Hundreds say goodbye to Cov ambulance service stalwart

MORE than 100 West Midlands Ambulance Service staff gathered in Coventry to bid a final farewell to a much-loved and respected colleague.

The emergency services personnel joined a similar number of family and friends at the funeral of former Coventry ambulance technician Czes Mowinski.

Czes was widely known across the ambulance service, having worked in the ambulance family for more than four decades and was also well known in the city.

He was described by an ambulance service spokesman as “a larger than life character universally liked by everyone who had ever worked with him or met him”.

Czes, who had retired a number of years ago, died peacefully surrounded by family following a period of illness.

His funeral was held at St Laurence’s Church in Foleshill on Tuesday November 12.

The funeral cortege was accompanied to the church by a motorcycle outrider, where it was met by assistant chief ambulance officer Craig Cooke and a colour party.

The Warwickshire and Northamptonshire Air Ambulance carried out a fly past as a tribute to him.

Mourners heard about Czes’s life and the way he had impacted so positively on so many people. His funeral was followed by a family burial.

West Midlands Ambulance Service thanked all the other ambulance service hubs who volunteered to provide ambulance cover to allow local staff to attend Czes’s funeral.

Craig Cooke, assistant chief ambulance officer, said: “His generosity was infamous in Coventry and he would often be found in the kitchen, whether on or off duty, cooking breakfast for his colleagues - even on Christmas Day.

“During his career Czes has helped thousands of people and I’m sure colleagues will join me in sending our deepest condolences to his wife Elaine, his family and many friends and colleagues at this very sad time.”

Dan Swain, Coventry and Warwickshire senior operations manager, said: “Czes was a well-respected colleague in Coventry and will be sadly missed by everyone who knew him.

“He was always willing to go the extra mile and the extra hour to help people.

“I don’t think there is a single person who worked with Czes that doesn’t have a funny story to tell.

“My thoughts are with Czes’s family and colleagues at this very difficult time.”

Steve Thompson, Unite Union staffside chair, added: “Czes really was a larger than life character, with a personality to match.

“His outlook on life was full of humour, which helped many new staff deal with incidents over the years.

“An old school technician who loved his job and could always be counted on to have your back if situations arose.

“He will be sadly missed by both his ambulance colleagues and those in the wider NHS.”

In a fitting tribute to Czes, a memorial breakfast will be held at Coventry Hub on the morning of Tuesday December 17.

During the event there will be a chance to donate to the UHCW Charity to benefit the Arden Centre, the charity selected by his family.