Volunteers honoured by ambulance service (From Worcester News)

Volunteers honoured by ambulance service

6:30pm Friday 19th March 2010 in

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AN awards ceremony has honoured people from Worcestershire and Herefordshire who have gone beyond the call of duty to help save lives.

The West Midlands Ambulance Service held the ceremony earlier this month to recognise the efforts of almost 200 volunteers, including community first responders, drivers and members of the British Red Cross and St John Ambulance.

West Midlands Ambulance Service chief executive Anthony Marsh described the award winners as “the best in the West Midlands and the best in our country”.

He said: “Thank you for what you are doing out there. I know in what have been very difficult circumstances you have come through another really difficult winter period and I know that you all work really, really hard. And thank you to your family and friends who support you in doing the important work that you do.”

Presenting some of the awards, Anna Turner, the high sheriff of Shropshire, said: “I don’t know what it is that makes you go out on a cold wet night, rattle a tin and raise funds. I don’t know what it is that makes you go out, grab your bag and rush in your own car to an incident, but I do know I am humbled by everything you achieve.

“It is a fantastic service that you give and I am so proud of everything that you do. It’s a wonderful commitment and an excellent thing for our community to have. My heartfelt thanks go to everyone who is here today.”

TIM HODGES, UPTON – Community first responder of the year (Worcestershire)

For much of the three years Tim Hodges has been a community first responder, he has been the only one in the Upton-on- Severn area. He has trained as an assessor and helps with keeping other CFRs skills up to date. He also attends many fundraising events both in his own and other areas including a fire service event and a stall at the jazz festival.

JENNY ASHMAN, INKBERROW – Fund-raiser with most funds raised

JENNY Ashman started raising funds for Midlands Air Ambulance when her son Jeremy began working as paramedic aircrew onboard Helimed 03, based at Cosford, in 1996. Her work has continued tirelessly since then, and increased further when she retired as a headteacher.

She is described as a true inspiration whose enthusiasm and vitality are infectious, Since 1995, she has raised more than £600,000.

HEATHER JONES, WORCESTER – Fund-raiser with most funds raised

Heather Jones has been a community first responder for about three years. During the day she drives the bus and assists at a school for children with disabilities. She also spends time as a youth worker. On top of this, she responds as a community first responder and any amount of spare time after that is spent fund-raising for the scheme.

Her hard work and constant determination has brought in significant money for the scheme. She has also gained a free meeting room for the scheme to use.

howard painter, crowle – special achievement

HOWARD Painter has been volunteering for about 12 months, as well as being part of the West Midlands Search and Rescue team. His chartered accountancy business provides a free service to the Herefordshire and Worcestershire CFR Charity. His firm carries out an independent audit before submitting it to the Charity Commission.

peter binney, st john’s – chief officer’s commendation

PETER Binney has been an active community first responder for more than three years, providing what has been described as an excellent service co-ordinating responses in Worcester and its surrounding areas. In addition, he has recently started to co-ordinate the service in Malvern.

He does all this as well as studying at university for his paramedic science degree.

It is for his commitment and continued support that community response manager Richard Bebbington has nominated Peter for the chief officer’s commendation.

mark gillett, worcester – chief officer’s commendation

MARK Gillett, who is a firefighter by day, is an enthusiastic member of the community first response team who provides a significant amount of cover for his area. He has also managed to encourage his wife to become a community first responder.

Mr Gillett has been involved in several serious incidents including a successful return of spontaneous circulation using cardio-pulmonary resuscitation.

He is a valued member of the team and his commitment to the community is the reason for this chief officer’s commendation.

glyn pink, st peter’s – chief officer’s commendation

GLYN Pink lives quite near to the ambulance station so does not receive quite as many calls as some community first responsders. However, this has not put him off responding and he has maintained his interest and willingness for a number of years now.

He still attends many fund-raising events and has been appointed the vice-chairman of the Hereford and Worcester CFR Charity.

Mr Pink is always willing to help and support new CFRs and his dedication and commitment is the reason for this chief officer’s commendation.

brian chadd, st john’s chief – officer’s commendation

Brian Chadd, who by day is a court usher, is one of the more senior members of the community first responders scheme. He is well known among the community, and not just because of the people he meets during the day.

Mr Chadd has attended a large number of calls and has taken on the mantle of publicity officer for Hereford and Worcester CFR.

He tends to stop doing CFR work during December but instead turns his hand to dressing in a red coat and beard to again embrace community spirit as a well known Christmas character.

Mr Chadd is a much-liked and valued member of the scheme and the community as a whole and for this he is awarded the chief officer’s commendation.

james drewball, tenbury wells – chief officer’s commendation

In August 2009, Mr Drewball was off duty and came across a serious road accident near Ludlow. He gathered what first aid equipment he could and began treating the patients at scene.

He has been commended for his action by the attending paramedic and incident support officer from the trust for demonstrating a very calm and professional approach to what was a very serious accident.

It is for those actions that Mr Drewball has received this award.

ben allen, worcester richard bailey, callow end — chief officer’s commendation

Mr Allen and Mr Bailey both volunteer their time as Worcestershire community first responders, as well as playing their part in the West Midlands Search and Rescue team.

During the recent bad weather they made themselves available to both services in 4x4 vehicles, responding to 999 calls and coming to the aid of stranded vehicles.

At short notice they even responded to an Emergency Operations Centre request to help ferry staff to and from work to keep the centre running smoothly.

They are always willing to drop everything to help and for their support and commitment they have received the chief officer’s commendation.

keith lane mbe, bromyard – chief officer’s commendation

Mr Lane has been raising funds for the Midlands Air Ambulance for 17 Years and has achieved more than £200,000 so far.

He received an MBE for his fund-raising efforts in 2002.

Unfortunately he has recently had medical problems of his own, which has restricted his fund-raising abilities, but his family and friends have continued with the support for the appeal.

It is for his long-term commitment and dedication to the Midlands Air Ambulance that Keith is awarded this chief officer’s commendation.

simon halling, bromyard – chief officer’s commendation

SIMON Halling has been a community first responder since 2006 in Herefordshire and continues to offer his commitment in various different ways.

He helps with recruitment, training, fund-raising and mentorship of the new community first responders and medical first responders.

He has more than 849 records with West Midlands Ambulance Service and his commitment to the trust and the community is very much appreciated. It is also the reason for him being awarded the chief officer’s commendation.