Dedicated to care

It was our largest funeral at St James for many years as today we hosted a 'full service funeral' for Brian Hayes of the London Ambulance Service, a former pupil of Bacon's College,  a Bermondsey boy, a beloved husband, son, and father.

Whilst the Air Ambulance hovered overhead in salute (right), as ambulance personnel formed a guard of honour in the churchyard, the cortege arrived, accompanied by Ambulance motorcycles and bikes, the bugler played, and a large congregation of family, friends, and colleagues gathered in the church for a service, to give thanks for the life of a remarkable man, which included a eulogy by the head of the London Ambulance Service, Dr Fionna Moore.

As an Ambulanceman, a parademedic, and one of the pioneers of the LAS 'Booze Bus' which ministered to London revellers who had been partying a bit too much, Brian was an exemplar of the service, depended on by all Londoners, whose motto is 'dedicated to care.'

We get used to the fact that we just dial 999 and they are there.

How dependant we are on our emergency services, and how good it is - even if in such very sad circumstances - for the whole community to express our gratitude, to these very reliable, very caring, men and women who serve us.

Our thoughts and prayers are especially with his wife, his parents, his siblings and his children in their great loss.

We were honoured to be able to host today's service at St James's.