Ambulance and Rescue would like to thank locally-based internet greetings card and gift company Moonpig for their continued support for the Flying Christine III.

Moonpig has been supporting the Flying Christine III since 2020, making a significant contribution to the operational costs of the service. The company has now decided to extend its sponsorship arrangements into 2025.

The Flying Christine III is a charitable asset, operated by Ambulance and Rescue and crewed by skilled volunteers and professional ambulance clinicians. It is funded through a combination of charitable donations, sponsorship, subscriptions and charges.

Ambulance and Rescue Chief Executive Officer Mark Mapp said: “The Flying Christine relies on sponsorship and donations from businesses and individuals to cover many of the costs. Moonpig has become one of our most significant supporters over recent years and we are extremely grateful to Moonpig for their valued and ongoing commitment to keeping this lifeline service operational for the people of the Bailiwick of Guernsey. Given the additional costs associated with the current refurbishment work, it makes a big difference knowing that the fuel costs for 2025 will be covered.”

“The Moonpig sponsorship, together with other recent donations, enable us to maintain this essential service and keep the Flying Christine III reliable and in peak condition. Without these efforts, our ability to reach the other islands quickly and safely and undertake emergency medical transfers to acute hospital care could be delayed—potentially jeopardising the lives of those who live, work, or travel in and around the Bailiwick.”

Andy Patch, Site Lead at Moonpig added: “At Moonpig, we’re proud to continue our support for the Flying Christine III — a vital lifeline for the Bailiwick of Guernsey. We recognise that the future of this service depends on charitable donations and sponsorships to stay operational – which is why we’re committed to playing our part in helping to facilitate this critical emergency service across the Islands.”

On 9th May 2025 Guernsey celebrated Liberation 80, marking 80 years since the liberation of the island after five years of Germany occupation.

Representatives from the ambulance service took part in the Royal Parade and Church Service, in the presence of HRH The Princess Royal.

We also deployed additonal crews around the island, with cycle paramedics on duty in St Peter Port. The Flying Christine III was also delpoyed to Sark for the Royal visit on 10th May.

Here are some of the images from the events in Guernsey and Sark. Thank you for sharing your Liberation Day photos.

Three people from Guernsey have been invested as Members of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem – commonly known as the Order of St John – at a ceremony in London.

Aimee Lihou, Head of Quality and Patient Safety, was recognised for her services to the Ambulance and Rescue, particularly in establishing the new ambulance service in Alderney. Aimee has a long association with St John, having been a youth member and adult volunteer with the charity, before training as a paramedic. Aimee later joined the senior leadership team at the ambulance service in Guernsey, where one of her main responsibilities is overseeing the Alderney operation.

Former ambulance officer, Dave Welbourne was recognised for his years of service to the marine ambulance. Dave served on both Flying Christine II and Flying Christine III, and was instrumental in the design of Flying Christine III. Dave first joined the Ambulance and Rescue service in 1989, later qualifying as a paramedic. He was promoted to the rank of Senior Officer before moving to a new role with St John Training Services.

The ceremony, which took place at the international headquarters of St John in Clerkenwell was also attended by long serving St John Guernsey volunteer Rachael Major, who was also appointed as a Member of the Order, in recognition of her safeguarding work with the St John charity.

Speaking after the investiture, Aimee Lihou said: “It was a very special day, set within the St John Priory Church and a reception at St John’s Gate.  Wearing dark green Ambulance & Rescue uniform, I attracted a lot of questions about where I was from, which provided the opportunity to explain the unique offerings of St John in Guernsey.

“Although my appointment was for my work in leading Alderney’s ambulance service out of crisis, I have been involved with St John since eight years of age. Before joining West Midlands Ambulance Service in 2010, much of my time was spent volunteering at public events, participating in first aid competitions and offering time to the Island’s Ambulance Reserve.  With such a long connection to the St John organisation, being invested into The Order was a great honour and entirely humbling. I was delighted to share the occasion with other recipients from Guernsey and members of my family.”

Dave Welbourne said: “I was truly honoured to be invested as a member of the Order of St John. It was a surprise when I first heard about the nomination and a real honour to receive this award in recognition of my 40 plus years of service to the Flying Christine, a position that I have always enjoyed and felt passionate about. The ceremony reflected the long history and heritage of St John, and the day felt quite surreal, but it was made more special by being joined by two colleagues from Guernsey.” 

The ceremony, which took place at the international headquarters of St John in Clerkenwell was also attended by long serving St John Guernsey volunteer Rachael Major, who was also appointed as a Member of the Order, in recognition of her safeguarding work with the St John charity.

