Paramedic retires after 46 years of service

One of the very first paramedics in Leicestershire has retired after 46 years saving lives on the frontline.

65 year old Vince Lowe joined the ambulance service when he was just 19 years old, and became one of the first 15 paramedics in the county.

Vince joined Leicester City Ambulance Service as a trainee ambulanceman on 11 February 1974.

Vince said: “On my first day, I spent just 30 minutes in the lecture room before I was out on the road transporting 999 patients and outpatients.”

In the spring of his first year, Vince completed the ‘Millar course’ where he received training in basic first aid with a few add extended skills to help care for patients on transportation to hospital. 

In later years he further developed his skills to become a paramedic.

In the 46 years that Vince has been part of the ambulance service, he has made his home at many of the stations across Leicestershire, retiring and returning in 2008.

The Ambulance Service says Vince has faced some very tough moments with some very poorly patients, but he cites his greatest moment as was when he single-handedly saved the life of a 13-month-old child.

He said: “I remember on that day that I was on a fast response vehicle on my own and was called to a very poorly child.

“When told that back up was 20 minutes away, I knew I just needed to crack on with the job at hand and help save the little boy’s life.

“You can’t really describe the feeling of what it is like to get someone back in front of your very own eyes. All I know is that it has stuck with me and I won’t forget it.”

Lee Brentnall, Ambulance Operations Manager for Leicestershire said: “I had the pleasure of being Vince’s Operational Support Manager in 2011 when I moved to Loughborough and Coalville Ambulance Stations   

“The first thing that struck me about Vince was his passion and commitment for his profession and his patients.  

“He brought a unique sense of humour to work with him that I’m sure he developed over his many years of service.

“He had a positive impact on so many of his patients lives across Leicestershire, one he should be rightly proud of. 

“It was a pleasure to work alongside such a committed paramedic and I wish him and his family all the best for his retirement.”