Like many people across the nation, staff from West Midlands Ambulance Service bowed their heads at 11:55am on Monday morning to remember Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

For four though, it was a particularly special day as they represented the NHS ambulance services taking part in the parade ahead of Her Majesty’s coffin as it was taken from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Gate as part of the Civilian Services Contingent.
 
Jo Withington, Nikki Albutt, Mark Hayes and Sandwell paramedic, Adam Aston are all members of the Trust’s Ceremonial Unit and spent five days in London in preparation practicing their ceremonial drill in the middle of the night before taking their place as part of the State Funeral.
 
In addition to those in the parade, Operations Manager Angela Hand and Tactical Incident Commander Tim Atherton were part of the large contingent of ambulance staff from across the country assisting London Ambulance Service given the millions of people who were in the capital for the funeral.
 
Earlier in the week, two members of the Hazardous Area Response Team, Ben Pallante and Anthony Kelham also went to London as part of the mutual aid being provided to the capital’s ambulance service. 

Speaking about his time in the parade, Adam, said: “It has been an incredible honour to represent the entire NHS Ambulance workforce as part of the at the State funeral.”