The Eden area lost a woman who gave often life-saving assistance to numerous local people and visitors during a 30-year career with the death of Christine Margaret Duval, from Penrith, aged 74.
As the first qualified paramedic in East Cumbria and the first woman paramedic in the county, Christine was one of those who led the way in a change which resulted in major improvements to the treatment of patients.
Born into a well known Penrith family, Christine was one of the three children of the late Herbert John Moor and Catherine Madge Moor. She had an older sister, Alison, and a younger one, Lindsey.
The family left Penrith when Christine was still in her early infancy because her father’s job with the Ministry of National Insurance required a move to Hillingdon, Middlesex.
She grew up and received her education at Hillingdon and went on to become an auxiliary nurse in that area. While living at Hillingdon she also met and married Nick Duval. The couple went on to have three children, Nina, Nicky and Paul.
It was in 1980 that Christine and her three children moved back to Cumbria, initially living with her parents at Scotby.
She joined what was then the Cumbria Ambulance Service, at first just providing patient transport. A few years later the family moved to Lowther.
Christine qualified as an ambulance woman in 1981 and later, in 1988, as a paramedic. This made her one of the pioneers in a service development which saw staff in ambulances give treatment and medication to heart attack victims and others with life-threatening conditions.
Before this they had only been allowed to administer basic first aid before rushing patients to hospital, often resulting in significant delays in a rural area like Cumbria.
Christine was also involved with the Eden Valley Practitioners Group, which raised money for vital emergency equipment.
She became team leader of the ambulance staff based at Penrith, which saw her deliver training to colleagues and act as a mentor to many. Although of small stature she had a big personality and was known for her calm nature.
Having moved to Pooley Bridge in 1990, Christine made another move, this time to Penrith, in 2008 and retired from her job in 2010. She subsequently spent much of her time gardening and being with her grandchildren.
She is survived by her children Nina Robinson, of Cliburn, Nicky Davis, of Penrith, and Paul Duval, of Helston, in Cornwall; and sister Lindsey. She had six grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
In her later years Christine suffered from Alzheimer’s disease and her family plans to raise money over the coming months to help fight this condition.
Anybody wishing to make a donation to go to the Alzheimer’s Society can do so through Richardson’s Funeral Directors, Penrith, who have charge of the arrangements.
The service was held on Thursday, January 12, at the Eden Valley Crematorium, Temple Sowerby, followed by a celebration of her life at the Pooley Bridge Inn, in the village where she was most happy.
