Chester’s Bob Ward honoured at North West Ambulance Service award ceremony

May 5 2011 Chester Chronicle

THE great and the good at the North West Ambulance Service were honoured at the trust’s award ceremony and Chester resident Bob Ward was one of the lucky winners.

The ceremony took place at Ribby Hall Village in Lancashire when lmost 200 staff members from the North West Ambulance Service attended the event which was hosted by BBC Radio presenter Becky Want.

This was the first regional event which focused on peer nominated awards and special commendations, as well as recognising the contributions made by volunteer and partner agencies.

Bob Ward from Chester won the title of Volunteer of the Year for his contribution to the voluntary car service that supports the ambulance service in taking patients to and from hospital appointments.

Not only is Bob a dedicated volunteer car driver for North West Ambulance Service, he is also a fundraiser for the Countess of Chester Hospital for which he has raised in excess of £250,000 so far.

This remarkable achievement has earned Bob an MBE for services to the community and he will be going to Buckingham Palace to receive the honour later this year.

Chief executive at NWAS, Darren Hurrell said: “The evening was a great success and I was delighted to meet staff from throughout the North West.

“The number of staff recognised for long service was remarkable and displays the levels of dedication our staff have to the patients and communities they serve.

“Some of the actions of we heard about are truly heroic and heart-warming and it really is an honour to be leading an organisation which has so many dedicated and hard-working individuals.”