Bridgend Mountain Rescue Team was formed in 1965 by a group of Rover Scouts. The team achieved it's Charity status in 1971.
On the 1st May 1983, the Team Leader, Mike Ruddal (Nog) was tragically killed rescuing a scout, on Pen y Fan, in the Brecon Beacons. A memorial stone for Mike can be see at the Mountain centre near Brecon.

In 1997 the team changed it's name, to Western Beacons Mountain Search and Rescue Team . The name change to Western Beacons gave a positive indication of our main area, in South Wales, that was our primary responsibility for Search and Rescue Operations. The addition of Search, highlighted the variety and differing nature of the incidents, such as Urban and Rural searching.

The team models its operational procedures on the same lines as RAF Search and Rescue teams, in that we are capable of staying in the field indefinitely and are self sufficient.
The team members represent a wide cross section of the community. Our main strengths are derived from our ability to work together, as a team, and the willingness to give up our freetime to help others in need, in any environment.