A HUSBAND and wife team's amazing contribution to the volunteer hospital drivers' scheme was recognised at an event near Yelverton recently.

Christine and Arthur Edmonds, of Hurdwick near Tavistock, have got through four cars during the years they have transported patients to and from hospital, clocking up an amazing 469,259 miles between them.

They were presented with long service awards at a ceremony at the Moorland Links Hotel, attended by the chief executive of Westcountry Ambulance Service Michael Willis OBE and chairman Samuel Jones CBE.

Christine became a volunteer driver in 1979, with her husband joining her in 1994 after retiring from work at Hurdwick Farm.

'I did five days a week. Sometimes I would do a Saturday as well if they were really pushed.

'You got a sheet the day before from ambulance control with each patient and when they had to be at hospital.

'When I started at first it was Freedom Fields, Devonport and all around — latterly it was just Derriford and the Eye Infirmary,' said Christine.

She said she loved every minute of her job, although by the time she retired last year she was beginning to find the traffic 'horrendous' around Derriford.

'We did long distances too — I went to Bath quite regularly, and Bristol — one trip my husband even went to Glasgow,' she said.

'You got to meet so many different people — you would get to know some patients quite well.'

Christine also transported 'scores' of tiny babies from Freedom Fields in Plymouth to Tavistock Maternity Hospital.

She said a hospital driver has to be discreet — and have a good sense of humour.

'We had some jolly good laughs over the years,' she recalled.

The couple finally decided to call it a day when Arthur began to suffer back problems.

'I thought I'd done my bit really!' said Christine, whose present car has done well over 200,000 miles, much of it in the call of duty.

Darren Gibson, spokesman for Westcountry Ambulance Service, said the Service would like to hear from anyone in the area who would like to become a volunteer.

'Having lost two drivers from the Tavistock area, it would be nice if we could replace them,' he said.

Mr Gibson said the volunteer drivers fulfil a vital support role.

'Without the car drivers to transport certain patients, it would clog up literally hundreds of ambulances,' he said.

Anyone who is interested in becoming a volunteer hospital driver should contact the recruitment hotline on 01392 261559 to obtain a information pack and application form.