Ambulance family to end service

Terry and Tony Payne follwed their late father Jack into the ambulance service

A family's 100-year association with the ambulance service will end when a paramedic supervisor follows his late father and brother into retirement.

Tony Payne, his father Jack and elder brother Terry from Bargoed, south Wales have now chalked up 103 years between them with the Welsh Ambulance Service.

Tony Payne joined the service in 1972 and reckons he has delivered more than 20 babies including his own son.

He will have been with the service for 37 years when he retires in March.

Tony Payne followed his father into the old Glamorgan County Ambulance Service after working in a bespoke tailor's and decided he "wanted a change".

"I joined up and have been in the ambulance service ever since and I've really enjoyed it although it has changed so much," he said.

I suppose in my time I've just about seen it all but there's always something new to surprise you Tony Payne

"In those days there was no such thing as categorising calls. It was often what we called 'shovel and run' - we'd even do emergencies on our own, going out single-manned, though not very often.

"In those days some of the vehicles didn't even have oxygen on them and now we're doing things like thrombolysis, giving an injection which breaks up the clots which cause heart attacks.

"You have much greater skills these days and that gives you more confidence to deal with patients."

Mr Payne and his brother Terry trained together as paramedics and qualified in 1991. They have both always been stationed at Bargoed and have often worked together.

"We even look alike, like twins really, so if I made a mistake I could always blame him," joked Tony Payne.

"We both live here as well. I used to be really close to the ambulance station and even now it's only a mile away so I can walk to work.

"My brother lives quite close too and often if there's something wrong people will knock on our doors - there's one guy says he'd rather come to see me than go to the doctor.

Jack Payne worked for the ambulance service for more than 30 years

"I suppose in my time I've just about seen it all, but there's always something new to surprise you and I've loved the job - which is why I've stayed in it."

Mr Payne even helped out with the birth of his son Richard, when the hospital where his wife was staying became short-staffed.

His brother, Terry Payne said he has lost count of the number of babies he has delivered, including one born in a supermarket car park.

He and his wife, Ann, have three children and two grandchildren which take up most of his time now, along with the garden.

Tony Payne said he is looking forward to joining his brother in retirement and to making more regular appearances in the quiz team at The Capel, his local pub.