Staff celebrate over 5,560 combined years at ambulance long service awards

Yorkshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust was proud to celebrate the achievements and dedication of its staff at the recent annual Long Service Awards ceremony.   

During the event, the region’s ambulance service recognised 128 colleagues with a combined service of over 5,560 years. Awards included those for staff who have reached their 20, 30, and 40-year milestone in the NHS. Also presented were the King’s and Queen’s Long Service and Good Conduct Medals, given to colleagues with 20 years’ exemplary frontline emergency service.   

More than 230 staff and their guests attended the event, held at the Pavilions of Harrogate, during which the awards were presented by Trust Chair Martin Havenhand and Mrs Clare Granger, His Majesty’s Deputy Lord Lieutenant of North Yorkshire. 

Peter Reading, Chief Executive, said: “The event provides us with a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the amazing hard work, dedication and service our colleagues have given to our patients and the communities we serve over so many years.” 

Among the awardees were 14 colleagues who have reached an incredible 40 years’ service, and one retired member of staff who has completed an amazing 50 years’ service and will be receiving his award locally in South Yorkshire.

Ian Horner started his career with the Rotherham County Borough Fire and Ambulance Service in March 1973 and quickly progressed to qualified ambulanceman. He was promoted a number of times, including roles as station officer, divisional commander and general manager, all in South Yorkshire. In 2007, Ian fancied a change and took on the role of Local Security Management Specialist.  He ‘retired’ in 2011 but, as Ian isn’t one to sit back and relax, he continued his security management role on a part-time basis and also supported the Events team as a match commander covering Barnsley FC and Rotherham United matches until he fully retired in 2023.  

North Yorkshire-based husband and wife Lee and Emma Davison, who have both served for 30 years, received their awards on the event day.  They first met back in 1999 on their paramedic training course and got together ten years later.  Emma worked as a paramedic and latterly as a team leader in Northallerton; she is now a Named Professional for Safeguarding at the Trust. Lee completed ten years as a paramedic seconded to the Yorkshire Air Ambulance; he now works part-time as a road-based paramedic and spends the other half of his working week in the air as a pilot.  

A selection of vehicles from the YAS fleet were on display for guests to look around and Matt Wakefield, Chief Executive of the National Emergency Services Museum in Sheffield, brought a vintage ambulance and a pop-up ambulance memorabilia museum along to the event.