The Red Haired Stokie

Did You Know the UK’s Ambulance Service Started in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent?

Season 2 Episode 5

Did you know the UK’s first civilian ambulance service didn’t start in London, but right here in Burslem? In this episode, discover the incredible true story of Hiram Syson – a Crimean War veteran turned town hall caretaker – who quietly made medical history from the heart of the Potteries. Long before flashing lights and sirens, Hiram was carrying the injured to safety on a two-wheeled cart. This is the untold story of Stoke-on-Trent’s forgotten pioneer… and how Burslem became the birthplace of Britain’s ambulance movement. 

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