Nick was presented with his award by the Lieutenant Governor at Government House in December.
Nick and a colleague were tasked with responding onboard the RNLI St Peter Port Lifeboat to a fishing vessel 26 miles off the west coast of Guernsey, where a member of the vessel’s crew had suffered in a significant crush injury to his hand.
The outward journey took almost an hour in rough sea conditions with a heavy swell. Nick not cared for the patient on the return leg of the journey and but also provided care for a colleague who had also become unwell. Without this professionalism and determination, the patient would undoubtedly have received lesser care during their transfer to Guernsey.
Chief Ambulance Officer Mark Mapp said: “Being deployed on the Lifeboat so far offshore, and in such challenging sea conditions, is a rare event which many would struggle to cope with but Nick demonstrated the values of the Ambulance & Rescue Service by showing compassion, professionalism and commitment while delivering excellent care to the patient and his colleague in challenging circumstances. I would also like to acknowledge the assistance and professionalism of the crew of the lifeboat in this case.”
Mr Dene served as Chief Officer from 1985 to 1990, having initially joined St John as a volunteer in the Rohais Brigade in 1947, after returning to Guernsey following the Liberation of the islands after the Occupation. He went on to join the Ambulance & Rescue Service in 1948 on the day the service moved more than forty patients from the former Castel Hospital to the new Princess Elizabeth Hospital.
When he joined St John the ambulance service had only been in existence for a little over ten years, it was a nine-man operation, with four ambulances, a car and two motorcycles. Training was led by the founding Chief Officer Reg Blanchford, who Mr Dene credited for teaching him so much as a young man.
Mr Dene served on the first Flying Christine marine launch when it was introduced in 1952 and during his career he was involved in a number of rescues with the marine ambulance and the cliff rescue team, receiving ten commendations for his rescue work. He also served on the Flying Christine II and the Inshore Rescue boats.
Prior to becoming Chief Officer, Mr Dene was the Staff Officer responsible for training ambulance staff on island as well as being seconded to training centres in England, including the United World College of the Atlantic in South Wales. When he retired in 1990 the Bailiff held a reception in his honour and after his retirement he became a member of the St John Fellowship.
Neil Tucker who was appointed as Chief Ambulance Officer when Mike Dene retired in 1990 said “He was always very supportive of me as a successor. I was the youngest Chief Ambulance Officer in the British Isles, except one, when I was promoted and Mr Dene, as he was universally known, helped me to acclimatise to the new role. He accepted, with grace, changes I made as Chief even if he himself was not wholly keen on them, recognising that the Service had to change and move with the times. He also called into the station frequently during my 19 years as Chief to pay social calls and offer me advice, if I needed it – and also to tell me where he thought I was going wrong!”
“I also remember his sense of humour – he could frequently crack a few jokes in even serious situations, and was not afraid to make fun of himself. He had a solid faith and was devoted to ‘My Mary’ as he called his wife, and was very upset when she passed away, but he continued to live life to the full, in latter years particularly enjoying cruise holidays.”
Mr Dene was also a St Peter Port Douzenier and States member. Our thoughts are with his family at this time.
Paramedics Nick Peters and Lorna Bichard and Paramedic Officer Steve Torode recieved the award for their teamwork and the care they provided to a casualty with a serious limb injury in a remote part of Herm Island.
They were presented with their awards by the Lieutenant Governor of Guernsey, Lieutenant General Richard Cripwell in a ceremony at Government House.
The crew responded onboard the Flying Christine III marine ambulance following a request from the Herm Community First Responders (CFRs), to a visitor who had fallen on Belvoir hill. 
Following initial assessment and treatment at the scene, the patient was transported, secured in a vacuum mattress, on the Herm Island ‘Gator’ quad bike in preparation for transfer to the marine ambulance. Due to the location and a particularly low tide, the RNLI Inshore Recue Boat was requested to transfer the casualty from Shell Beach to the Flying Christine III.
The ambulance team worked closely with the Herm CFRs and the RNLI crew, resulting in a safe and efficient rescue of the casualty, co-ordinated by Paramedic Officer Steve Torode.
Chief Ambulance Officer Mark Mapp said: ”Lorna, Nick and Steve are recognised for their care and compassionate clinical treatment of the casualty as well as their excellent team work, co-ordination and communication with the other agencies involved, which ensured the safe extrication and transfer of the casualty back to St Peter Port.”
Mark Guilbert was the longest serving volunteer to be recognised having started as a St John cadet at the age of 12 and then serving for 40 years. During his time with St John Mark became an adult volunteer and trainer and was promoted to the rank of Commissioner of Operations. Mark won the National St John first aid competition and also served as a one of Guernsey’s first volunteer Community First Responders.
Mark said: “As a volunteer it is great giving something back to the community, but there is also the satisfaction of knowing that your actions may save a life. As a trainer it was always great to get feedback that your training has enabled others to use those skills for real.”
