In times of crisis, Paul Fermor from Deal will drop everything to help support emergency service workers.

His work as a senior chaplain for South East Coast ambulance service has seen him attend de-briefs for serious road accidents, suicides and children's deaths.

Now after over two decades of supporting staff and his fellow volunteers who have witnessed these traumatic incidents, the 66-year-old has been awarded a 20 years' voluntary long service award.

He was presented a glass shield at a formal dinner, prior to the coronavirus lockdown, at The Orangery in Maidstone, accompanied by his wife of 45 years, Margaret.

He said: "It's a privilege to volunteer for SECamb.

"Ambulance staff are professional and very resilient but they are still human and like all of us, they have a 'breaking-point'.

"Chaplaincy is one of the support groups available to them to off-load and we provide confidential help by being a friend and offering a listening ear - even if it's just a quick chat and a cup of tea.

'Ambulance staff are professional and very resilient but they are still human and like all of us, they have a 'breaking-point''

"We're there to say 'are you okay?' The staff do appreciate that we're there and I've built up some really good relationships."

Soon after moving to Deal in 1999, Rev Fermor was approached to see if he wanted to get involved in what was a new initiative serving as a non-denominational chaplain for the then Kent Ambulance Service.

He gladly joined what was a very new concept but says the position soon became an integral part of the service.

He continues to manage the role across the Thanet Operating Unit in addition to serving his local community as pastor of Deal Pentecostal Church in Mill Hill, Deal.

The grandfather of six said: "It works well. My work schedule is very flexible. I can drop everything and go to support staff after an emergency."

The father of four and grandfather of six dedicates half a day every week to SECamb and joins a crew on a shift typically once a month.

When responding to incidents, he is an extra pair of hands, sometimes comforting children and taking them away from upsetting scenes.

He said: "I think it's important that I go out on shifts. It gives me an insight into what crews face so that I have some empathy with them.

"In the early Kent days we didn't wear a uniforms. Now we're very embedded and part of the trust's psyche. We feel part of the team."

He also serves as part of the trust's 24 hour on-call chaplain support.

SECAmb is the only ambulance trust to have a structured chaplaincy, with a chaplain dedicated to each station.

Rev Fermor is one of two senior chaplains alongside Francis Pole, who is based at Crawley, three assistant senior chaplains and 21 others.

During the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, he is unable to visit the station or go out with the crews but is still in contact with teams to provide support via telephone and email.

Read more: All the latest news from Deal