'Portam Charlie' GTP 123D.

'Portam Charlie' became the first Portsea 'Blood Tub' during the late 1960's and was based at Portsmouth Main until Portsea station opened for 24 hrs duty. When Portsea opened for 24 hrs duty cover 'Charlie' was based there permanently as the Emergency Ambulance along with 'Portam Able' (duty Ambulance) and 'Portam Nan' (tilly). Before Portsea was fully operational morning and afternoon duty crews would report to the Main Station and then two men were detailed to crew 'Charlie' and drive to Portsea to provide emergency cover for the Dockyard area.
Sub-Officers Ray Williams, Doug Newey, Lenny Bear and Bob Burdon were the first members of staff to be posted as shift workers to Portsea permanently in 1969 along with Day Ambulancemen Dave Partridge, Dick Immins and Dave 'Dusty' Miller. The duty emergency shift driver was still based at the Main for a while and would drive to and from Portsea station in a spare vehicle for 'Blood Shift' although some chose to report directly to the station.
'Charlie', GTP 123D, was the sister of the Main Station 'Blood Tub 'Portam Baker' GTP 122D. Here we see 'Charlie' in St Johns livery after being sold at the end of her life with Portsmouth Ambulance Service.
In those days it was 'Service Policy' to sell or dispose of an Ambulance after 7 years service and so duty 'Blood Tubs' proved to be a good buy as they had substantially less mileage recorded due to being on station most of their service time and only used as a last resort.