Reg Blanchford’s achievements were celebrated at the station yesterday – coinciding with St John’s Day – by dozens of Ambulance & Rescue staff, some of Mr Blanchford’s family members, including his son Gary, who nominated him for the recognition, and distinguished guests, including Bailiff Sir Richard McMahon and Lt-Governor Sir Richard Cripwell, patron of the Ambulance Service.
In addition to the blue plaque, the ambulance station has been renamed Blanchford House, while an information board detailing some of Mr Blanchford’s work has also been erected beneath the plaque.
Born in 1915, Mr Blanchford first joined the St John Brigade aged 19, with the organisation only having a part-time ambulance driver at the time.
Not long afterwards, he suffered a serious motorcycle crash in which he sustained life-threatening injuries, and had to rely on a passing car to rush him to hospital.
It was this experience that inspired him to buy a second-hand ambulance and establish the St John Transport Division in 1936.
The service operated out of his father’s yard on the Rohais, and the same site is still used today by the current Ambulance & Rescue.
Mr Blanchford led the service through the Occupation and, following the war, developed the road ambulance service and the cliff rescue service.
In 1952, the service launched the world’s first marine ambulance, the Flying Christine.
Mr Blanchford also introduced the first ambulance radio telecommunications system in the UK, as well as an inshore rescue boat service, a decompression chamber and a pioneering radar system.
He was the subject of an episode of television show ‘This Is Your Life’ in 1959, which looked at his career up to that point.
His work eventually led to him receiving an MBE and OBE, among many other accolades. He retired in 1976, and died in 2002.
Ambulance & Rescue CEO Mark Mapp said Mr Blanchford’s vision to create an ambulance and rescue service that met the needs of the Bailiwick deserved ‘enduring’ recognition.
‘Although I never met Reg personally, his examples have guided my own career, and I have learned about his courage, resolve, and generosity that founded this service,’ he said.
‘I’m certain Reg would be immensely proud of what we continue to achieve.’
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