The AHS participated on Saturday and Sunday in dealing with mass casualties and deaths after the very realistic DoodleBug raid on the Abbey at Rufford Country Park,along with the AFS and wartime medical sevices giving the public a very realistic reminder of our wartime history.After the event the public were shown the art of casualty injury make-up,and machinery used in these circumstances.
Glorious weather brought the crowds to Newstead Abbey 999 Emergency Services event.
Wednesday 27th August we attended the EMAS Open morning with our BMC LD Ambulance along with other resources including the HART Team,Lincs and Notts AirAmbulance display and the Police.The Venue, The Showroom Conference Centre Tritton Road LINCOLN.
AHS provided a Paramedic motorcycle including Paramedic and Emergency Ambulance to demonstrate the appropriate services to the public with Police and Fire service.
Several events have been held at Nottinghamshire libraries including this one at Worksop. AHS also displayed equipment used by the Ambulance service since the formation of the NHS.
Ambulex is the UK exhibition exclusively targeting ambulances, ambulance support, accessible and community vehicles and related equipment. It attracts visitors from the public, private and volunteer transport fleet manager sectors, senior NHS Trust managers, community and accessible transport providers. Ambulex attracts international visitors and trade suppliers. Source:www.ambulex.com
Our volunteers were present at the GMB Annual Congress in Nottingham from the 8th to 12th June, with a Heritage display in the exhibition hall and a range of Ambulances from West Midlands, Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire on display at the entrance to the venue. Whilst officiating, Mary Turner President of GMB visits Ambulance Heritage Society display at the conference venue in Nottingham escorted by Jerry Banks AHS secretary.
Henrietta Street station (The Street) was officially opened in 1952. It was the first Ambulance Station after the formation of the NHS to be built since the joint Birmingham Fire and Ambulance Service served the city. On the 26th April 2014 a party was held to celebrate 60 years of service the station and staff had given to the people of Birmingham. Many serving and retired members of staff along with AHS members,shared an evening reminiscing and remembering old colleagues. Ambulance 205 and restored Paramedic Motorcycle with it’s Paramedic rider also a display of memorabilia added to the occasion. A wonderful evening gave ‘The Street’ a fitting send off.
Tyne cot cemetery the largest on the Western Front containing 11,953 graves is the location of the Memorial Service attended by the Ambulance Heritage Society members and friends.
On the 16th May a Renault Master and members of the Ambulance Heritage Society were part of filming for an educational film highlighting the dangers of knife crime. Stereotype is a film by the McGibney Brothers production company who are based just out side Nottingham. The AHS were involved in a scene involving a woman giving birth in an Alley.
Link: http://www.nottinghampost.com/New-film-tackle-knife-crime/story-20713743-detail/story.html
May Day the AHS displayed the Austin Wayfarer and the Bedford KZ at Nottingham Brew House Yard near the Castle.
April 2014 saw Bassetlaw Hospital celebrate 30 years of service to the public,numerous staff from that era were invited to the celebration from all departments. Rod from AHS being a representative from the Ambulance Service of that time displayed a vehicle of the 80’s which brought back memories to the nursing staff of escort and flying squad duties of the day.
The Dedication of the new AHS Standard took place at All Saints Church Annesley near Mansfield. Rev Kevin Charles officiated at the Dedication,members of the church and AHS, including EMAS CEO were present. The Standard will be paraded at Memorial services including the Menin Gate at Ypres, funeral services and special events.
I met with some of the dedicated people who run the Ambulance Heritage Society this week.
EMAS are committed to supporting and publicising the work of the society, which carries the very apt slogan ‘preserving our past for your future’.
Not only do they preserve the fascinating history of the ambulance service across EMAS regions – they are the home for celebrating the heritage of ambulance services nationally.
A registered charity who are also supported by the GMB Union, the society has a huge collection of old emergency vehicles (such as the Austin K8 ‘Welfarer’ pictured) and get involved in great projects including education and talks, attending events as well as supplying ambulances for TV programmes and also for wedding and funerals (society vehicles are next week being provided for the funeral services of colleagues Ian ‘Monty’ Montgomery and Richard Norris, who sadly died recently).
Look out in the media, on the website and Insite over the coming weeks for lots more heritage society news. In the meantime if you want more information about their work, events or how to contact them please click here and visit their website.
Sue Noyes
Chief Executive