Tributes to ‘legend’ of West Midlands Ambulance Service

Barry Johns was the top dog at the Ambulance Service NHS Trust for 25 years between 1981 and 2006.

Mr Johns was a key figure in setting up what is now the Midlands Air Ambulance in 1990.

At the time, what was initially known as the County Air Ambulance, was the second such operation in the country.

Mr Johns' funeral took place yesterday at Hereford Cathedral.

The Trust's current chief executive Anthony Marsh paid a moving tribute to Mr Johns in a statement, saying it was 'an honour and privilege to succeed him'.

Mr Marsh said: “I was extremely saddened to learn of the death of Barry Johns, former chief executive of the county West Midlands Ambulance Service.

“Mr Johns was chief executive of the Trust from January 1981 until the regional mergers in 2006.

"He was one of the leading modernisers of the ambulance service, playing a leading role locally, nationally and internationally.

“He had an uncanny knack for remembering names and details of the individual staff member’s family, making him popular amongst staff.

“As well as his local work, he was well known in other services as President of the Association of Chief Ambulance Officers in 1990 and President of the Ambulance Service Association in 2000.

“In 1990, he was instrumental in setting up the then County Air Ambulance (now Midlands Air Ambulance), only the second such operation in the country.

“As a young ambulance officer in the 90s, I was very aware of the work Mr Johns was putting into developing ambulance service.

"There can’t be any services in the country that didn’t benefit from his vision of how modern ambulance services should work.

"It was an honour and a privilege to succeed him in this area.

“At this very sad time, everyone within West Midlands Ambulance Service conveys their deepest sympathies to Barry’s families and friends.”