A workshop technician and former paramedic who has cared for generations of Londoners has celebrated an incredible milestone – serving the capital for 50 years.
At a touching ceremony held at the Service’s Waterloo HQ, Noel Thomas, 67, who now works as a technician preparing ambulances for shifts, was awarded a long service certificate from Chief Executive Jason Killens.
Noel joined London Ambulance as a cadet in 1976 at 17 years old – a role that predates the current apprenticeship roles at the Service. He completed an intubation and infusion course at Central Middlesex Hospital before training as a paramedic at St Mary’s Hospital in Paddington.
Across half a century, he has worked out of Park Royal, Willesden, Wembley and Brent and witnessed how the UK’s busiest ambulance service has evolved in response to a growing population and technological change.
He said:
“The ambulance service has changed so much since I joined all those years ago.
“Our 999 call handlers receive so many more calls now compared to when I first started in 1976.
“And when we received jobs, we answered the phones at our stations and were given a map reference with the location of the patient. Ambulances did not have sat nav – we had to rely on reading maps.
“Ambulance crews also very much focused on ‘scoop and run’ where your job was to get patients to hospital as quickly as possible. Now much more advanced care is provided on scene.
“When I joined as a teenager, it also felt like a military organisation. As cadets, we had uniform inspections and had to clean our spaces like soldiers do in the army.”
Jason Killens KAM, Chief Executive at London Ambulance Service, said:
“Noel has touched the lives of Londoners for 50 years. He has seen how the Service has adapted to meet the needs of Londoners over the last five decades.
“We are incredibly proud of Noel for reaching this incredible milestone. And he should be very proud of this achievement too.”
Some of Noel’s proudest moments include delivering babies.
Noel added:
“I loved delivering babies. That was always such a special moment and I can remember most of them to this day.
“You’re helping to bring life into the world. It was the best part of my job.”
Just over 30 of Noel’s years at London Ambulance Service were spent alongside his crewmate Christine Money.
Christine, who has now retired, said:
“Noel is a special kind of person. He manages to put everyone at ease which has been a great asset. He has a lot of patience, is very modest and has a great sense of humour.
“Over the years we have laughed a lot and cried many a time as we grew old together.”
Noel added:
“I have been blessed that I have done something I’ve loved so much.
“Being a paramedic does have its challenges, but with a crewmate like Christine you felt like you can achieve anything.”
Noel became a paramedic in the 1990s after London Ambulance Service hosted its first ever paramedic training programme and the huge array of modern paramedicine skills started to develop.
He retired in 2016 and rejoined the Service in 2019 working in the Make Ready team.
The team work around the clock to re-stock, re-fuel, clean and deliver ambulances to stations, ensuring they are in perfect condition for the next shift for ambulance crews.
Noel added:
“It was by coincidence that I came back as I had met someone who worked at the Service and suggested that I return.
“It felt like I was coming home and it’s been great seeing old friends again.”
For more information about career opportunities at London Ambulance Service, visit our careers page on our website.