THE ambulance service turned out in force for the funeral of its medical director.

Full honours, a parade, complete with motorcycle outrider, a 1930s ambulance and fly-past by the West Midlands Air Ambulance took place at the funeral of Dr Andrew Carson.

Dr Carson, who died of cancer, was medical director of West Midlands Ambulance Service, from 2011 until his death on March 27.

He previously chaired a number of internal committees and also oversaw the governance of responders working with partner organisations, such as local BASICS schemes, Air Ambulance Services and the MERIT response.

He was also the trust’s Caldicott Guardian and at the time of his death was involved developing a ground breaking electronic patient record for use by ambulance crews in association with the wider NHS.

His funeral service was held at All Saints Church, Wribbenhall, Bewdley, on April 26.

After a welcome and opening prayer by Reverend George Pitcher, who had known Dr Carson since their days at university, the ambulance service’s chief executive Anthony Marsh gave a moving tribute to Dr Carson’s work.

Professor Steve Field, who is the chief inspector of General Practice also read a tribute to Dr Carson.

Also amongst the congregation were many friends and colleagues from Birmingham University and many other medical professionals.

Dr Carson, aged 62, previously worked as an inner city GP in Birmingham for over 30 years and was a Fellow of the Royal College of General Practitioners.

For over a decade he had been Associate Dean for GP Training for Birmingham and Solihull, responsible for the education of over 300 GP Trainees at any one time, during a comprehensive three-year training programme.

He leaves a wife Jo and six children