At the Annual General Meeting at the end of January 2026 Chris Higgins stepped down as Team Leader. This was no rash decision, Chris had stated his intentions two years previously, with typical foresight, in order to plan and smooth the transition towards the change of leadership. Leading an increasingly busy team of 50+ members takes a huge commitment making juggling work, family and personal interests a very demanding task. Despite the challenges and often impossible demands on his time, in Chris’ words:
‘I wouldn’t have changed it for the world. It has been an absolute privilege to serve Keswick MRT for the past twelve years – one that I will cherish for the rest of my life.’
Chris joined the team in 1996 and when he was elected to replace Mark Hodgson as only the team’s fifth ever leader he knew he had a very hard act to follow. In Chris’ words: ‘My vision in 2014 was for the team to become a more quasi-professional organisation and incorporate modern ‘work’ practices if they were beneficial to us. The things many of us do at work have evolved over years to become good practice and I’m pleased to say things such as our risk assessments are now more structured, we review things we do to try to highlight the good and learn from mistakes and we have had outside courses aimed at developing our performance when under pressure. We are also much more structured in our training and our record keeping.’
Other changes include an increase in female team membership, a noticeably younger team and closer working relationships with Cumbria Police, Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service (CFRS) and the Maritime Coastguard Agency (MCA). The list of memorable and significant callouts during Chris’ tenure as leader is exhaustive, but undoubtedly the training, practices and professionalism that Chris’ leadership alongside his deputies and others have propagated have made a significant difference to the safe and efficient execution of rescues as well as the outcome of the many rescued.
In Chris’ words once more: ‘My 30 years as a member of Keswick Mountain Rescue Team has been truly amazing – a privilege and an honour. I have had some of the best experiences of my life as part of this wonderful team – the camaraderie has been exceptional, the adventures have been memorable and the good we have done has been so satisfying – we have saved lives and changed people’s existence, bought joy when there could have been sorrow and comfort in times of grieving.’
Chris will continue attending rescues as a regular team member but without the stresses of leadership. As with all team members his knowledge and experience will continue to contribute to the team effort. On behalf of the team, thank you for your time, sacrifice and effort, Keswick MRT is undoubtedly in a better place for your dedication.
