A paramedic with a “family tradition” of working in the ambulance service is to perform his life-long passion in aid of TASC, The Ambulance Staff Charity.

Allan Dawson is the guitarist in local Coventry group, The Coombe Street Band, having first picked up the instrument at the age of 16.

And now the band is hoping to make sweet music in aid of TASC, which supports present and past ambulance staff in times of need, by taking part in a special fund-raising concert at The Tin, Canal Basin, Coventry, on Friday 3 November.

The Coombe Street Band, which largely plays rock covers, is very much a family affair with 62-year-old Allan on guitar and vocals, his son Jamie, 36, as lead singer, and daughter Katie, 31, on keyboards.

The outfit, which also includes Kevin Goodman on drums, has been performing for less than three years after Allan and Jamie were previously with Birmingham-based paramedic band, Nightshift.

But the band is not the only family connection. Allan, who began as an ambulance man in 1976, and went on to become Station Manager at Chelmsley Wood, said:

“My dad, Len, was an ambulance man for 43 years, and my older brother John was in the ambulance service for 26 years before he retired. So it’s a bit of a family tradition.”

Allan, who now works as a part-time paramedic at the Coventry Hub station, added:

“We were keen to do something to raise money in aid of TASC because of the excellent work they do in supporting members of the ambulance service. So, it seemed an obvious choice to take part in this concert.”

The Gig at The Tin, which takes place from 7.30pm to 11pm, also features acoustic duo Lori Jones Pullin and Liam Brown, plus Kiaya Lyons.

Tickets are £5 in advance, to be obtained from The Tin’s website at http://thetinmusicandarts.org.uk/events/the-ambulance-staff-charity-fund… or £7 on the door on the night. A raffle will also be held at the concert.

Further information about TASC can be found by visiting: www.theasc.org.uk or by calling 024 7798 7922
More information about The Coombe Street Band can be found at https://www.coombest.com/

 

Fundraise for TASC