We are a group of women who meet on the fourth Thursday of the month in Pakefield Church Hall, beginning at 2.00pm, unless otherwise stated.
Our aims are:
* Promoting friendship, support and social activities for women in the local community
* Raising funds for our charitable causes.
All women are welcome (whether or not you are a wife !)
PAKEFIELD WIVES’ GROUP
Margaret H opened our meeting on the 26th September with a short prayer of thanksgiving and introduced Elaine Glenridding, a member of Suffolk Land Search Rescue who joined the service in December 2016. It is entirely run by volunteers assisting the emergency services find vulnerable adults and children and even a dog in one case! Responding to a phone call from the police to the Search Manager, of which she is one, giving details of a possible location, it is then the Manager’s job to research the area and arrange to meet with the team assembled at a known meeting place in order to establish who goes where.
There are approximately 100 personnel based around Suffolk, operating twenty fours a day all year. Members are from all walks of life – Elaine is a retired teacher, police officers, plumbers, nurses, ex-military etc.
To aid searches, the service has three qualified dogs and three in training, there are bikes for quick and easy access, 4×4 vehicles, heat seeking drones, protective and high viz clothing in orange so as not to be confused with the yellow the police wear. These have large pockets to contain a first aid kit, a compass, a powerful torch (as the team often searches in the night) gloves, whistle, helmets with torch and a reel of fluorescent orange tape to mark their passage through a wood so as not to duplicate the search. Permanently in Elaine’s car can be found a radio set, a power pack, a portable kettle, a superior first aid kit, a defibrillator and a wheeled stretcher. The largest piece of equipment on display contains the water kit, a dry suit, ropes, gloves and boots.
Teams work and train with the various services. This year alone the teams have responded to 61 calls.
Elaine spoke of the many instances of searches carried out, perhaps dementia sufferers, children who have wandered off and would-be suicides. She set up the small drone which hovered over members and showed how everyone in the room was registered on the screen
Elizabeth thanked Elaine for such an interesting talk and gave her a donation, boosted by a collection between members, for this very valuable service.
Elizabeth gave a brief summary of where Sheila is regarding her illness and it is hoped we will see her again very soon.
Our meeting in October is on the 24th when Ian McLachlan will give a talk entitled ‘G.I Brides’. Don’t forget to bring your deposit for the Christmas meal.