For the first time in over 70 years, the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth will mark a new era of monarchy with the coronation of His Majesty The King, Charles III and Her Majesty The Queen Consort, Camilla
For many of us, this will be our first ever coronation; with the last being that of the late Her Majesty the Queen in 1952.
To celebrate, we spoke to #TeamNEAS colleagues about what it was like meeting the King throughout the years, and how they’ll be marking this special occasion.
Opening of Barnard Castle station - 2018
Back in 2018, the then Prince of Wales, was invited to open the new Barnard Castle station in County Durham. Among the attendees of the event was 26-year-old Steven Wilson; an ambulance care assistant who was among the new colleagues to work out of Barnard Castle station. Alongside his fellow station-mates, Steven had the opportunity to meet and speak to the future King.
On his experience he said: “What a nice man he was! He went around everyone and spoke to us all individually. He even took time to address the kids from a local school who came to see him!”
Attending the annual Garden Party at Buckingham Palace - 2019
In Spring 2019, Katie Smith, a paramedic based out of Backworth station, attended the annual Garden Party at Buckingham Palace. Leaving her role in our EOC as a dispatch officer for a role as a scheduled care apprentice, Katie found a new love for frontline care and secured a place at Sunderland University on their paramedic science course. During her studies, she then went on to win NEAS' Student of the Year for her dedication to her apprenticeship and her overall ambition. In recognition for her hard work alongside being a single mum to three boys, she was nominated to attend the annual Garden Party at Buckingham Palace by her NEAS colleagues.
On meeting the King, she said: “It was a truly amazing day and I felt so honoured. Unfortunately, the Queen was unable to attend this day, so we had the pleasure in meeting the now King Charles in her place. Both me and my mum were completely awestruck.”
Preparing for the King's Coronation: raising the Union Flag - 2023
In preparation for His Majesty's Coronation, organisations across the country were asked to raise the Union Flag on the morning of Friday 5 May.
Raising the flag for NEAS were ceremonial team members Wayne and Louise McKay, who dressed for the occasion in their official ceremonial uniforms.
Representing the North East Ambulance Service in the King’s Coronation in London – 2023
Representing the North East Ambulance Service, David Graham, an advanced practitioner paramedic and a member of our ceremonial team, will stand alongside our national colleagues in the emergency services and armed forces as part of the guard of honour along Whitehall in Saturday’s Coronation celebrations.
David has previously represented the Service in other formal ceremonies such as the Remembrance Day Service in London.
On being chosen to represent the Service, Dave said: “It’s always a privilege and honour to represent the Trust. You just feel pride; everyone works hard, irrespective of their role, and to represent those staff and the Trust as a whole makes me proud and I hope I can do them justice.”
Attending the King’s first annual Garden Party at Buckingham Palace as monarch - 2023
On Tuesday 9 May, two members of our equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) team will be attending the King’s first annual Garden Party as monarch. Susan Coldron and Loveness Scott, who both work on our community outreach and events projects will be attending and representing our Service.
Susan was invited by the newly-appointed Lord Lieutenant of Tyne and Wear, Ms. Lucy Winskell, OBE as thanks for her work with her predecessor. Working with the Lord Lieutenant’s office, Susan has organised many events for our staff on behalf of the Crown, including the long-serving Queen’s Medal celebrations which recognises the hard work of our longest-serving colleagues in the Service.
Loveness was invited to attend by the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives (AACE) for her work as our positive action officer. Beginning her career at NEAS during the pandemic, Loveness has gone on to join our EDI team and lead our positive action project which aims to create long-lasting working relationships with the region’s BAME communities. During her time as positive action officer, Loveness has worked with over 1,000 community members; educating them on our service and teaching them life-saving skills such as CPR.