What a coincidence to choose as this month’s subject, to write about our emergency services?

We were advised by the government and the Met office not to travel or go out unnecessarily, but those words don’t mean anything to anyone working for the 999 free service we are privileged to enjoy in our country.

Our police force, along with the fire, ambulance, and air ambulance crews, hear those words, and know it simply means they are on an even higher alerted state, with surging amounts of adrenalin rushing through their bodies, till they are off duty, and safely on their way home, themselves.

Every one of us is a member of the public.

However when anyone in the armed forces or the emergency services puts on their uniform, they cease to be ordinary human beings, and in their own specialised ways, they become our protectors.

Indeed, their role is simply to rush to our aid within 60 seconds in some cases, and protect us, if necessary, with their own lives.

When I started visiting the fire station, air ambulance, and police station, to get information and photos, for this column, I couldn’t have possibly known about the weather we have since experienced. But in doing so, I’m better informed and I understand so much more about the challenges each service experiences. Despite all that, I cannot shake the overriding feeling it has left me with, and it is simply this:

Each person I had the honour of interviewing was inherently selfless. I will write that one more time, utterly selfless. No one looked at watches or thought about the end of their shifts.

All of them felt as part of the emergency services the sole reason for their existence was to save and help others and they simply did.

I myself was on duty in Brighton during the great storm of 1987. So I write from experience when I say one’s sole role is to protect and assist. It’s in times of crisis that we see what our fellow man values. Naturally they think of their families, loved ones etc.

Meanwhile our emergency services could be rushing to rescue people from smoke filled premises, flying helicopters filled with lifesaving equipment to patients stranded, while members of our police force could be doing all they can to coordinate situations and bring calmness to an otherwise possibly turbulent situation.

This forms my last column for our paper, so I will finish with this thought.

Our services are on standby 24/7 just like having savings in the bank for a rainy day.

We know it’s there if it’s needed.

The emergency services are like that, invisible not thought of yet they are there should we need them.

May I take this opportunity of thanking everyone that has supported my column promoting Andover, it has been awesome to reach this wider audience.