Bristol Zoo’s first aider is a real diamond - 31/05/12
Bristol Zoo’s on-site first aider, Ted Willman has been awarded a Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Medal to thank him for his voluntary service.
Ted, who is 82 and has come to the aid of thousands of people in his 60 years as a first-aider, was presented with the medal at Bristol Zoo Gardens by representatives from the Great Western Ambulance Service.
Kim Morrissey, Community Response Manager for the Great Western Ambulance Service NHS Trust, said she wanted to display the Trusts’ appreciation to Ted.
She said: “Ted provides vital, lifesaving treatment at the Zoo in the event of an emergency, whilst ambulance resources are on route. He is regarded as a particularly valued member of the Trust team and his award is well deserved!”
Ted has been the onsite first aider at Bristol Zoo for 12 years, and has served as an unpaid volunteer with the Great Western Ambulance Service for six years.
Dr Bryan Carroll, director at Bristol Zoo said: “Ted is a real asset to the Zoo and we are all truly grateful for his dedicated voluntary service, I would like to congratulate Ted on his well-deserved medal.”
Ted said: “The award came as quite a shock, but it was a nice surprise! I am greatly honoured to receive it.” He added: “My favourite part of the job is getting out on the road in the Ambulance, it’s really exciting!”
Ted has already received an award from HM The Queen, back in the 1980’s he received a British Empire Medal for his service with the Port Ambulance.
Bristol Zoo Gardens is a conservation and education charity and relies on the support of its visitors, as well as it’s many volunteers like Ted, to fund its animal conservation work in the zoo and with endangered species around the world.
To find out more about Bristol Zoo Gardens visit www.bristolzoo.org.uk or phone 0117 974 7300.
ENDS
Notes to the Editor:
Bristol Zoo Gardens
- Bristol Zoo is open from 9am every day except Christmas Day.
- Bristol Zoo Gardens is a conservation and education charity and relies on income from visitors and supporters to continue its important work.
- Bristol Zoo is involved with more than 100 co-ordinated breeding programmes for threatened wildlife species.
- Itemploys over 150 full and part-time staff to care for the animals and run a successful visitor attraction to support its conservation and education work.
- Bristol Zoo supports – through finance and skill sharing - 15 projects in the UK and abroad that conserveand protectsome of the world’s most endangered species.
- In 2011 Bristol Zoo celebrated its 175thbirthday. Over that past 175 years, the Zoo has brought six generations of Bristolians closer to wildlife, helped save over 175 species from extinction, established over 30 field conservation and research programmes all over the world, showed 40 millionschool-aged children the wonder of nature and given more than 90 million visitors a wonderful day out.
- In 2010 Bristol Zoo Gardens set up a Conservation Fund to raise vital funds to help care for threatened animals and plants – both in the Zoo and through the conservation work we do in the UK and around the world.
- Bristol Zoo Gardens is a member of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums. BIAZA represents more than 90 member collections and promotes the values of good zoos and aquariums.
