whereas the team now responds to nearly 70 annually. His extensive volunteer work also includes developing communication systems for mountain rescue teams and supporting Derbyshire Cave Rescue.
His fundraising efforts have been substantial, contributing to raising over £62,000 for the service. Mottram's rescue experience includes responding to the 2019 Whaley Bridge dam wall incident and assisting in the search for debris following the 1988 Lockerbie bombing.
Several other Derbyshire residents were also recognized. Steven Carlier received a CBE for services to defence, Helen Bowder and Adrian Budgen were awarded OBEs for services to culture and work with victims, respectively. Paul Oxborough and Paul Pitts also received OBEs. Robert Barlow was honored with an MBE for pioneering sustainable manufacturing and charity work. David Radford received an MBE for services to epilepsy care, and Lucille Windle an MBE for improving special educational needs provision. Mary Boam and Catherine Repton were also among those receiving OBEs.
