THE directors of the St John Ambulance and Rescue Service have paid tribute to former chief officer Neil Tucker, who has retired.

They expressed their appreciation for his ‘dedication and long service and wish him well in his retirement’.

Mr Tucker (pictured) was recently embroiled in an unfair dismissal hearing, brought by his PA and secretary to the board, Jean Guilbert. The hearing followed his appointment as the service’s director of finance and administration in May, 2008.

The hearing found in favour of Mrs Guilbert, but the directors state in their announcement of Mr Tucker’s retirement that they did not contest the claim ‘as they did not consider it a wise use of limited resources’.

‘However, the decision not to contest the claim led to allegations being made in public against Mr Tucker which, for contractual reasons, he did not have the opportunity to deny, although he has refuted the accusations.’

The board did not wish to comment on an individual employee, but said that Mr Tucker’s career was a matter of public record.

The board’s full statement is as follows:

“FORMER Chief Ambulance Officer Neil Tucker has retired from the St John Ambulance and Rescue Service after 35 years with the service.

He joined in 1973 as an ambulance practitioner under the service’s founder Reg Blanchford and served in every rank, rising to the post of chief ambulance officer, a position he held for 18 years.

Following his appointment as director of finance and administration in May 2008 his PA and secretary to the Board, Jean Guilbert, made a claim of unfair dismissal at an industrial tribunal. The service’s directors did not contest the claim, as they did not consider it a wise use of limited resources. However, the decision not to contest the claim led to allegations being made in public against Mr Tucker which, for contractual reasons, he did not have the opportunity to deny, although he has refuted the accusations.

While the Board does not wish to comment on individual employees, Mr Tucker’s career is a matter of public record. He is well known for taking part in many difficult and dangerous cliff rescues, as well as for performing rescues on the marine ambulance and inshore rescue boats. He has been commended for his bravery and holds a Meritorious Service award for placing his own life at risk to save others.

Mr Tucker is also well known for teaching first aid to members of the public in Guernsey. A qualified ambulance instructor, he taught at the United World College of the Atlantic in south Wales and, as a senior staff officer in the voluntary section of St John Ambulance, taught many local St John cadets in first aid and the history of the Order of St John. He has been recognised by the Institute of Public Relations for his work as the organisation’s PRO, and received much praise for his devotion to the charity and service to the community. In 1994 he was invested as a serving brother of the Order by HRH the Duke of Gloucester.

During his time as chief ambulance officer, the ambulance and rescue service in Guernsey made many advances and gained recognition both in the UK and farther afield. He received compliments from senior officers in larger UK and overseas services, as well as from patients. Mr Tucker was asked to act as consultant to the Gibraltar ambulance service, was invited to join the World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine and was nominated to stand for presidency of the Ambulance Service Association. He holds the Ambulance Service (Emergency Duties) Long Service and Good Conduct medal.

Throughout his career Mr Tucker has worked in the best interests of the service, becoming the longest serving chief officer, apart from the service’s founder. The directors would like to express their appreciation for his dedication and long service and wish him well in his retirement.”