Carl Ledbury, a retired paramedic from Oldbury, has played a prominent role in a national remembrance service to honour colleagues who have died while on duty and in service.

Senior representatives of ambulance services from around the country attended the memorial event, which took place at the National Memorial Arboretum in Alrewas, Staffordshire.

The Act of Remembrance, held every two years, honours the memory of all those who served and died while working for the ambulance services of England, Scotland, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Republic of Ireland, Guernsey and Jersey.

The memorial, organised by TASC, The Ambulance Services Charity, was attended by around 160 people including representatives of ambulance services, retirement associations, the Independent Ambulance Association, charities, Unison, and relatives of deceased ambulance personnel on the Roll of Honour.

Mr Ledbury read World War One poem, 'The Fallen', which includes the immortal line We Will Remember Them, during the main memorial service held alongside the Ambulance Memorial in the Ambulance Services Garden of Remembrance. The former Paramedic, who retired from West Midlands Ambulance Service in 2012 after a 36-year career, said:

“It was an excellent event, remembering ambulance personnel who have fallen in the line of duty and in service, and I was honoured to be a speaker.

“It is a special tribute for the family of loved ones who have died whilst in service.”

Mr Ledbury, who remains a part-time member of the WMAS ceremonial unit which helps to organise service funerals, had previously taken part in the procession leading from the Arboretum’s Chapel of Peace to the Garden of Remembrance.