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15 May 2008: Midshires Run Training Session for BLEVEC Members

As a member of BLEVEC, Midshires have given a training session on facilities issues surrounding the setting up of a Rest Centre in the event of a civil emergency. The evening was one of a series of training events given by BLEVEC members to others members of the organisation.

13 March 2008: New Training Venue for Midshires

In order to reduce travel for more of our members, Midshires have moved to a new venue for their evening training meetings.

After meeting in the Memorial Hall in Woburn Sands for a number of years, the decision was taken to move to the Culcheth Centre, at Redborne Upper School and Community College, Ampthill, Beds. We would like to thank Woburn Sands Town Council for their generosity over the years, and also Redborne School for allowing us to use the Culcheth Centre which, during school hours, is the Sixth Form Common Room.

Training meetings are held on the second Thursday of each month, starting at 8pm. If anyone is interested in finding out more about Midshires, please feel free to come along to any of the training meetings.

2 March 2008: Search for Possible Abductee

Midshires were called out by Hertfordshire police to assist in the search of farmland at Northaw, Herts. The search was around the home of a man, John Finney, who police feared may have been abducted. Midshires called on Search Dog Teams from around the area to assist in the search.

Although no trace of the missing man was found, a headless and handless body found two weeks later in Ickleford, Hertfordshire, more than 30km away from the search area, was subsequently identified as the missing man.

One of three men arrested by police on suspicion of the murder of John Finney appeared in court on 19 May, and has been remanded in custody. The two other men are under arrest in Spain.

25 January 2008: Search Fails to Find Missing Woburn Man

Midshires spent two days carrying out a search in the area around the Woburn Golf and Country Club, looking for a man missing from Woburn, Bedfordshire. It was feared that the man, whose car had been found abandoned at the side of a road in woodland near to the golf courses, may have come to harm as he was believed to be in a depressed state of mind.

Extensive searches of the golf courses and surrounding woods failed to find any trace of the man, and the search was finally called off as darkness fell on the second day. Fortunately, we heard the following day that the man had been found alive and well after living rough for the last few days.

12 January 2008: Cheque Presented to Midshires from the Organiser of the Highfield Lights

A cheque for the money raised from donations made by visitors to the spectacular display of Christmas lights put on by the residents of Highfield Road in Flitton, was presented to Midshires, with the assistance of Alex Duffy from Chiltern Radio.

An incredible £1700 was raised during the five weeks that the display was open. Midshires would like to say a very public and heartfelt Thank You to Ken and to all of the other residents of Highfield Road in Flitton, and to the more than 2000 visitors, who helped make the event such a success.

31 December 2007: Team Assist in the Search for Missing Teenager

The team were called in by Bedfordshire police to assist in the search for missing Wilstead teenager Robert Gill. Information suggested that Robert had set off across the fields from his brother's home in Shortstown, heading for his own home in Wilstead - he never arrived.

Two days were spent searching for Robert in the countryside between the two villages, but no trace was found and the search was called off.

Further information appeared to imply a different sequence of events and led the police to search the River Ouse in Bedford where a body was eventually found. We understand that a number of teenagers have been arrested on suspicion of causing Robert's death.

27 December 2007: Residents Evacuated following Flitwick Fire

A fire in a scrap yard in Windmill Road, Flitwick, led to a number of acetylene and propane cylinders exploding and others being heated in the blaze. Some of our local members assisted in the evacuation of nearby residents to a hotel for the night, as firefighters feared that other explosions may follow.

The cylinders were still being cooled by firefighters the following day, so Midshires were called out to assist the county authorities in setting up a Rest Centre for the residents in the nearby Flitwick Leisure Centre. About twenty residents remained at the centre until the Fire Service allowed them to return to their homes at around 3.30pm.

10 November 2007: Search for Missing Man Called Off

Midshires were called to Ware, Hertfordshire, to help search for a man who had gone missing the previous evening. Police believed that he may have come to harm after a note was found.

The team were deployed along the banks of the River Lea Navigation, but the search was called off after it was found that the man, who was in his forties, had spent the night in a local Bed & Breakfast and had been seen alive and well during the morning.

