A PARAMEDIC who has served the local community in Trowbridge for more than 30 years has retired.

Steve Brown joined the ambulance service in February 1988, and completed his final shift on Thursday 12 December.

Colleagues at South Western Ambulance Service NHS Foundation Trust SWASFT gathered at Trowbridge Station at 12pm to say goodbye and wish him a happy retirement.

Senior staff praised his compassion and care for patients over the past 31 years and 10 months.

Jane Whichello, Deputy County Commander, thanked Steve for his dedicated and hardworking service, and presented him with retirement gifts.

Michael Anning, Operations Officer, said: “Steve known as ‘Browner’ among his colleagues has been involved in many high profile incidents during his career.

"He has delivered caring interventions to many patients over the 31 years and 10 months of service, and has delivered this with empathy and compassionate.

"His retirement marks a huge loss to the ambulance service.”

Justin Williams, Operations Officer, said: “Education is important, but Steve’s care, compassion, kindness and humour cannot be learned from a book.”

SWASFT has responsibility for the provision of ambulance services across an area of 10,000 square miles which is 20 per cent of mainland England.

They have 94 ambulance stations, three clinical control rooms, six air ambulance bases and two Hazardous Area Response Teams across the trust's large catchment area. Please visit www.swast.nhs.uk for more info.