From the Races to the Rugby

Saturday

I went on duty with St John Ambulance at Cheltenham Races this morning, to help with the setup for the afternoons racing. I was there until 1pm, and apart from cleaning the first aid post in preparation for an infection control inspection, we had nothing to do. I did manage to speak with a couple of people I had been trying to arrange meetings with, so it wasn't a completely wasted morning.

I then travelled over to Kingsholm as I was carrying out an official duty visit at Gloucester Rugby. When I arrived I went and met with Ann Marie who was the duty officer, and she showed me the operational plan, and I went through all my questions with her. We then went up to the match control point where I met the stadium manager and security manager, and was reacquainted with the safety officer whom I had met previously. Introductions over, and Ann Marie went through the procedures around where the crews were located, their call signs, and which areas of the stadium were covered by CCTV. We then watched Gloucester thrash Cardiff Blues by 40 points to 3, from the comfort of the control box (which I thought was a much better plan than standing in the freezing cold with the crews at the side of the pitch!)

This was the second time I had visited a Gloucester duty, and as expected, everything was under control and well organised. As there were no incidents to deal with all afternoon, fairly soon after the end of the match we were stood down. I then managed to grab a lift in the ambulance back to Longlevens, so only had a two minute walk home- result!

North Cotswolds, Snow, and a Home Made Curry

What a journey! Just got back from Bourton-on-the-water after visiting the North Cotswold Division of St John Ambulance. When I left Gloucester it was raining slightly, going through Cheltenham it was raining heavily, near Andoversford it was snowing!

I got to the HQ safely, and after a chat with Jemma and Stuart, I had a quick cup of coffee, then decided to make an early departure as I didn't fancy spending the night stuck in Bourton.

Coming back it was even worse, heavy snow all the way from Bourton to Birdlip, so it turned into a long slow journey. I was very glad to get home and have some lovely curry for dinner, home made by Liz.

Has it really been two years....

....since I last set foot in my blog? I had almost forgotten I had one until my brother-in-law Rob (of cotswoldgreen blog fame) mentioned that he had updated his.

There have been quite a few changes in my life since my last update, firstly I have changed my job, and I am now the Strategic ICT Manager at the newly formed Gloucester Academy. This means that I no longer repair computers, as all my time is taken up

with meetings and projects. The only down side is that the new academy is not within walking distance of home.

My role at Cotswold Green has changed as well, instead of fuelling the buses, I am now the Compliance Manager (part time). Different challenges, and an enjoyable change from my day job.

I still volunteer with St John Ambulance, but instead of managing the Stroud unit, I am now the Senior Operational Services Officer, and my responsibilities now include line-managing all of the adult units in the county!

We have also bought a camper van! A 28 year old Volkswagen T25 high top called Doris. This is to replace our caravan, and now I have had the additional seatbelts fitted in the back, and installed bunks in the front and in the roof, the whole family (including the dog) can fit in for holidays and weekends away. So far we have had a weekend in the Forest of Dean, and a few overnights in the local area. Pictures will follow as soon as I remember where I saved them!

I am also well on the way with my collection of brother-in-laws! Ange and Rob got married in March last year, then my sister Rebecca married Gareth in October, bringing my total to three! I hope I don't have any more new family members added, or I may have to let one of the three go!

Hopefully now I have remembered how to use the blog I will be back soon with more updates!

Stroud Half Marathon, Hockey, and a Wasted Journey

After waving goodbye to Liz and the 3 children, who are off on holiday (I am joining them tomorrow), I continue with preparations for the Stroud Half Marathon, which is taking place tomorrow. I am not running in it (obviously !) and for the first time in living memory I am not the Duty Officer for St John Ambulance - this "honour" falls to Dan, who is taking on his second "big duty".

I set off down to HQ to meet Michael and Dave, to sort out the bikes, and pick up the response car. Michael had beaten me down there, and had already got both bikes out, and was going through the kit, so I start sorting out the response car, including replacing the defibrillator (the "Stand clear- Shocking" machine), which was complaining of low battery. Time for coffee and a cigarette next, while I have a chat with Coral, who has arrived to pick up an ambulance for a PTS job (Patient Transport Service) in Dursley.

Everything sorted here, so I head for home, via my parents house, where I pop in for a coffee and a chat, then off to St Peters School, to play hockey against a team from Stroud. As I get out of the car, the rain stops, and it loooks like we are going to be lucky with the weather.

We comfortably win the game 4 -0, and after a cheese salad baguette for tea, I head for home, planning to start the task of looking for my camera bits and pieces to take away with me tomorrow, but this is thrown into disarray by a phone call asking me to return the response car, as it is needed this evening. After a bit of internal swearing about piss - ups and brewerys, I headed back to HQ to drop it off, but what do I see when I arrive there, the crew member driving out through the gates in an ambulance. "Don't worry about the car Jim, I will go out in this" he said, and disapeared down the road. Cue a bit more swearing about having wasted half an hour returning a car that did not need returning.

Back home for some well earned rest- clocks go back tonight, which should cause some confusion tomorrow!

Now where is the camera tripod......

Frampton Country Fair

On Sunday, Stroud Division covered the annual Country Fair at Frampton on Severn.

