The Eisteddfod's Ambulance Competitions

It’s so important for us to value and respect the work of those working in the health service – now more than ever - and looking back through old Eisteddfod programmes, it’s clear that the appreciation of the skills of key workers played an important part in the festival’s history.

The Ambulance Section competitions were hugely popular with individuals and teams taking part in all kinds of competitions, with great prizes to be won for treating and caring for patients.

And these competitions were at their most popular during the 1950s, attracting teams of all ages and from all parts of Wales. One of these teams was the St John’s Ambulance team from Bangor, which had great success in first aid and nursing at home competitions during this time.

Team member, Julie Lewis from Bangor, shared her memories of competing at the Eisteddfod and other similar first aid competitions.  She said, “We were very young, and we were quite successful too, winning cups, shields and so on. The competitions gave us the opportunity to travel around Wales, which was very exciting at the time, and we enjoyed taking part in the competitions.

“I still remember quite a lot of the skills we learned - even though many years have passed by now. The competitions were very realistic - we'd arrive at the ‘scene’ of an accident or incident, and we’d have to assess everything and everyone before deciding how to handle the 'patients'. 

"Our responsibility was to make sure the patients were lying in the right position, that they were breathing and were comfortable. It was just like coming across a 'real' accident on the road or at a site.

“We took the whole thing very seriously. There was a good group of girls in the team.  We weren't all in school together. Some were at grammar school and others were pupils in the school on Deiniol Road, but we were such friends – we understood each other and trusted each other. We had to be able to work and succeed as a team. We practised twice or three times every week, and were very professional when we were competing.

“There was a big emphasis on our clothes - the uniform.  Our shoes and buttons had to be polished, and we had to carefully starch our cuffs and collars before any competition. Of course, we had to starch our aprons too and those had to be completely white! We were marked on this - how we looked was just as important as the care we were able to offer and our knowledge of first aid! Lots of work, but in retrospect, it was a chance to learn an important lesson for the future and the world of work.

“Looking at these pictures has brought back many memories. It was a good time, a time when we were growing up, and getting involved in things like this helped us to mature.  It gave us a chance to socialise at a time when young people had less freedom. I'm so glad I was part of the team and had such experiences across Wales. 

“The pictures also bring sad memories. See the faces of the girls who have left us - Razya and Anne - but it's important to remember and look back on the companionship, the close friendship between the team and the fun of competing and participating, and of course , as this picture shows - the success!  They were good times!”