Half a century on the hills: Kinder Mountain Rescue volunteer awarded MBE

A Kinder Mountain Rescue volunteer has been recognised for half a century of dedication to mountain safety and youth education.

Bernie Stevens, who joined the team in 1975, has received an MBE in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the Peak District community.

Bernie’s passion for the hills began in 1971 during a climbing trip to Langdale, when a serious finger injury required rescue by the Langdale Mountain Rescue team.

Inspired by the experience, he joined Kinder Mountain Rescue four years later, recommended by British Mountain Guide Vin Machin, who recognised Bernie’s enthusiasm for teaching young people outdoor skills.

Balancing a career as a science teacher with his volunteer work, Bernie spent 17 years dedicating his weekends to Scouts, the Duke of Edinburgh Award scheme, and outdoor centres at Whitehall and Crowden, inspiring confidence and resilience in generations of young people.

Over five decades, Bernie has seen it all. He recalls the team’s first use of a helicopter in a Peak District rescue in the late 1970s, rescuing a casualty with severe leg injuries at Kinder Downfall. Other rescues, while less dramatic, were no less important, including a late-night mission to help a lost young couple - Bernie even offered them his caravan for the night.

The work has also been challenging and heart-breaking. Bernie remembers the tragic death of a young woman at Kinder Downfall and the difficult task of returning her family home to Stoke. “Mountain Rescue isn’t just about fitness and first aid,” he says. “It’s about being there for people during their darkest times.” One of the team’s stretchers now bears her name in tribute.

Bernie has witnessed huge changes in mountain rescue over the years. Early callouts relied on phone trees that could take nearly an hour, gas lanterns for lighting, and unreliable radios. Today, GPS trackers, instant messaging, and helicopters allow the team to respond faster, with callouts increasing from an average of 12 per year to nearly 80.

Despite his decades of service, Bernie is humble about his achievements. “I’ve never saved a single life - it’s always a team effort,” he insists.

Although retired from active callouts at 75, Bernie continues to give back by delivering talks on hill safety and sharing his wealth of knowledge with the community.

His MBE is a fitting recognition of a lifetime dedicated to helping others, both on the hills and in youth education. Kinder Mountain Rescue and the many people whose lives he has touched celebrate his extraordinary contribution.