An ambulance Land Rover headed the funeral cortege of one of Europe’s first paramedics.

Douglas Brown was among the first six ambulance workers to be specially trained in life-saving resuscitation skills by pioneering consultant cardiologist Douglas Chamberlain in 1970.

Former colleagues joined friends and family for his funeral at Downs Crematorium in Brighton yesterday.

His coffin was draped in ambulance colours and his cap placed on top.

MORE:

Mr Brown, 83, who lived in Higher Bevendean, Brighton, died on January 10 after a short illness. He spent all his ambulance career in Brighton up until his retirement in 1990, and was the station officer in charge on the night of The Grand hotel bombing in 1984.

His daughter, Pat Welfare, said: “Everyone has said how much of a nice person he was and he was always full of jokes. He was always able to make you smile.”

The family have asked for donations to be sent to the Brighton-based Sussex Heart Charity, which raises money for equipment, education, rehabilitation and resuscitation training.

Mr Brown leaves a wife, Pearl, three children and six grandchildren.