Oban Mountain Rescue Team's newly refurbished base in the former fire station in Sinclair Drive, Oban, was formally opened by the head of St John Scotland, Sir James Stirling of Garden KCVO CBE GCStJ, on Thursday 6th November.
The Order of St John is a British order of chivalry well known for its St John Ambulance activities in over 40 countries.
St John Scotland undertakes a wide variety of charitable activities, internationally, nationally and locally, including supporting mountain rescue teams and other voluntary rescue bodies in Scotland. Over £2.3m has been committed to this St John rescue support project over the last 10 years. A vehicle has been bought for each of the 25 teams and 11 mountain rescue bases have been built or bought so far.
In the past six years Oban Mountain Rescue Team has benefited from over a quarter of a million pounds of support from the Order. A £23,000 Land Rover was presented in 2002, and in 2004 the former Oban fire station was bought £189,000 to provide us with a permanent base. Since then the Order has contributed a further £63,000 towards the £74,000 total cost of the building refurbishment.
The modifications mean that the building can now be used much more effectively by the team as a base for our equipment, training and other activities. Sir James said ‘St John Scotland is pleased and proud to be able to help Oban Mountain Rescue Team and similar rescue bodies across Scotland and we admire their splendid humanitarian work. We hope that this new base will enable them to be even more successful in helping others.’
Rescue Team Chairman John Peden said, "The team was set up in 2000, and we have been very lucky to get such a suitable building as our base so quickly. With the refurbishment complete it is like a new building. We are delighted now to have a proper home for our vehicles and equipment, and such a great training facility."
Oban MRT currently has 37 active members and responds to between 15 and 20 call-outs a year, in an area covering the northwest of Argyll from Bridge of Orchy to Campbeltown and the islands including Mull and Jura. | 
St John Scotland 
