A Penrith paramedic will represent the UK’s ambulance service this Remembrance Sunday at the Cenotaph in London.
Dominic Gething, a senior paramedic team leader, will be part of the civilian service contingent at the memorial on November 8th.
The contingent is usually made up of nominated representatives from all the UK’s ambulance services, police forces, fire and rescues services, St John Ambulance, British Red Cross, probation services, and Women’s Royal Voluntarily Service.
However, due to COVID-19 restrictions, the numbers allowed to attend have been reduced, meaning Dominic will be the sole representative for not only the North West but the whole UK.
He will form part of a guard of honour around the Cenotaph on Whitehall, where The Queen and Prime Minister Boris Johnson will lay wreaths just before 11am prior to the national two minute silence.
He was nominated by one of his colleagues and as restrictions got tighter was whittled to down to be the only representative of the ambulance services across the UK.
Dominic said: “It’s an amazing honour and an opportunity of lifetime.
“I don’t feel I’ve done anything special, just incredibly lucky to be in the right place at the right time I guess.”
Dominic, a former marine, has been a member of ambulance service for 14 years.
He also has a been an army reservist for 10 years as member of the 201 Field Hospital unit in Newcastle.
Dominic added: “I was in the marines before joining the ambulance service, my dad was in the army and my brother is a member of the police, so I feel and incredible sense of duty to give respects to all those who paid the ultimate sacrifice in battle for our freedoms.
“But I also feel the weight of representing all my colleagues throughout the country.
“I’ve lost friends to mental health issues and I’m well aware of all the little unseen sacrifices we give every day in our roles, and I will also be honouring that on Sunday.”
