Sometimes, a moment of heroism deserves special praise. That was the case in June when Lance Parker, Kathryn Chadwick and Paul Dobbin gave life-saving support to someone in need. Lance spoke to us about everyday work and one far-from-everyday intervention...
Thanks for talking to us, Lance. Could you tell us a bit about your role?
I’m a Crematorium Technician and Chapel Attendant with Sefton’s Bereavement Services. My job is to help make sure every service runs smoothly and respectfully for families, ensure the cremation process is carried out correctly and respectfully, and that we adhere to government legislation. It’s meaningful work — we meet people at such a difficult time, so being able to help things go right really matters to me.
Could you tell us what happened at Southport Crematorium in June?
During a funeral earlier this year, a gentleman, became unwell and suffered a stroke. Paul, Kathryn and I acted quickly — we called an ambulance, made him comfortable, and stayed with him until help arrived. It was a real team effort, everyone just pulled together and did what needed to be done.
That team effort got the praise it deserved, with Cllr Paul Harvey calling it “a wonderful example of the compassion and professionalism our staff show every day”.
And the person the three of you helped not only recovered but reached out to thank you for your help. How did that feel?
It was heart-warming to hear that he had recovered and had taken the time to let us know. Finding out he was okay and that our actions likely helped make a difference in those first few moments meant a lot to all of us.
My own dad suffered a stroke a few years ago, and I understand how important quick medical attention is in such a situation and the difference it can make.
It’s a reminder of how important it is to stay calm, work together, and care for others when it really matters.
The three of you then got a joint nomination for the Star awards, which must have felt great too.
I was really surprised and quite humbled, to be honest. It’s not something I expected or particularly think I deserve, you just try to do your job the best you can. It was nice to be recognised alongside Paul and Kathryn — they both have so much experience and care deeply about what they do.
The event itself was great too and it was lovely to meet people from other parts of the council and hear about all the brilliant things happening across Sefton
It was great to have you there! You’ve been recognised for your contributions, but who would you like to highlight for their influence on you?
I’d really like to thank Angela Coates and David Clay for their ongoing support and encouragement since I joined Sefton Council. They’ve always shown great trust in me, guided me to progress, and created an environment where staff feel valued and supported.
I also want to thank all my colleagues across Bereavement Services, they all do a great job under sometimes very difficult conditions — it’s a strong, caring team that I’m proud to be part of and hope to be for a long time to come.