Visionary Youth Engagement
I joined the Liverpool ambulance service in September 1972. This was after a difficult childhood in which my mum died young which led me to run away to sea at the age of 15. That did not work out and I came home; I was alone, frightened and depressed with no real prospects. When I was accepted as an ambulance cadet I quickly realised that I did not just have a job, I had a true purpose in life, goals to aim for and I felt I was part of a caring family
Steve Clarke
The Chief Ambulance Officer Albert Guinney introduced the first ambulance cadet scheme in 1964, as a result of a challenge by local M.P. Bessie Braddock who asked him what he was doing to assist the school leavers of Liverpool.
What begin in 1964 was truly a visionary youth engagement programme.
The first squad of cadets (A) began in the January of 1964 and the last squad (the second B squad) passed out September 1993. Over this length of time the cadet scheme was embraced by three ambulance services; the City of Liverpool, Mersey Metropolitan Ambulance Service and Mersey Regional Ambulance Service.
Over three hundred young men and women have donned either the purple or green cadet epaulette and hat band. Some have gone on to be senior officers in ambulance services around the country and indeed world, some have stayed “on the road” being part of the ambulance crew but all were taught well to deliver care with pride.
Open all Close all
Cadet of the Year
1966 – Keith Goodall
1967 – Phil Scott
1968 – Phil Jones
1969 – All of G squad
1970 – Dave Kenyon
1971 – Jack Reppion
1972 – Bob Jameson
1975 – Alan Kennedy
1976 – John Jennings
1979 – Ray Lunt
1981 – Stuart Ryall
1983 – Kieran Byrne
1985 – Eddie Melia
1988 – Martin Hepke
1989 – Gavin Bryce
1990 – Belinda Jones
1993 – Colin Whiley
1967 – Phil Scott
1968 – Phil Jones
1969 – All of G squad
1970 – Dave Kenyon
1971 – Jack Reppion
1972 – Bob Jameson
1975 – Alan Kennedy
1976 – John Jennings
1979 – Ray Lunt
1981 – Stuart Ryall
1983 – Kieran Byrne
1985 – Eddie Melia
1988 – Martin Hepke
1989 – Gavin Bryce
1990 – Belinda Jones
1993 – Colin Whiley