We regret to announce that the International Rescue Corps, a volunteer disaster aid organisation, has been dissolved after more than forty years, just days before the passing of its president Lord James Selkirk.
Founded in 1981 following the Irpinia earthquake of 1981, and active from 1985 onwards, the Corps (or IRC) was active both at home and abroad, often in cooperation with other rescue services. Borrowing its name from the central organisation of Gerry and Sylvia Anderson’s 1965 television series Thunderbirds (and with Gerry Anderson himself serving as its honorary president for the first 11 years of its existence) the organisation also had as its motto ‘United to Save Life’ – and encompassed volunteer disaster workers from all walks of life.
On Saturday November 25th 2023 the organisation was dissolved following a vote by its members – and on Tuesday November 28th its president, Lord James Selkirk of Douglas, passed away at the age of 81. Jamie Anderson, who served as a vice president of IRC, said; “We’re incredibly sorry to hear of the dissolution of International Rescue Corps – the real version of their namesake organisation from Thunderbirds. They did incredible work over several decades, and were a profound and inspiring real world iteration of the fictional world Dad created. As a recent vice president of IRC it’s been something I’ve been very proud to be associated with – but I’m very sad that the organisation can no longer continue to operate.”
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