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1952 and was concluded in 1953. From then on, all members of the regular service began to
receive advanced civil defence training and new entrants were given basic training on entry.
In 1956 the Civil Defence Training School was expanded to take in peace-time training
and a three-week course was given—one week being devoted to Civil Defence and the other
two to first aid and ambulance duties. From April to December 1956 there were seven such
courses, attended by 79 men.
In October 1962 the procedure was again revised to provide a more comprehensive
scheme. The syllabus in the Training School was expanded to four weeks and in addition
new entrants are now sent to a Training Station for a minimum of four weeks, where they
are paired up and allocated to an Instructor who accompanies them on all calls. Initially
the instructor does most of the work at a call but gradually, as trainees become more
competent, he remains in the background ready to advise if necessary. The Training Station
has three accident ambulances manned by 16 driver/attendants. The most recent development
in the training field was the agreement by the Health Committee that the Oval
station, when rebuilt, would become the new Training Station and with 10 general
ambulances in addition to three accident ambulances. The number of trainees at any one
time will thus be greater and wider training and experience will be possible. At the time of
writing the new station has not become operational.
Staff awards—It is gratifying to record various awards which have been made to members
of the Service. Details of the more important ones are given below:
B.E.M.—Driver F. W. Summerfield.
Council's Silver Medal Driver H. Legon (first time ever awarded).
1956 M.B.E.—Superintendent Ridgwell.
1958 Council's Silver Medal—Driver P. Poole.
1961 Council's Silver Medal—Driver E. Shoults.
1962 Council's Silver Medal—Driver A. W. Drury.
1964 Queens Commendation for Bravery—Drivers A. C. Jewby and B. T. Eagle.
In addition, the Resuscitation Certificate of the Royal Humane Society has been awarded
to one station officer and thirty-three drivers.
Competitions—The National Association of Ambulance Officers has for many years
organised Regional Ambulance Efficiency Competitions. London is situated in No. 5
Region covering the Home Counties. In this competition the London Ambulance Service
won the Wadham Trophy in 1954 and the Lomas Shield (for the runners up) in 1963.
Until 1964, staff were invited to form teams to compete in an eliminating round to decide
on the representative team for the Service; in 1964 a fully fledged inter-station competition
was introduced for this purpose—the Brook Ambulance Station being awarded the
Richardson Cup (presented by the then Officer-in-Charge, Mr. F. A. Richardson).
An international competition organised by the Casualties Union was started in 1961
and teams from various N.A.T.O. countries were invited to take part. The competition was
in two parts, a first aid test and a diagnosis test and two cups were awarded, the Buxton
International Trophy and the Dawson Cup. The Council received a request to enter a team
to represent the United Kingdom and despite short notice the team was successful in
winning both cups. The team retained the Buxton Trophy in 1962 but was placed third
in 1963. The Casualties Union also stages a National Competition for first aid and
diagnosis and in 1964 it was decided that only the winning team in the National Competition
should be eligible to enter the International one.
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