Take an exhilarating Ambulance ride through the 1970's Streets of Liverpool This is a memoir of my time as an Ambulance man in Liverpool, which spans the years of 1969 to 1979. From my nervous and apprehensive beginning, to becoming a seasoned and experienced Ambulance person. I attempt to let you, the reader, take that journey with me. No two calls are ever the same; each has its own unique scenario and characters. It's not just about 'blood and guts' Its about little old ladies, pompous doctors, violent drunks, sinister characters, tea and biscuits, impromptu parties, extra marital affairs, sudden death, spooky experiences, laughing, sadness and of course, those things that happen behind the scenes of a public Ambulance service.. Over those ten years I also had the personal experiences of my mother's death, getting married to a child hood sweetheart, then finding the marriage on a slippery slope that would end in divorce.
About the Author: In 1969 I started as a cadet in the Liverpool Ambulance Service and eventually progressed to fully qualified Ambulance man, gaining some 'in house' qualifications on the way. I resigned from the service in 1979 to pursue my desire to travel, preferably at someone else's expense. In 1979 I applied for and got a position as an air steward with British Midland Airways. I was based at Liverpool airport and worked the short haul routes around Europe. I began to write short humorous stories in 1980. After many rejections from popular magazines, I eventually had one of the stories accepted by Granada Television, a regional daily magazine programme called 'Exchange Flags'. I jumped at the chance to read my own work in front of the camera and so I appeared on the telly and was paid the princely sum of £300. From that TV appearance I was invited by BBC Radio Merseyside to record more of my work for their short story slot. I recorded five stories for them, and was paid for that too. In 1982 I resigned from BMA and began new employment on board the QE2, travelling to many parts of the world. I resigned from the QE2 in 1984 and returned to the Ambulance Service in 1985. This time it was Lancashire County Ambulance Service. I remained with them for three years. I qualified as a Paramedic in 1986. Paramedics were a rare breed back then; I was one of the first in the UK to qualify and the only one in Lancashire at that time. Lancashire County Ambulance didn't have the infrastructure to allow me to practice my skills, so I transferred to Durham County Ambulance in 1988, where Paramedic practice was keenly used. I remained with Durham County Ambulance (Now North East Ambulance) until I took early retirement in 2008 I hold the Queens medal for long service and good conduct, along with the Queens Golden Jubilee Emergency Service's medal.