Meet the people working on Christmas Day

As thousands of people tuck into dinner and spend the day with their families, many across the West Midlands will be out of the house, working or volunteering.

From paramedics to carers, taxi drivers to firefighters, and police officers to mental health support workers, Christmas Day is still a work day in hundreds of professions.

Those working include Sandwell paramedic Grace Wilde, Birmingham firefighter Richard Merker, and Rebecca Ellsmore from Herefordshire, who will cook dinners for people in her community.

"It's a lot of pressure on families and requires a bit of organisation, but they also accept that when you take that job, that's you," said Mr Merker.

He is a watch commander at West Midlands Fire Service, based at Woodgate Valley fire station in Birmingham, and has been in the job for almost 18 years.

"If you're working a job in the emergency services, you have to accept every now and again that you will be working at Christmas," he said.

He said it was usually a busy day, but operated like normal.

Those on shift still need to do every day tasks, like safety critical checks on the fire engines.

"If we have an incident in the West Midlands Fire Service, you have to be changed, ready, and wheels moving in under 59 seconds," he said.

"When the bell goes, you're there."

Christmas Day was busier due to more people being at home, he said.

"Accidents within the home will naturally increase... more people are probably cooking… people are enjoying a drink."

Mr Merker added he always wanted a job where he felt like he was making a difference.

"You just have a real passion for going to someone on what is potentially the worst day of their life, and making the situation better, and that's the sort of thing that drives you."

Rebecca Ellsmore and her husband Lee, from Kington, began cooking Christmas dinners for the community in 2020.

This year, they are holding two Christmas lunches at Leominster Social Club and the Lion Cafe, Kington.

People can eat-in, take a meal away, or have the food delivered.

"It's all possible because of a really good group of volunteers, and all my family chip in as well," said Ms Ellsmore.

Each site needs 10-12 volunteers, and this year the couple are hoping to cater about 150 meals over the two sites.

"It's helping those that would be alone, those that can't cook, those who won't cook.

"We feed people in the community who can't get out, we also deliver meals to the hospital, the police station, the fire station, just because we want to share the Christmas love.

"We just want to make sure everybody that could possibly need our company, or our food, gets the opportunity to have it."

Grace Wilde is a paramedic and clinical team mentor at West Midlands Ambulance Service, based at the Sandwell Hub in Oldbury.

"I feel like there is definitely a nice little buzz in the air," she said, of Christmas Day.

"You do join the job knowing that you're going to be working unsociable hours and big days like Christmas Day."

She said because referral services like GPs are not open, that cuts out a lot of calls.

"We don't like to say the q-word, but it's a little bit quieter on Christmas."

"People only call as an absolute necessity.

"But you will have people that are alone on Christmas and struggling at Christmas."

Ms Wilde will be working with her partner, who also works for the service.

"It's 12 hours that I get to spend with him, so it'll be a little bit more fun," she said.

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