The first annual Cornwall Emergency Services Award and Celebration took place in Portreath on Thursday.

Hosted by Landal Gwel an Mor, the festive evening saw more than 90 local emergency workers attending, across the spectrum of the county’s services.

Members from the county’s Coastguard, Search and Rescue, Air Ambulance, RNLI, Fire service, Ambulance and Police enjoyed welcome drinks and canapés as well as a two- course festive meal followed by dancing and live music from Slap Dash Trio.

As part of the evening, The Emergency Services Award for 2018 was presented to Thomas Hennessy Jones, Critical Care Paramedic with Cornwall Air Ambulance.

He was chosen from the array of entries following a call out for nominations from members of the public.

Elva Griffin, from Penzance, nominated Thomas for the award after he helped her following a car crash she was involved in on the A30 during June 2018.

The accident resulted in Elva being airlifted by Cornwall Air Ambulance to Derriford Hospital and she was compelled to nominate Thomas for this special award for the kindness, compassion and dignity he demonstrated at a very frightening time for her.

At the event Kirstie Newton, Editor of Cornwall Today magazine, who had supported the event and award process throughout, presented the award to Thomas.

She said: “It was a privilege to celebrate Cornwall’s vital role of our emergency services with its hard-working employees.

"I have personal experience of a midnight ambulance ride, and feel that every penny spent in taxes is a worthwhile investment if it means that everyone can dial 999 and ask for help, regardless of income,” said Kirstie Newton.

On the event night, whilst collecting his award, Thomas praised all the other services he works alongside in his role.

“Thanks so much to Gwel an Mor for this event and the sponsors who have supported this. It’s really nice to see a lot of familiar faces, normally when I see you it’s at an incident, such as this one I have been nominated for.

"What I wanted to point out is that I am just a small cog in the same wheel and when it comes to incidents like the one I was nominated for, they are only successful and the patient only survives because we work as a team and I couldn’t have done what I did without your help and support – so thanks to all of you for everything you do.”

The event was conceived by the Landal Gwel an Mor team following a festive dinner and celebration night the resort organised in December 2017 for fire fighters and paramedics who were involved in the Grenfell Tower tragedy and were invited to stay at the resort.

Matt Way, Resort’s Director of Landal Gwel an Mor remarked: “ We wanted to create this event, to take some time to appreciate the job these guys do everyday, day in and day out, to help us and support the local community. We wanted to show our gratitude and for our local emergency services to get some recognition of the brilliant job they do, have the night off and be looked after by us.

"There has been an incredibly positive reaction to the Emergency Service Award and Celebration idea and the interaction from the local community and our sponsors has been overwhelming - everyone really is on the same page in saying the biggest thank you."

The event was free to attend for Cornwall’s emergency service workers and was generously supported by the resort’s suppliers - St Austell Brewery, Brian Etherington Meat Company and Brakes Foods.