SOUTH Central Ambulance Service has finally seen sense and reinstated volunteer ambulance worker Godfrey Smith, who was sacked for doing 33mph in a 20mph on his way to a medical emergency.

In an age of the “Big Society” we need all the people like Mr Smith we can get – highly trained, compassionate and willing to give up vast amounts of their time to help others.

If the service felt it had to take some kind of action then it should have done what it is now set to do, make Mr Smith carry out some driving tests and then re-apply for a role as a community first responder. The responders are not allowed to break the speed limit and Mr Smith had agreed to follow those rules – but to bin such a valuable volunteer was like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.