AMBULANCEMAN Mick Toon claims it was learning first aid in the Cubs and Scouts that triggered his long and varied career in the front line.

Mr Toon, 56, an emergency medical technician, has had to call it a day, after 34 years, on the grounds of ill-health.

He said: "I was seven when I joined the Scouting movement, and I really loved the first aid classes.

"Although I started my working life as a joiner I always hankered after doing something more to help

people."

Having been an active member of St John Ambulance for many years, he decided on a career change, joining the old West Riding Ambulance Service in 1969, at Bramham.

It was in 1976, when he married Judith, that he moved to Haxby, then part of the old North Yorkshire Ambulance Service.

The couple have a son, Peter, a professional actor.

Looking back, Mick said: "I've seen so many changes. We're a much more professional organisation now and the job's much more busy. But in the old days we had more time to see how our patients were progressing, because we dealt with emergency and non-emergency cases."

Updated: 10:51 Monday, November 03, 2003