An individual can be admitted to the prestigious Order for outstanding service to St John, in recognition of achievement, notable or selfless service or inspiration and encouragement to others. All appointments are sanctioned by HM King Charles, the Sovereign Head of the organisation. There are five Grades of membership; Member; Officer; Commander; Knight or Dame; and Bailiff or Dame Grand Cross

Guernsey’s marine ambulance has returned to operational service following an extensive refurbishment after 30 years of serving the Bailiwick islands.

Flying Christine III  is an essential lifeline service, providing prehospital paramedic care and urgent transport, connecting the smaller Channel Islands with the larger island of Guernsey.

Operated by St John Ambulance and Rescue Service, Flying Christine is a charitable asset crewed by skilled and experienced maritime volunteers and professional medical crews from Guernsey’s full-time ambulance service.

The vessel, which was launched in 1994, has undergone a two-phase refit over the past two winters, with the second phase completed a few weeks ago by specialist contractors Diverse Marine in Cowes. Works included an upgrade to the clinical treatment area, with a new stretcher, enhanced infection prevention and control measures and equipment storage areas, creating a better working environment for clinicians and an enhanced patient care experience. Other work included improvements to navigational and communications aspects of the boat. The boat also has an impressive new colour scheme in keeping with the distinctive Ambulance and Rescue brand. The first phase which was completed in 2024 included work on electrical and mechanical aspects of the vessel.

The marine ambulance returned from Cowes on 7th May and took part in Guernsey’s Liberation Day celebrations and Royal Visits on 9th and 10th May. It carried out its first emergency call since returning to service on 10th May with two separate medical cases on the island of Sark.

Flying Christine III is a specially designed purpose-built marine ambulance, with the wheelhouse located forward of the patient treatment areas, which is positioned low on the waterline to provide greater patient comfort. The boat has large doors on the port and starboard sides to allow easy access for stretchers, with a winching area at the stern. Originally built thanks to public donations, she continues to rely on charitable support, through a combination of donations, sponsorship, charges and subscriptions. The fuel is currently sponsored by Guernsey based greeting card and gift company Moonpig. The vessel is on call 24/7 365 days of the year and is available as a rescue asset as well as a marine ambulance. Since 1994 Flying Christine III has responded to more than 1,300 cases, saved numerous lives and had a baby born onboard.

This is the third marine ambulance to bear the name Flying Christine, with the original Flying Christine launched in 1952, and thought to have been the world’s first dedicated marine ambulance.

Mark Mapp, CEO of Guernsey’s ambulance service said: “We are really pleased to have the Flying Christine III back in service. She originally had an expected design life of 30 years, but the fibreglass hull and superstructure are in excellent condition, so having looked at all the options, we decided to carry out this refit to future-proof the vessel and we are confident that the work we have done not only brings the vessel up to date from a clinical perspective, but will also extend her working life for another decade.”

He added: “The service is part-funded through sponsorship and charitable donations, so it was important that we provided good value for money. A few years ago we carried out an extensive review and we considered alternative services such as helicopters, but given the geography and demographics of the islands, it was clear that extending the life of the marine ambulance was the best and most cost effective option.”

Guernsey’s ambulance service is providing preventative care advice for people heading into St Peter Port for the Liberation Day celebrations on 9th May.

John Atkins, Head of Resilience and Education said: “Liberation Day is a great event which brings the community, young and old, together. Attending outdoor events like Liberation Day is great fun but there may be a lot of standing around waiting for the parade in the morning or the cavalcade in the afternoon and, as we know from experience, it is not unusual in these circumstances for some people to become unwell or feel faint. The Ambulance and Rescue Service is therefore sharing some tips on how people can take care of themselves and avoid becoming unwell.”

Before you head out in the morning, have something to eat and drink.

Check the weather and dress appropriately, remember the weather can change.

Pack a bottle of water, suncream and a hat.

Inform companions of any medical conditions you have and what to do in an emergency.

Take any medications as prescribed.

During the day:

Stay hydrated during the day.

Avoid too much alcohol and caffeine, as they can contribute to dehydration.

Use oral rehydration solutions or isotonic sports drinks to replace lost salts and minerals

Avoid standing still for long periods; move around gently to promote circulation.

If you feel dizzy or lightheaded, sit or lie down.

Take a break. There will be additional seating at locations around town, including North Beach, Crown Pier, the Tea Tent on the Albany and 500 seats at the bus terminus.

Look out for the signs of heat exhaustion, such as dizziness, nausea, and excessive sweating.

If symptoms occur, move to a cool place, rest, and hydrate.

Be alert for heatstroke symptoms, including confusion, rapid pulse and high body temperature.

