A Bedfordshire Scout Leader has just recorded a 20-minute TV programme about his daytime job saving lives with the East of England Ambulance Service based in Dunstable. The programme will contrast his high profile job on the trauma team with his volunteer role as head of the 1000-strong Scout District in Bedford. The programme will be broadcast in the new year on Channel 539 as part of a series on Scout volunteers with unusual jobs.

Bedford District Commissioner Graeme Watt was filmed attending life threatening cases in and around Dunstable where he works. The film crew travelled with him in is Emergency Response Vehicle as he raced at top speed to his patients. He said, “We have eight minutes to reach our destination from the time the emergency call is logged. Our training means we can drive safely at high speeds.”

During the day of the recording, Graeme dealt with an early morning road traffic accident near the Dunstable Gliding Club, a 17 year old girl who had collapsed in the street at Toddington, a 43 year old man in Markyate with chest pains and two 80 year old men in Dunstable with breathing difficulties.

The trauma specialist explained to interviewer Laura Spafford that he was one of several response vehicles place at strategic points around south Bedfordshire. He said, “We have fully equipped vehicles at Stopsley, Luton town centre, Leighton Buzzard and one parked in a lay-by on the A5 near Hockliffe.”

Asked about his Scouting background, Graeme explained, “I joined Scouts as a Cub and take my promise seriously particularly the bit about helping other people. As a member of ScoutMed I work with doctors and other professionals at major Scout camps looking after their first aid needs. My work as a District Commissioner is flexible enough to allow me to fit in my daytime job with my volunteer role. It just requires good time management.”

Graeme came to Bedfordshire five years ago following an armed service career in Scotland as a member of the RAF Lossiemouth mountain rescue team. He frequently walked over 20 miles a day training for his emergency rescues. He admits to climbing over 150 of Scotland’s 237 Munros – those mountains over 3000 feet high.

The TV programme will also show Graeme presenting Scout Leaders with their leader warrants. It’s just one of many Scouting jobs he handles in his spare time.

The 20-minute programme will be broadcast next year on Channel 539 every day for a month as part of a six-series documentary on Scouting volunteers and the jobs they do.

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