Ambulance man is a driving force

WELL deserved . . . Andy shows off his award

SHEER dedication earned a Hathershaw man one of the top accolades available from first aid charity St John.

Andy Boyle, of Estate Street, stumbled upon the cause as he gave chase to a girl as a teenager.

His would-be romance fell by the wayside, but in the process he discovered a passion which was to swallow up many of his leisure hours over the next 16 years.

Andy (32) has been bestowed with the prestigious serving brother award for exceptional service to the community.

Each investiture of serving brother into the Order of St John is approved by the Queen, and he travelled to London’s historic Grand Priory Church where he was presented with the order’s insignia by the Prior of the Priory of England.

Andy, who went on to meet his long-term partner Katy through St John, notched up an incredible 1,000 hours a year of voluntary service to the charity between 2004 and 2009.

He joined the Oldham division of the order when he was only 16.

“When I came home after that first night I knew I would be there for a long time,” he said.
“I took to it like a duck to water, it was as if something had woken inside me.”

Andy became known for his driving force, and he has been involved in many campaigns over the years.

He was officer in charge of a joint scheme with police which was set up in Oldham town centre five years ago to treat injured pub and club goers on Friday and Saturday nights.

He was part of the Oldham carnival committee which heralded the return of the carnival in 2006, and a senior figure for St John in the Great Manchester Run.

He said: “I first went to a St John meeting thinking ‘if I don’t like it, what have I lost, just one evening,’ but I have enjoyed it immensely.”

Andy now works full-time for St John as an ambulance crew member.