Follow the advice and directions of marshals and officials. They are there for everyone’s safety.

Look out for others and ask for help if you need it.

Know the whereabouts of the toilet facilities. There are extra toilets at Salerie Corner, North Beach, Crown Pier, Albert Pier and Castle Emplacement.

St John Guernsey first aider volunteers will be on duty for anyone feeling unwell or suffering from minor injuries.For more serious or life-threatening medical emergencies call 999 and the closest ambulance response will be deployed.

Paramedic team leader Andy Adam will represent Guernsey's ambulance service at the national VE Day parade in London on 5th May.

Andy, who is Guernsey’s longest serving paramedic and is due to celebrate 40 years of service this summer, will be part of the Civilian Services Contingent for the national event. The Civilian Services Contingent is made up of nominated representatives from various agencies including the Police, Fire, Ambulance and Prison Services, St John Ambulance and the British Red Cross.

The VE Day parade will act as a symbolic focal point to remember those who died in World War II and as a celebration of peace. Military personnel and uniformed representatives will march from Whitehall to Buckingham Palace, passing the Cenotaph, which will be draped in Union Flags for the occasion.

Andy also represented Guernsey at the Remembrance Day parade at the Cenotaph last year.

Andy said: “It is a great honour to be invited to represent Guernsey and the ambulance service at this national event and historic occasion. I was lucky enough to attend the Remembrance Sunday parade last year, so I know a bit about what to expect, there are several days of drill practice before hand because everything has to be just right. I think the emotions will be very different to November because this event is both an act of remembrance and a time to celebrate.” 

The parade is part of several days of commemorative events taking place in London, which also include the VE Day flypast of historic and modern military aircraft on 5th May and a service of thanksgiving at Westminster Abbey on 8th May. Street parties are also being held in towns and cities across the UK, to reflect the public celebrations that took place in 1945.

Meanwhile on 9th May in Guernsey, Chief Executive Officer Mark Mapp will attend the Liberation Day church service at the Town Church, St Peter Port, before which the Head of Operations Dean de la Mare will carry the Ambulance and Rescue service standard at the Liberation Day parade and inspection on the quay.

The two Ambulance and Rescue cycle paramedics will provide a skilled first response to medical emergencies around the quay and piers in St Peter Port where large crowds are expected on 9th May.

The cycle resonders will have the ability to negotiate crowds and deliver urgent treatment and life-saving interventions in areas which may not be immediately accessible to other ambulance vehicles.

The bikes which belong to the St John Guernsey charity Cycle Response Unit, have upgraded frames, strengthened wheels and specially designed panniers, to cope with the additional loads associated with carrying essential medical equipment. The equipment is a slimmed down version of the kits carried in double crewed ambulances.

Although the Cycle Response Unit with volunteer first aiders has been present at some Liberation Day events in previous years, it is the first time since 2015 that paramedics have used bikes to get to incidents in St Peter Port.


Head of Operations Dean De La Mare said:

 “The cycle paramedics will enhance our resilience and give us greater flexibility as part of the overall medical cover for Liberation Day. With large crowds expected and restricted vehicle movements, the bikes will allow us to deliver enhanced care quickly in the event of a medical emergency. While we hope everyone has a safe and enjoyable day, we do need to be prepared for the possibility of someone becoming unwell or getting injured, so the cycle paramedics will be an important addition to our event plans.”

The St John Guernsey charity will also have volunteer teams on duty around town to provide first aid for minor injuries and support for other medical incidents.  In addition to the cycle paramedics, an Ambulance and Rescue Operational Commander will be stationed in St Peter Port, to oversee and coordinate incidents.

The Ambulance and Rescue Service  is also increasing the total number of ambulance crews on duty on 9th May to enhance island wide resilience and preparedness. The ambulance service will have emergency vehicles stationed at standby points around the island to counter any possible congestion around St Peter Port.

Mr De La Mare added: “Although a lot of the focus will be on St Peter Port it is important that we continue to maintain cover for the rest of the island, with the ability to respond to the types of urgent and emergency cases that occur on a daily basis.”

Ambulance crews have taken part in a multi-agency major incident exercise at Guernsey harbour.

The scenario which involved a car fire in the ferry compound with reports of multiple casualties, was designed to test the response of the emergency services, contingency plans and resilience.

Commanders followed the principles of joint working by co-locating, communicating effectively, co-ordinating priorities and resources, sharing a joint understanding of risk and situational awareness.

John Atkins, Head of Resilience and Education said: “Exercises such as this enable us to test and validate our emergency plans, and give both our commanders and clinicians valuable practice at performing their duties in a major incident scenario.  The exercise went very well, with all key learning objectives met for SJARS.  Our new triage system worked well and our commanders were able to employ the latest joint emergency services interoperability principles very effectively – working collaboratively with colleagues from the Police, Fire & Rescue Service, Civil Protection and Guernsey Ports.”   

