A DEDICATED woman has recently reached an incredible milestone of 40 years as a member of the Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team.

In 1982, Penny Kirby was climbing with friends in the Isle of Skye and afterwards, she visited a pub where she spoke with people about her adventures of the day.

One of those people was a Wasdale MRT team member, and they discovered that they lived only a few miles from each other in Wasdale.

A few weeks later, Penny took a call inviting her for a training session with the team, which consisted of climbing on Buckbarrow.

Penny instinctively agreed, and after months of training, she became an official member in 1983. 

"I thought I could just be making cups of tea and controlling the radio - I never anticipated doing the amount I have done," said Penny.

Throughout 40 years Penny says that she has 'no clue' about the number of rescues she has completed.

She said: "Most of the time we just go out in the dark and the rain to rescue people who are lost.

"As part of the Lake District Mountain Rescue Search Dog team, I was able to go anywhere in the country, so some of the time, I was off to Lancashire, Yorkshire and Scotland."

She said that despite all the difficulties, it is 'incredibly rewarding' to be able to help people.

She said: "You have to be somebody who doesn't mind doing whatever is necessary. It is about going out at inconvenient times and carrying a heavy rucksack.

"Being able to mock in and do whatever is needed and being a team player.

"You get to help people and there is no other organisation that can do what we do so if we didn't go people would be stuck.

"We help people and there is a tremendous amount of satisfaction in that."

A spokesperson for Wasdale Mountain Rescue Team said: "Over the years, Penny has been involved in many significant and challenging incidents, perhaps most notably responding to the Lockerbie air disaster in her Search Dog Handler role.

"We would like to say a massive congratulations and thank her for her amazing service, directly helping thousands of people during that time. In particular, as a Team Leader she is very often at the sharp end of helping casualties, informants, friends and family, always treating people with kindness and sensitivity."