OXFORDSHIRE SEARCH & RESCUE
ESTABLISHED 1 DECEMBER 2002, IN HENLEY ON THAMES, OXFORDSHIRE, ENGLAND, UK
We called ourselves Oxfordshire Search and Rescue before we became ERT SAR - Oxfordshire!
We called ourselves Oxfordshire Search and Rescue before we became ERT SAR - Oxfordshire!
A trip down memory lane in Henley on Thames, Oxfordshire in our first boat OSAR1 in 2004!
Here we are! Oxfordshire Search and Rescue with Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue - Romeo Unit - Circa 2007!
One of our first Oxfordshire Search and Rescue rescue ambulances, a 1964 Military Landrover ambulance Series 3 LWB
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Our OSAR 1964 Landrover 109 Series 3 Long Wheel Base 4x4
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Brief History
OXFORDSHIRE SEARCH AND RESCUE (OSAR) was founded on 1 December 2002 by former Police Officer's and Professional Medics, Gary and Virginia Foo in Henley On Thames, Oxfordshire, England with a team of about 20 + starting members.
Photo of OSAR at the 2003 Lord Mayors Parade in Oxfordshire with (Lt to Rt) Paul Giles, Gary Foo, Dave McCain, Virginia Foo and Alex Uden.
This vehicle was donated to us, OSAR, by the Thames Valley Medical Rescue Unit in 2003. OXFORD MAIL 2003 NEWS ARTICLE LINK HERE |
We were based at the old "Thames valley Police Station in Henley on Thames. Although Gary and Virginia had extensive backgrounds in the emergency services as well as Search and Rescue, they sought support and training from other local County Teams and successfully applied for membership with the Association of Lowland Search and Rescue (ALSAR) which they joined in 2003.
Our team; OSAR was sponsored in by dedicated SAR Leader / supporter, Mr Bob Barrett soon after our formation in 2002. Bob was the Founder and Commander of Buckinghamshire Search and Rescue (BSAR) at the time an the local Course Examiner for the Basic Search Techniques Qualification Course, run under the aegis of ALSAR and BSAR. Then in March 2003, several members of OSAR then successfully completed the ALSAR Team Leader Course which was offered by the Berkshire Search and Rescue Team (SEBEV) and taught by the highly knowledgeable and highly regarded, Search Expert; Mr Rob Bradley. |
ALSAR was quite small back then and the starting Leadership when we applied was Kris Manning as the Chair, John Dutton (NorLSAR) Vice Chairman was Andy Willamson (SEBEV SAR) Secretary; and our sponsor Bob Barrett (BSAR) Treasurer and David Hughes (WiLSAR) Training Officer, although we think that Mr Robert Bradley may have become the training officer. We also spoke to The Mountain Rescue Teams in the UK as well as other SAR Teams internationally to network and grow our training and network base. Our intention was always to grow to provide national and international SAR and Medical services.
So, our UK team was originally founded and based in Oxfordshire and when officially founded in December 2002 was known as Oxfordshire Search And Rescue (OSAR). That was also the name registered with the Charity Commission, and the name we still have as an operating name. After all it was the location of the County the team was founded in and many original donors and supporters still know us as that. (However, nationally and internationally we are also known as ERTSAR (The Emergency Response Team SAR).
OXFORD MAIL NEWS: January 2003: CLICK HERE
So, our UK team was originally founded and based in Oxfordshire and when officially founded in December 2002 was known as Oxfordshire Search And Rescue (OSAR). That was also the name registered with the Charity Commission, and the name we still have as an operating name. After all it was the location of the County the team was founded in and many original donors and supporters still know us as that. (However, nationally and internationally we are also known as ERTSAR (The Emergency Response Team SAR).
OXFORD MAIL NEWS: January 2003: CLICK HERE
ERTSAR Genesis
So, ERTSAR (The Emergency Response Team - Search and Rescue) was originally founded in the UK on 1st December 2002 as "OSAR" or "Oxfordshire Search and Rescue" and was subsequently granted registered charity status in 2004. This is still our name and the name many Oxfordshire residents and sponsors know us by.
Our "ERTSAR" name, "The Emergency Response Team Search and Rescue", was actually suggested by a longtime friend of the Founders, Gary and Virginia, Richard Auger. He was also the Thames Valley Police Chief Inspector and the Force's Firearms Commander. Gary and Virginia were both Police Officers before they became Medics (Paramedic and Nurse) and believed in helping others especially during times of disasters and emergencies. Volunteering and humanitarianism was very familiar to them so they set about forming a coordinated specialist group who could respond and support their communities and then national and international disasters, as the team grew and their reach increased.
Our "ERTSAR" name, "The Emergency Response Team Search and Rescue", was actually suggested by a longtime friend of the Founders, Gary and Virginia, Richard Auger. He was also the Thames Valley Police Chief Inspector and the Force's Firearms Commander. Gary and Virginia were both Police Officers before they became Medics (Paramedic and Nurse) and believed in helping others especially during times of disasters and emergencies. Volunteering and humanitarianism was very familiar to them so they set about forming a coordinated specialist group who could respond and support their communities and then national and international disasters, as the team grew and their reach increased.
Gary Foo, Richard Auger and Virginia Foo
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Some photos of the time from Founders; Gary and Virginia's background.
So OSAR's / ERTSAR's genesis was many many years before 2002, when the couple were involved with the emergency services and involved in many rescue medical and humanitarian activities as volunteers. They were both serving armed Police Officers with medical and rescue skills and wanting to gather a group together to help suffering victims for free when disasters or emergencies struck. ... and so the team was born.
Subsequently, after three International Disaster Missions, the team decided to add the name and re-brand to ERT SAR (The Emergency Response Team - Search And Rescue in 2006 to reflect the international disaster response work it was involved in.
However, ERT SAR is still known as OSAR (Oxfordshire Search and Rescue) in their local UK areas and with many long time supporters and community groups but the name they go by is usually The Emergency Response Team - Search and Rescue.
Both websites point here: www.ERT-SAR.com & www.OSAR.org.uk
Our Logos
Our LOGO as Oxfordshire Search and Rescue and after as ERTSAR. (Both are trademarked and Intellectual Property.)
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OSAR ORIGINAL LOGO
Shows the 4 arrows marking the "X" on the "Life Buoy" water rescue ring or helicopter rotors from above. |
ERT SAR LOGO
It is clear that the Original OSAR Logo was incorporated into the larger shield, laurel wreaths & changed to blue. |
OSAR (ERTSAR) In Sri Lanka, in response to the 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami Gary Foo & Ray Goodwin
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Video from 2004 Boxing Day Tsunami Response
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One of our early OSAR ambulances
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One of our first OSAR cars, Rescue 11,
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One of our First OSAR Boats
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PLEASE SUPPORT USYour donations are very much appreciated!
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JOINERTSAR ARE CURRENTLY RECRUITING VOLUNTEERS
If you are a fit healthy capable adult with no unspent Criminal Convictions and want to support our work please get in touch! |