Trish De Carteret and Dr Rachel Major both received 4th bars to their long service medals, having volunteered with St John for 30 years.
Trish became a St John cadet when she was 10 years old having left Brownies and not wanting to join Guides. As an adult Trish worked as a youth leader when she reached 18 and later went on to become Commissioner of Youth.
Trish has fond memories of her time as a youth leader: “I loved working with the young people and helping to develop the skills of the young members. There were many highlights, including taking 30 cadets to Biberach in Germany on camp with the German Red Cross. I have got a great sense of worth, helping people, teaching, attending public duties, safeguarding and helping lead the organisation. Now I get pleasure working with the Fellowship keeping the retired members connected.
Dr Rachel Major always knew she wanted to do something in health and felt that St John would be a good place to help her gain experience. Rachel went on to qualify as a nurse and now teaches new generations of health care professionals at the Institute.
Rachel has been a divisional superintendent of a cadet division, been a Badger leader, the Bailiwick Nursing Office, Health and Social Care Manager and now Safeguarding Manager for St John.
She said: “I have met so many brilliant people over the years, both in St John and members of the public. Highlights would include seeing badgers and cadets grow and flourish. Over the years I have gained a lot from volunteering. It helped me to develop confidence and leadership skills. I have met people I may never have met otherwise. I first learnt to teach in St John and continue to teach and assess St John members. For me it is important to give back to the community and that gives me a great deal of satisfaction.”
Wilma De La Mare was presented with her 2nd bar having completed 20 years of service.
Husband and wife Jason and Annette Gallienne who have volunteered for 20 and 15 years respectively also received their long service bars.
Fiona Naftel was presented with her long service medal and 1st bar having completed 15 years service. Tony Robert was presented with his 1st bar after 15 years service.
Tom Burnett and Bertram De La Mare were presented with their long service medals for 10 years service.
St John Ambulance Guernsey Chief Executive Officer Heather Langlois paid tribute to all those who received awards: “St John is an organisation which provides a wide range of services to our local community. With their varying degrees of experience, skillsets, and backgrounds our diverse group of volunteers dedicate countless hours to caring for those around them, some of whom have given years of their life to the service. For their time, efforts, commitment, and passion over the years I extend my personal thanks, for without them we could not do what we do best, care for life.”
One evening during the summer Adam was off duty and had taken his dog for a walk on L’Ancresse Common, accompanied by his young son and his father.
Whilst walking along a section of open ground, away from any housing or roads, unfortunately and without any warning Adam’s father went into cardiac arrest.
Adam quickly identified what was happening and immediately summoned medical support, whilst simultaneously commencing extremely effective CPR. Adam continued to carry out CPR for in excess of 10 minutes whilst medical help was on its way. Whilst this was all going on, Adam remained calm and provided reassurance to his young son who was witnessing the incident.
Chief Ambulance Officer Mark Mapp said: “This would have been extremely stressful, emotional and physically tiring situation for Adam, who was in a remote part of the island, but he demonstrated excellent tenacity and professionalism whilst he continued to deliver effective CPR until assistance arrived.”
Due to the high standard of CPR administered over a substantial period of time and following more advanced treatment provided by paramedics, Adam’s father was successfully resuscitated and is now making a good recovery.
Adam’s calm and efficient actions were personally witnessed by a fellow police officer who came to the scene as a volunteer Community First Responder.
Mark Mapp added: “Both the paramedics and the doctor in the Emergency Department commented that the chance of survival in these cases of cardiac arrest are very rare and that Adams actions had no doubt saved his father’s life. By delivering prompt and effective CPR oxygen levels to the vital organs can be maintained, improving the chances of the patient making a good recovery, which is why is it so important that people learn CPR and have the confidence to use it, if someone collapses and stops breathing normally.”
Adam said: “I would encourage everyone to learn CPR. It is something we train for as police officers, but you don’t expect to have to do it to someone close to you, however statistically the chances of knowing the person who has a witnessed cardiac arrest are high, so having the skills and knowledge to know what to do can make a real difference to someone you love.”
Guernsey’s ambulance service has a robust mutual aid agreement in place with the other Channel Islands and South Western Ambulance Service NHS Trust for such events and promptly activated internal processes in response to the incident in Jersey.
A number of Guernsey ambulance clinicians have been made available to assist the States of Jersey Ambulance Service and the St John marine ambulance ‘Flying Christine III’ with a volunteer boat crew is on standby to transport medical teams to Jersey if required.
Well established contingencies are in place as part of the emergency planning and preparedness plans to ensure normal ambulance operations in the Bailiwick of Guernsey can be maintained and the Ambulance & Rescue Service can continue business as usual while offering support to Jersey.
Guernsey’s Chief Ambulance Officer is in regular communication with Jersey’s Chief Ambulance Officer and our thoughts are with the community of Jersey at this difficult time.
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