Ambulance crews have to be prepared for a wide range of situations, so our teams regularly train with colleagues from the other emergency services and undertaken a combination of classroom based and practical scenario based major incident training to test resilience and response plans. 

A Paramedic Officer from Guernsey has been gaining valuable experience on a placement with specialist paramedics at the UK’s busiest ambulance service.

Ross Senior spent four days shadowing a range of different clinical and leadership roles within London Ambulance Service (LAS).

Ross spent time with the London’s Air Ambulance (LAA) Advanced Trauma Team, considered to be one of the most advanced major trauma team in the pre-hospital environment, anywhere in the world, providing hospital-level lifesaving surgery and full anaesthetic procedures at the road side. He also shadowed an advanced paramedic in critical care, giving him the chance to observe the clinical interventions and clinical leadership skills of a senior paramedic response for treating London’s sickest patients.

On one shift Ross was deployed to a significant fire at the prestigious Chiltern Firehouse Hotel, which involved twenty fire appliances and one hundred and twenty firefighters. On that occasion he was working with one of the capitals eight Incident Response Officers, who are dispatched to complex incidents to oversee the ambulance response, manage the scene and co-ordinate with other agencies.

Ross said: “I am incredibly grateful for my time with London Ambulance Service and London’s Air Ambulance, I have gained a valuable insight to their services. The objective was to identify what I could learn to bring back to the ambulance service in Guernsey from both a clinical care and a service delivery perspective. I also had the opportunity to consolidate and develop my operational commander skills. This opportunity has helped me personally and also identify potential areas of improvement for our own service.”

Ross also spent some time in the emergency operations centre (EOC) which takes London’s 999 calls, and dispatches specialist resources. London Ambulance Service deploys between 400 and 450 ambulances at peak times each day. Serving a population of 9 million, it is the busiest ambulance trust in the UK, responding to more than 6,000 calls on a busy day, meaning that the Service responds to almost as many calls in a day as Guernsey’s ambulance service does in a year.

Chris Doyle, Incident Response Officer at London Ambulance Service and Flight Paramedic at London’s Air Ambulance, said:

“Having recently worked closely with Ross and his colleagues on Guernsey, it was a pleasure to host Ross here in London.

“Working with various departments within London Ambulance Service and London’s Air Ambulance, we brought together an observation programme that reflected the delivery of critical care and complex incident management within the capital. I’m glad that the time Ross spent here in London was useful and that we continue to work in partnership to improve patient care in both organisations.”

Ogier partner Martyn Baudains, who is a member of the firm’s local CSR Committee, said: “The Flying Christine is a vital resource, delivering pre-hospital paramedic care and emergency transport for patients across the islands. In hearing of the charity’s appeal, our local CSR Committee was keen to contribute. We hope that Guernsey’s community will rally together to help Ambulance and Rescue raise the necessary funds for the refurbishment of the Flying Christine III.”

The donation from Ogier means the appeal, which was launched two weeks ago, has already reached £10,000 - half of its £20,000 target.

Ambulance and Rescue Chief Executive Officer Mark Mapp said: “The Flying Christine III relies on charitable donations to continue its lifesaving work across the Bailiwick of Guernsey. Thanks to the generosity of individuals, businesses, and organisations, we can keep the marine ambulance operational and keep our volunteer crew safe —even in the most challenging weather conditions—ensuring paramedic care reaches all corners of the Bailiwick. We would like to express our sincere gratitude to Ogier for their support, which moves us closer to our target and which will help us ensure the refurbishment can be completed.”

He added: “We have received a number of donations ranging from small amounts to some of larger value. Every single donation makes a difference and is hugely appreciated. Without these funds, we simply wouldn’t be able to safely deliver the high standard of care that our communities rely on.”

Work on the Flying Christine III is already underway at the Diverse Marine boatyard in the Isle of Wight. The current project, which is the second phase of the 30-year refit, includes upgrading navigation and communication equipment, updating the clinical treatment area to bring it in line with modern infection control standards and improve reliability.

The purpose-built marine ambulance is due to return to service in Bailiwick waters in the spring, providing prehospital paramedic care for the islands.

While the Flying Christine is out of the water for maintenance relief vessels will be used to maintain cover for the other islands, under existing and well-rehearsed contingency plans.

Donate Now

Policies

Get Involved

Contact Us

Social

Subscribe

Useful Links

St John International
AACE
St John Charity
TASC
States of Guernsey