I’ve been with Essex SAR since 2005, and am currently a search manager and the team’s operations lead. This involves receiving the initial call for assistance from Essex Police, formulating the search plan, arranging the team to deploy, and managing the search activity on the ground.

I’m a chartered surveyor by profession, father to two daughters, and husband to a long suffering but very supportive wife who is regularly disturbed when the phone goes off in the middle of the night. I joined as I was looking to volunteer in a way that I could use my existing outdoor skills. Plus, I made the mistake of stopping to talk to the team during a street collection in Chelmsford (and have so far not managed to get away!). Outside of work and SAR I like to get out on the water on some form of boat whenever possible.

I would recommend volunteering for EssexSAR wholeheartedly – it can be hard, tiring, and frustrating, but it is all worth it when you find the missing person and return them to their family. It is a way of putting something vital back into the community.