Believed to be at Winchester Ambulance Station late 1950's/early 1960's.
In respect of the flags, I believe this photo was taken at the opening of the new Ambulance Station and ‘Area Control’ in Queens Road, Winchester (circa 1960). To the best of my knowledge the site still remains much the same as it was then, with the exception of the ground around it that was extended to provide additional car parking. The staff and vehicles were transferred from the previous site, which I believe was at Stanmore.
Winchester was one of four ‘main stations’ within Hampshire County Ambulance Service, Aldershot, Fareham and Lymington being the others.
They are left to right:
1. A 1952 Bedford 30cwt (registration KCG 650) This was the post war ‘K’ Series, which remained in production until 1952, with the final converted chassis/cab entering service in 1953.
2. A 1959 Morris Commercial (registration VCG 45), which could be the later 6 cylinder petrol version.
3. A 1959/60 Bedford CA Utilicon (also known as the Tilley). I’m not able to confirm the registration, but this vehicle appears to be a post 1958 factory production with the smaller grill and single ‘one-piece’ windscreen. I note the vehicle is the full ambulance body version and was possibly the replacement for an earlier Bedford CA, registration FHO 601, which was a van conversion with high-top roof. - Unlike the coach-built ambulance body that had hinged cab doors, the van conversion retained the original sliding doors. Portsmouth Ambulance Service also used the same van conversion of the Bedford CA.
4. Finally, the last vehicle is another Morris Commercial, registration RAA 903, which entered service in 1957.
As far as I am aware all of Hampshire’s Morris Commercials were based on the LC chassis (LC5), which were built by Wadham’s at Waterlooville. This was a very popular vehicle with staff (particularly with the 6 cylinder petrol engine) and I am sure that some members will recall that you needed your hand and your foot to start the Morris? A number of these vehicles retired from service and remained in existence in private hands, including one that became a local landmark; parked up just off the old A3 at Liphook. The Red Cross operated a ex-Hampshire Morris Commercial until the mid-seventies. it was ex-Christchurch Station (part of Hampshire at one time).
In addition to the LC range, the CV11/30 and NVS chassis (again both Morris Commercial's, but with different dimensions) were used by a number of other services across the UK. One of them was Middlesex with their rather unique CV11/30’s sweeping gothic rear end and porthole side windows. Some of the Middlesex bodies were built on wartime Auxiliary Fire Service (AFS) CV’s, due to the shortage of new chassis being available in the immediate post war period. There is a photograph on the website (middle of row 2 in the Pre 1950’s vehicle album) of a Morris Commercial NVS serving with the Scottish Ambulance Service.
As you are probably aware, Middlesex Fire and Ambulance Service was a joint service that ceased to exist following GLC re-organisation in 1965. Ron Last and John Glyn both started their careers with Middlesex Fire & Ambulance before John transferred to Portsmouth Ambulance Service and Ron to Hampshire. John transferred again, this time to Hampshire, and served at Fareham, Winchester and Hedge End (pre-1974). I had the pleasure of working with him at Hedge End in 1978-9. Sadly John is no longer with us, but he is featured within the RAP’s website.
Thanks to Ron Lilly for the information.
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