There were 9 of us on duty, as well as Severnside Cadet Division, who were doing a PR and recruitment stand.

We arrived on site at 8am, and proceeded to erect the tent, in the same place as in previous years. We had just finished putting it up, when one of the organisers came running across the field to tell us we were in the wrong place. I went and assessed the access and egress routes, while the rest of the team moved the tent !

As I was going to be crewing the ambulance, Dan was going to be Duty Officer for the first time, so I stood back and let him organise the setting up of the first aid post, and deliver the pre-duty briefing. We had some response teams out and about in the crowd, but the ambulance crew were based at the first aid post, so I made myself comfy in a chair, with a good view of the main ring.

During the morning, we had some casualties turn up to the first aid post, all for minor injuries - blisters, small cuts, and a twisted ankle, and they were dealt with by the team. We then had an emergency call from the ambulance service, asking us to attend a 999 call in the nearby village. Myself and Dave got into the ambulance, and made our way (very slowly) through the crowd and out onto the main road. We arrived at the incident in 4 minutes, and then dealt with the football player who had injured her leg. An ambulance service paramedic turned up not long after us, shortly followed by another ambulance, so we all worked together to move her from the ground into the ambulance.

We returned to site, and the rest of the day was fairly uneventful, although one of our response teams did witness a fight, where a group of drunken youths were trying to drive away on some mobility scooters from one of the trade stands !

At 6pm we packed up, and somehow avoided all of the traffic queues that had been around the site all day, and managed to get back to Stroud in only 10 minutes - unlike the poor people stuck in the car parks, who took 1 1/2 hours to get to the road !

By Royal Command !

This blogging lark is more difficult than I thought it would be. If I had time to update it every day, I might stand a change of actually remembering what has happened!

I have decided that this will now be an "occasional blog", which I will update when I have a chance.

The past few weeks have been really busy, both at work and at home. I have also been working non-stop in the garden whenever the weather has been suitable, as well as training for the St John Ambulance regional competitions.

I had a manic day at work today, and hardly stopped all day. One good thing happened though, just before lunch time I set up a new PC and printer for the kitchen staff, and they rewarded me with free lunch and flapjack!

After work today, I was lucky enought to be one of the two ambulance crews who were invited to St John County HQ, to meet various important people, including HRH The Duke of Gloucester and the Lord Lieutenant of Gloucestershire, who had come to look round the headquarters. I firstly had to lead some demonstrations of ambulance equipment for the cadets- who were very quick learners, and then show the guests round the ambulance garage. It went really well, and I had a good discussion with the Lord Lieutenant about the merits of different models of Land Rovers !

Mud Glorious Mud!

Early start again this morning, but not due to Libby keeping us awake all night, as she was very good and slept through until 6.30am (see previous post) but because I was on duty with St John Ambulance at a motocross. I picked up my crew mate, Dave, at 8am, and got to the track at about 8.30, just in time to join a massive queue from the gate. This was due to the very muddy conditions on the site, meaning that the competitors support vehicles were all being towed in by tractor. We eventually got to the site of the first aid post, to find that the entire area was covered in thick muddy clay.

As soon as we got on site the first practice started, as we tried to get the 4x4 up to the centre of the track. The farmer who owned the field, told me that we would never get the 4x4 up the hill, and he was right! Even with low range diff lock, the land rover struggled to get up the hill, and started to sink- the clay mud was turning the off road tyres into slicks! After several attempts, and change of route, we eventually got to a vantage point mid way up the hill, and decided to stop there!

The morning passed uneventfully, with the first aid post only dealing with 1 fractured collar bone. This was due to the very muddy course, meaning that the bikes couldn't go very fast, and if they did fall off, there was a very soft landing!

Lunch time next, and as usual, no break in the races, so the first aid staff came off the field and had their lunch 2 at a time. Chips for me, as burger vans don't do much in the way of vegetarian options!

After lunch the conditions were made worse by persistent rain and high winds. The first aid tent nearly blew away, and had to be tied down to a nearby van, and the course had to be altered as the bikes were unable to negotiate some of the track.

Only minor injuries to deal with during the afternoon, but there was some entertainment when one of the first-aiders, Marie, went to take a photo of the bikes, but slipped and fell down in the mud.
The last casualty treated (for a small cut to his knee) told us that the current race was the last one, so when the last bike passed the line, we started packing up the kit, and bringing the crews down from the track. Next thing we know, bikes are coming down from the start- seems like our casualty was not a reliable source of information!

This race was the last one, so as soon as it finished, me and Dave loaded up the vehicle, and headed back to HQ and the jet wash. The 4x4 was so covered in mud, it took us nearly an hour to clean it.

I have been doing motocross duties for the past 12 years, and this was the worst track conditions I have ever seen. Hopefully next time the weather will be better!

First Post !

Welcome to my Blog. I have been thinking about writing a blog for a little while now, not because I have anything important to say, but because occasionally interesting things do happen that I want to make a note of.

I am an ICT Manager for a school in Gloucestershire, and I volunteer part time with St John Ambulance (hence the Blog title). I am married, and have 3 children.

This Blog will be updated regularly (or more likely rarely) with everyday happenings in my life.