Ambulance service memories sought to mark 90 years

Caroline RobinsonChannel Islands
News imageAmbulance and Rescue Guernsey A white ambulance van with a red strip along it. It is an old picture. It is parked in front of a white building. Ambulance and Rescue Guernsey
Memories of the Ambulance and Rescue Guernsey are being collected for the 90th anniversary

Former members of an ambulance service have been invited to share their stories and experiences as part of a project celebrating its 90th anniversary.

Ambulance and Rescue Guernsey will work with Guernsey Museums as part of the Island Memories Project, which was originally launched in conjunction with BBC Guernsey to mark the 80th anniversary of liberation in 2025.

It recorded islanders' accounts of life during World War Two to become part of a digital archive that future generations could listen to and learn from.

In the next phase it will record memories from former and current staff, volunteers, associates, and recipients of the island's ambulance service.

Guernsey Museums will also be hosting a photography exhibition in Candie Gardens in 2026 to mark the anniversary.

Kit Hughes, assistant museums curator, said: "Guernsey Museums has been blown away by the public engagement and support for The Island Memories Project and we'd like to say a huge thank you to all who have taken part so far.

"As we move into the second year of the project, we are delighted to partner with Guernsey's Ambulance Service to commemorate their 90th anniversary by recording and preserving their story through the people that lived it."

'Capture their memories'

Dean de la Mare, head of operations at the service, said: "We're excited to be working in partnership with Guernsey Museums to celebrate our 90th anniversary next year.

"We are really keen to hear from people with memories of those early years, people who may have stories of cliff rescues, the diving team or the recompression chamber."

He added: "We have already reached out to some of our retired staff through the St John Fellowship, however we know there are lots of other people who have worked or volunteered for the service over the years – and we'd like to capture their memories too."

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