This page is dedicated to the memory of my beloved father, Ken Gibbs, a true gentleman, who died peacefully at home, at the age of 94, on 3rd September 2022.  

Dad loved walking. He enjoyed walking anywhere and indeed in his youth he had hitchhiked all over Europe.  He spent his long and happy retirement years walking all over his beloved Dartmoor in search of the many letterboxes hidden there.   Throwing himself into this hobby with all his heart and soul, he was known as ‘The Old Man of the Moor” and he not only sited numerous letterboxes himself, but he filled 54 books with imprints of the thousands of stamps he collected on his walks, colouring each of them in with painstaking care.   He only stopped walking at the grand old  age of 90 when, two weeks after his ninetieth birthday his right hip unfortunately gave way due to osteoarthritis.   In his final letterbox stamp book, he commented poignantly, “Sadly, the end of a love affair”.   

Dad often remarked how fortunate he was that in all his years of walking, he never required help or assistance from the Dartmoor Search and Rescue Team.  He was, however, very aware of the incredible work they do and it was his wish that if people were kind enough to make donations to a charity when he died, then this charity was to be his choice.

His knowledge of Dartmoor and its tors was incredible.  He always felt this little poem summed him up.

“I know the moors. I know the tors

I know the western skies

I know the song of the rising lark

And where the buzzard flies”

Dad and I never said “Goodbye” to each other in latter years. It was always “Au Revoir” which we felt was so less final. 

So, Au Revoir my dear Dad.  I miss you so much. X

This rescue centre appeal aims to raise £65,000 in 2021/22 for both a much needed additional building for the Rescue Centre, which is used by Dartmoor Search & Rescue Team (Tavistock), part of Mountain Rescue England and Wales, and vital redevelopments to be made to the existing building to improve their facilities and help them to continue to engage with the local community.