Meet some of the team

Our responders are all highly trained local people who volunteer their time for the benefit of the community. None of us are superman (or woman) and you could learn how to do this too - got a few hours a month to spare ? send us a mail from the homepage.

Mike Weston

Community First Responder

Joined VFR April 2005

Heartstart Trainer

Mike has worked with VFR from the outset in 2005. In six years he attended countless calls to local residents and accumulated significant experience of emergency life support.  He shares that experience at Heartstart courses where he is one of the fully qualified training team.

Gill Clark

Community First Responder

Joined VFR April 2005

Trustee , Training Officer & Trainer

Gill spent her working life in cardiac care and is a Trustee and the VFR Training Officer.  Leading from the front she has a regular day on the rota and takes up additional shifts to ensure maximum coverage throughout the Vale.  Gill is also a fully qualified Heartstart Trainer.

Volunteers come from all backgrounds and you do not need any medical or even emergency life support training before joining VFR.

We are always looking for new responders to strengthen the team and increase the service across The Vale.  

East Midland Ambulance Service are very supportive of VFR, and as a qualified Responder you will have the opportunity to ride with a Paramedic or an Ambulance crew on a full shift to gain additional valuable experience.

Sam Gibson

Community First Responder

Joined VFR October 2010

Trustee & member of Heartstart Support Team

Sam has been on the team for more than a year and recently became a Trustee.  Working on the rota around her commitments to family life, Sam was previously an attendee on a Heartstart course, and she is now helping to deliver the courses and pass on her well practised skills.

Rod Whitehead

Community First Responder

Joined VFR September 2005

Trustee , Chairman & Trainer

Rod joined VFR when it was a few months old and became Chairman and the link between the group and EMAS in 2006.  Regularly on call, Rod is also a very experienced Responder and sees the future focus on building the team.  As a fully qualified Heartstart Trainer, he is involved across the full spectrum of VFR’s activities.

Brian Watts

Community First Responder

Joined VFR June 2008

Trustee, Equipment Officer & Trainer

Brian decided to find out more about VFR after seeing one of the team  doing CPR at the roadside on a cardiac arrest victim. Quickly deciding he could help make a difference, Brian has been on the team for three years and is now a Trustee,  regularly on call and fully qualified member of the Heartstart training team.