We are delighted and proud to announce that a very valued friend and great supporter of the Bolton MRT, Derek Cartwright, NWAS Director of Operations, has been awarded the Queen’s Ambulance Service Medal in this year’s New Year’s Honours List.
Derek has worked for the North West Ambulance Service (and its predecessor Greater Manchester Ambulance Service) for almost 30 years and is one of five recipients of the medal, which is awarded to members of the NHS ambulance service who have demonstrated exemplary, distinguished and meritorious service.
Derek’s extensive ambulance career started in 1986, working on the patient transport service for two years before progressing into the emergency service. (Prior to this as a youth, he was a First Aider at Horwich Loco Works in previous employment)
He continued to develop and rise through the ranks, taking on various training and management roles before being appointed onto the former Greater Manchester Ambulance Service Board in 2003.
Following the merger in 2006, Derek was appointed to the post of Area Director for NWAS Cumbria & Lancashire area, and subsequently became the Director of Emergency Services for NWAS in 2009.
Derek was appointed as NWAS Director of Operations in March 2014 after acting to this role since 2012.
Derek first came in to contact with the Bolton MRT on an incident many years ago involving an injured off road motorcyclist in the Plank Lane area of Leigh.
Right from his first meeting with us he became a great supporter of this team and the way we can assist the Ambulance Service with our specialist skills.
As Derek reached higher management levels, in turn he became a great advocate and enthusiastic supporter of MRTs operating in Greater Manchester and then as his remit broadened, in Lancashire and wider afield.
Throughout all the time we have been privileged to benefit from Derek’s support, our friendship has increased as has Derek’s appreciation and knowledge of how we can support NWAS.
He regularly keeps in contact with the team, both officially and on occasions when he meets team members who are fellow Bolton Wanderers Football Club fans at local matches.
All in Bolton Mountain Rescue Team, past and present, who know of Derek, pass on our congratulations to him on this very special New Years Honour.