27 October 2007: Fun and Frights at the Midshires Halloween Party

Ghosts, coffins and all things spooky greeted the kids and grown-ups who came along to the Midshires Halloween Party at the Flitton and Greenfield Village Hall in Bedfordshire.

The fancy dress worn by many of the party-goers helped keep up the spirit of the night and competitions and a chance to explore the slimy and sticky delights in the Crypt, tastefully decorated in Gravestone Grey and Midnight Black, helped keep the kids screaming!

Dancing for young and old was to live music provided by Mr Bullfrog and food and drinks helped to revive those overcome by the terrors of the night. A shocking time was had by all!

10 October 2007: Assisting at Scene of Fire in Luton Tower Block

A call from the Bedfordshire and Luton Emergency Volunteers Executive Committee (BLEVEC), of which Midshires is a member, summoned the team to a tower block in the Hockwell Ring area of Luton. A water leak had caused a fire in the buildings electrical equipment and resulted in loss of power and water to the 14-floor block of flats.

The team provided varied assistance over three successive evenings, including: fetching and delivery of water and food; delivery of leaflets to residents; provision of lighting and assistance to residents in entering and leaving the premises; additional security presence.

The team also assisted in the setting up of an emergency evacuation centre in a nearby Community Centre and provided additional communications support between the centre and the tower block.

Power was finally restored, albeit on a temporary basis until parts are obtained, at the end of the third evening.

7 September 2007: Search for Missing Female in Hertfordshire

Midshires called out to help in the search for a missing female in the Standon area of Hertfordshire.

The woman had gone missing from her home the previous day, and the search was of areas around her home, with which she was very familiar.

Although not found directly by the team, unfortunately a body was found in thick woodland by a local man who had been alerted about the missing woman by one of the teams.

27 August 2007: Search for Alzheimers Sufferer

A call from Hertfordshire police to search for an Alzheimers sufferer, missing from his home in Potters Bar, took Midshires to one of the most southern parts of its area of coverage.

The man in his sixties had gone missing from home early on the evening of 26 August. Teams were deployed to search fields used by the misper, but he was found by police walking in an area which had been identified as the next area for us to search. Fortunately the man was in comparative good health, not too badly affected by his night in the open.

21 July 2007: Bedfordshire Flooding Threat

Midshires were put on standby by the Bedfordshire and Luton Emergency Volunteers Executive Committee (BLEVEC) in case the rising water levels in the River Great Ouse required people to be evacuated from their homes. Midshires are capable of assisting with the evacuation of people and are also available to help with the setting up of Emergency Rest Centres for members of the public evacuated from their home.

Fortunately, the rise in water levels were not as bad as originally feared and no evacuations were required. Midshires were stood-down during the morning of 23 July.

20 July 2007: Flooding in Buckingham

Call received from BSAR to assist them in dealing with flooding in Buckingham. Midshires operated throughout the night of 20/21 July, providing help with leafletting of properties likely to be affected by flooding, filling and distributing sandbags, and evacuating residents trapped by rising flood waters.

13 July 2007: Search for Bedford Man

Callout received to assist Bedfordshire police in the search for an elderly man missing from his home in Bedford. Teams were deployed to an area of Clapham following reports of a sighting of the man near a housing estate.

An area of fields and woodland was searched during the evening, but the search was called off following reports of a body being found in a lake many miles away from the search area. Later confirmed to be that of the missing man.

11 May 2007: Search for Man Threatening Self-harm in Tring

Along with BSAR, called to search for a male despondent, missing from his home in Tring. Missing since earlier in the day, the man had contacted the police by mobile phone and was threatening to kill himself. Teams were deployed, in pouring rain, to search an area of lakes and canal tow path. Nothing was found during the evening and the search was called off once darkness fell, as the area was too difficult, and possibly dangerous to search in the dark.

Teams re-assembled the following morning, but were stood-down as the man returned to his home just as the teams were about to be deployed. Police were convinced that the presence of so many searchers in the area was instrumental in convincing the man to return to his home.