Representatives from the NHS have taken part in the Queen’s funeral procession as it made its way from Westminster Abbey to Wellington Arch. Among them is the nurse who delivered the first ever Covid-19 jab.
They are marching in the funeral procession as part of the Civilian Services Contingent. Four St John volunteers – three from St John Ambulance England and another from St John Ambulance Cymru – also form part of the contingent.
May Parsons, a modern matron for respiratory services at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire Trust, is taking part in the contingent. She delivered the first Covid vaccine outside of clinical trials in December 2020.
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She met the Queen in July when the monarch awarded the NHS the George Cross. It was one of the last ceremonial medal presentations the Queen took part in.
Ms Parsons, along with frontline workers from Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland and NHS England chief executive Amanda Pritchard, accepted the award on behalf of the institution at a small ceremony at Windsor Castle.
She said: “There are more than a million people in the NHS to represent so it’s an honour and a privilege to represent the wonderful people of the NHS at the funeral.”
The St John Ambulance volunteers in the procession said they were “honoured” to take part. The Queen was Sovereign Head of the Order of St John – an order of chivalry – and patron to St John Ambulance. Those roles now pass to King Charles III.
Nearly 200 key workers and volunteers recognised in the Queen’s Birthday Honours list were invited to attend her state funeral.
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