Organisation

 

President:    HRH The Duke of Gloucester

RAPID-International and RAPID-UK are proud to have His Royal Highness the Duke of Gloucester as their President who over the years has given committed support to the aims of the organisation.

https://www.royal.uk/the-duke-of-gloucester

Patrons:

  • The Rt Hon The Viscount Brookeborough DL
  • Lord Rogan
  • Terry Waite CBE
  • Professor Ian Davis
  • Professor David Sanderson
  • Mark Austin Esq
  • James Hanning Esq
  • Amanda Paton
  • Ian Paton
  • May Abdul Hussain

Directors:
Graham Payne OBE – has been involved in disaster response and humanitarian work for over 30 years and with John Holland co-founded RAPID-UK, Graham had been the Director of RAPID-UK from inception to 2011 when he stood down to focus on the next stage RAPID-International. Graham is married and lives in Devon and is a retired paramedic now working for on call doctors. Graham is lifetime St John member and is currently an Area Staff Officer in Devon, Graham was entered into the Order of St John as a “serving brother” and in the 2005 New Years Honours Graham was made an Officer of the British Empire (OBE) for his services to International search and rescue. Graham has received numerous accolades from governments and ambassadors for his achievements over the years in humanitarian work

John Holland OBE – has been involved in disaster response and humanitarian work for  30 years, John was the co-founder of RAPID-UK and responsible for all operational deployments and has developed and implemented many projects around the world at government and community levels. Having served with the Parachute Regiment John used that same ethos, dedication and professionalism to set up and train a response team that has achieved international recognition. John is divorced lives near Gloucester and has two grown up sons and is currently a Fire Officer with the Defence Fire & Rescue Service. John has received numerous accolades including the Fire Service Merit of Honour of Peru, the Fire Service Distinguished Service  Medal for Colombia and in 2006 was made an Officer of the British Empire (OBE) the first ever bestowed for services to search and rescue.

 

Project and Response Advisory Group:
Paul Blewitt –     Former Fire Service Officer with over 20 years experience in Search & Rescue and humanitarian work with over 30   deployments & support to many others.
John Miller –      Involved in construction John has over 26 years experience is Search & Rescue and humanitarian work with over 35 deployments & support to many others.
Anthony Thomas – Former Royal Engineers, part of the DfID response team, 14 years experience is search & rescue around the world

Gillian Dacey – Paramedic, former HART instructor, public health and consultant with 14 years experience in search and rescue around the world
Clare Langshaw – Local authority Paramedic, HART USAR Instructor and officer with the HART Resilience team, 15 years overseas experience in response & projects.
Andy Bambridge – Former Royal Engineer with vast experience working in hostile environments, NHS paramedic with 18 years experience with over a dozen deployments
Barry Sessions – Former military logistics, firefighter, Civil Defence with over 22 years experience in search and rescue with 18 deployments with support to many others.
Paul Minshall – Masters in Disaster Management, experience on several major disasters, worked around the world for various NGO’s including work for Crown Agents & FOCUS.

RAPID-International hold a database of subject matter experts in various skill sets including; Water Rescue, Line Rescue, Urban Search & Rescue, Emergency Planning, Medical, Fire Response & Fire Safety, Project Planning, Logistics and Training Delivery.

 

Fundraising Coordination:

Mrs C Mcphee –  has carried out fundraising for more than 25 years and raised large amounts of money for humanitarian work.

Dave Gargett – Former military Royal Engineer, former police office with several years experience with RAPID

Public Relations:

Vacant

 Treasurer:

Annett Osborne


Please support the vital work of RAPID International – Thank you