The long service and special achievements of staff, volunteers and members of the public have been celebrated at the third of South East Coast Ambulance Service’s (SECAmb’s) annual awards ceremonies.

Award winners gathered for the ceremony, held at The Grand Hotel in Eastbourne, on Thursday evening, (16 November 2023), with front line colleagues presented with Queen’s Medals for Long Service and Good Conduct on behalf of the King by Vice Lord Lieutenant of East Sussex, Mr Graham Peters.

Staff were also presented with awards for 20, 30 and 40 years’ NHS service from SECAmb Chairman, David Astley, who received a special award to mark his 50 years’ NHS service ahead of his retirement in May 2024. Three of the Trust’s community first responders were recognised for a decade of volunteering in their roles.

Meanwhile, special achievements were celebrated with Chief Executive Commendations presented.

Husband and wife, Gary Dawson and Nicky Prince received an Exceeding Expectations commendation for saving the life of a fellow competitor at a 10k running event in London in February 2022. Student Paramedic, Gary and Metropolitan Police Constable, Nicky, stopped, arranged help, and performed what proved to be successful CPR on Bob Booth, from Burnham on Crouch, Essex, when he collapsed at the 7k mark of the London Winter 10k.

SECAmb was delighted Bob and wife Leigh were able to attend the ceremony to see Gary and Nicky pick up their award.

Senior Medical Advisor, Azim Ali, picked up a commendation for excelling in his role at SECAmb’s West Emergency Operations Centre, (EOC), in Crawley. In his just over two years since joining SECAmb, Azim has consistently performed in the top 10 call takers for key performance indicators and provides valuable mentoring support to new colleagues. He is also quick to provide additional support where needed to teams across the control room when required.

And fellow EOC colleague and Clinical Safety Navigator, Kim Harding, was awarded with a Demonstrating Compassion commendation for her approach to helping others in the control room while continuing to manage her own challenging workload to assist patients.

SECAmb Chief Executive Simon Weldon said: “Across three awards ceremonies, I have had the privilege to witness colleagues receive extremely worthy recognition for both their long service and special achievements.
“I was delighted to join colleagues in Eastbourne to thank them for their service and for going the extra mile to serve our patients and support each other.

“Those that received special recognition represent just a small selection of the amazing work which goes on every day across our region. Our award winners and all our staff and volunteers should be very proud.

“I was also delighted to recognise our Chairman’s extraordinary half century of service to the NHS ahead of him stepping down from his role and retiring next year.”

Full details of all long service and commendation award winners can be found below.

The Trust’s Kent and Surrey awards took place on 2 and 9 November respectively.

Queen’s Medal for Long Service and Good Conduct (presented on behalf of His Majesty The King).

Steven Babonau, SORT Manager and Paramedic, Gatwick

Nicole Barrow, Operations Manager, Hastings

John Bennett, HART Team Leader, Ashford

Nicola Bishop, Make Ready Centre Manager, Hastings

Max Braham, HART Paramedic, Ashford

Timothy Clark, Operational Team Leader and Paramedic, Brighton

Mark Costello, Associate Ambulance Practitioner, Hastings

Richard Harker, Operating Unit Manager, Polegate

Steven Hewson, Associate Ambulance Practitioner, Brighton

Gareth Hulin, Clinical Education Lead and Paramedic Practitioner, Polegate

Julie Kennett, Associate Ambulance Practitioner, Polegate

Vicky Newman, Paramedic Practitioner, Brighton

Robin Page, Operational Team Leader, Brighton

Amanda Sadler, Clinical Scheduling Officer, HQ, Crawley

Neil Souter, HART Paramedic, Gatwick

Thomas Turley, Ambulance Technician, Hastings

Luke Wight, Associate Ambulance Practitioner, Polegate

Steven Wilson, Ambulance Technician, Brighton

20 Years’ NHS Service

Hannah Cooper, Dispatch Team Leader, West EOC, Crawley

Paul Dine, Paramedic Practitioner, Hastings

Daniel Freeman, Dispatch Team Leader, West EOC, Crawley

Alexi Gee, Resource Dispatcher, West EOC, Crawley

Jennifer Reeves, EOC Administrator, West EOC, Crawley

Tessa Wood, Fleet Parts Supervisor, Lewes Commissioning Centre

30 Years’ NHS Service

Nicola Brooks, Associate Director of Quality and Compliance

Adrian Dry, Operations Manager, Polegate

Martin King, Associate Ambulance Practitioner, Hastings

40 Years’ NHS Service

Peter Cronk, Associate Ambulance Practitioner, Hastings

Margaret Dalziel, Executive Director of Nursing and Quality

Martin Jennings, Paramedic, Hastings

50 Years’ NHS Service

David Astley – Chairman

10 Year’s Voluntary Service

Alex Betts, Community First Responder, Weald District

Nigel Ring, Community First Responder, Seahaven

Jack Stonehouse, Community First Responder, Seahaven

Leigh Westwood, Community First Responder, Crowborough

 

Chief Executive Commendations

Exceeding Expectations

Husband and wife, Gary Dawson, (Student Paramedic, Paddock Wood) and Nicky Prince Metropolitan PC – for saving the life of a fellow competitor at a 10k running event in London in February 2022. Gary and Nicky, stopped, arranged help and performed what proved to be successful CPR on Bob Booth, from Burnham on Crouch, Essex, when he collapsed at the 7k mark of the London Winter 10k. Having saved Bob’s life they went on to complete the event.

 

Azim Ali, (Senior Medical Advisor, West EOC, Crawley) – for excelling in his role. In his just over two years since joining SECAmb, Azim has consistently performed in the top 10 call takers for key performance indicators and provides valuable mentoring support to new colleagues. He is also quick to provide additional support where needed to teams across the control room when required.

 

Demonstrating Compassion

Kim Harding, (Clinical Safety Navigator, West EOC, Crawley) – for her approach to helping others in the control room while continuing to manage her own challenging workload to assist patients. Kim makes an enormous contribution on every shift and has a positive impact on colleagues day-in, day-out.