The 42-year-old, originally from Hertfordshire, has had a varied career which has taken him across the world.

We caught up with Bobby to find out more about his life before GNAAS, and how he’s finding his new role so far…

Could you talk me through your career from the beginning up to now?

So I left school and joined the army, and I was in the infantry for five and a half years, serving in the Royal Green Jackets in a rifle company, before doing reconnaissance and finally anti-tanks.

I left and became a heating engineer servicing and repairing gas boilers. Unfortunately, I really didn’t enjoy this, although a heating system isn’t too dissimilar to the circulation system with the pump being the heart, the follow and return pipes being arteries and veins, and the radiators being capillaries.

I then went to Iraq working as part of a close protection team looking after members of the oil and gas industry around Basra. I started my journey here towards being a paramedic, and was a team medic after completing my Medicine in Remote Areas course, which really sparked my interest in Paramedicine.

Following this whilst working away I would study to complete the College of Remote and Offshore Medicine Paramedic course. Once I was qualified as a non-UK paramedic, I started to work on an explosives, ordnance detection team in Ramadi where we provided security to minor clearance specialists assisting the Iraqi army.

After this I joined the team that was providing security to the Australian Embassy in Iraq, based in Baghdad. Here I had a mix of roles providing medical cover in the team, and also being the bodyguard to the Ambassador.

Having decided I wanted to purse more education, I started a UK paramedic course in 2019, following on from that I enrolled in to a Masters in Pre-Hospital Medicine at the Queen Mary University of London. Alongside this I have completed a double module in minor injuries and illness at level 7, and during my last year enrolled in a second Masters in Advanced clinical Practice, which I’ve put on hold currently.

What made you want to work for GNAAS?

I had attended the PHEMCC as an external candidate, having found the team friendly, professional and seeing the area that they cover this resonated with the professional goals I had set in my career.

How did you find the interview process at GNAAS?

It was an intense day, covering lots of different aspects to assess us as candidates, I found that each part was well structured and I knew exactly what was required of myself throughout. We were assessed on our core knowledge as paramedics, and also on what HEMS and critical care can bring to a patient. Obviously I was nervous as I knew a few members of the team and didn’t want to have a poor showing from myself.

When you received the call that you got the job, did you do anything to celebrate?

I spent a day paddleboarding and drinking on a nice river near me with a good friend.

How have you found GNAAS so far?

The team have been really welcoming and helpful. Although I often have to get people to repeat themselves, but I’m now getting better with the accent.

What do you like to do outside of work?

I like to stay fit with a mixture of running and weight training. I really enjoy traveling for short city breaks through Europe.