TASC announces the 9th National Ambulance Memorial Service 

The biennial event to remember ambulance staff who have passed away will be taking place on the 15th September 2022 at the National Memorial Arboretum in Staffordshire.

For the last 18 years, The Ambulance Staff Charity (TASC), formerly The Ambulance Services Benevolent Fund, have held a national service every two years to honour, remember and thank the members of the ambulance community who have lost their lives while working for the ambulance services of England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Guernsey, Jersey, Gibraltar, and the Isle of Man.

Since its creation, the event has gone from strength-to-strength, and the last service saw over 230 people from all over the UK attend to honour the fallen ambulance staff including senior representatives of ambulance services, the Independent Ambulance Association, Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE), College of Paramedics, Air Ambulance and Unison.

Launched in 2015, TASC is the national charity dedicated to supporting the mental, physical and financial wellbeing of the UK’s ambulance community including serving and retired staff, their family members, ambulance service volunteers and paramedic science students.

The 2022 memorial service is being held at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire on the 15th September 2022. If you are interested in attending the event, please visit www.theasc.org.uk/our-memorial The actual attendance for the event will be confirmed in late August depending on the current government Coronavirus guidance.

The event will commence with an indoor service which includes a poignant candle lighting ceremony for the fallen. Following the indoor service, attendees will walk down in a procession to the ambulance memorial garden where a Roll of Honour will be read out for ambulance staff who have passed away since the last memorial service. The Roll of Honour is currently hosted on TASC’s website where colleagues, friends and loved ones can post tributes and photos of ambulance staff members who have passed away.

Diane Scott, TASC’s Chair and a former Deputy CEO of West Midlands Ambulance Service, said:

“It is a privilege for TASC to host this national event to pay tribute to those who have died while working in the ambulance service. Many people have told us how much they appreciated having the memorial service to pay their respects to remember their friends, colleagues and family. I am proud that TASC will once again host the National Ambulance Memorial event and we are working hard to ensure it is a fitting tribute for our departed ambulance colleagues.”

Carl Ledbury, a TASC Trustee and a former West Midlands Ambulance Service Officer, has been heavily involved with the National Ambulance Memorial Service for a number of years. Carl says:

“It’s important that we remember those we have lost and recognise their dedication, passion and hard work for the UK’s ambulance services. For me personally, it’s also about recognising the service of my fallen colleagues.”

Daren Mochrie, Chair of the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE), said:

“AACE is proud to support this event and we will be attending to honour the memories of the staff we have sadly lost during the past two years. This service organised by TASC is a most fitting tribute to them all, and underlines the dedication, commitment and passion they showed for their roles and to their patients.”

Jason Killens, Chief Executive of the Welsh Ambulance Service, says:

“The onset of the global Covid-19 pandemic brought about unprecedented challenges for ambulance staff and saw them facing a fresh danger whilst providing the best possible care to their patients. Sadly, this resulted in an increased loss of ambulance staff and the devastation it causes to family and colleagues has been felt across services in the UK. TASC is there for the family and friends of our lost colleagues and is a vital service to our close-knit community. The Welsh Ambulance Service is proud to support the National Ambulance Memorial Service in tribute to the staff we, and other services have lost.”

Professor Anthony Marsh, National Strategic Adviser of Ambulance Services for NHS England and NHS Improvement and the Chief Executive for West Midlands Ambulance, says:

“As a national ambulance adviser, I’m enormously proud of all our ambulance staff who go above and beyond every single day, often in very difficult circumstances. The last two years have been like no other, and it’s right that we come together to remember and pay tribute to our colleagues who are no longer with us. Myself and my colleagues at West Midlands Ambulance Service and across our country are delighted to support TASC’s National Ambulance Memorial Service.”

Will Warrender, Chief Executive of the South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust, said:

“This service is incredibly special because it provides us with the opportunity to pause, reflect and pay our respects to our fallen colleagues who we will continue to remember. We are forever thankful for their hard work, dedication and for everything they did for the ambulance service.” 

Pauline Howie, Scottish Ambulance Service Chief Executive, said:

“This service is a chance for us all to pause, remember and pay tribute to our dear colleagues, friends and family members who have tragically passed away while working for their respective ambulance trust.  It is always with great sadness when we lose someone and we share our sympathies and deepest condolences with our fellow ambulance service colleagues in the UK. We fully appreciate the efforts of TASC in holding this event which celebrates and recognises the contribution our fallen staff have made.”