King Charles III has bestowed a posthumous honour on a young paramedic who lost her life while responding to an emergency call. The parents of 21-year-old Alice Clark have been presented with the Elizabeth Emblem in recognition of her death in the line of duty.
A Tragic Collision on the A21
Alice Clark was killed on January 5, 2022 when the ambulance she was travelling in collided with a cement lorry on the A21 near Sevenoaks, Kent. She was working her usual 'blue light' shift for the ambulance service at the time of the fatal crash.
Her parents, Gill and Graeme Clark from Kent, received the devastating news that evening. "At about 6.30, there was a knock on the door to say that she had been killed," Mrs Clark recalled. The paramedic driving the ambulance later pleaded guilty to causing death by dangerous driving. A coroner also ruled that the ambulance service had failed to properly investigate prior complaints about the driver before the tragic incident.
The Elizabeth Emblem: A Civilian Honour
The emblem, awarded by the sovereign to the next of kin of public servants who die on duty, is the civilian equivalent of the military's Elizabeth Cross. It is a silver, oval award inscribed with the words 'For a life given in service', surrounded by a rosemary wreath symbolising remembrance and topped with a Tudor crown. Alice's name will be engraved on its reverse.
"We've gone through so much to get here, with the court case, coroner's court. Dealing with all the horrible stuff on top of losing Alice," said Mr Clark. "To have this, and to have her recognised... It's an amazing honour for her."
Remembering a Dedicated Life
Alice's parents described their daughter as a passionate and brave individual committed to helping others. "She was doing the job we knew she wanted to do," said Mrs Clark. Mr Clark added that Alice had initially considered becoming a doctor but chose to be on the front line as a paramedic instead. "She loved her job, loved life and loved helping people," he said.
During the pandemic, Alice worked as a carer and completed a work placement with the London Ambulance Service. Her mother remembered her as outgoing with a wicked sense of humour. "She was so dedicated. She was funny, adventurous, brave," Mrs Clark said. "She liked to travel, even on her own. As soon as you could fly again (after the pandemic), she was off."
A Ceremony at Downing Street
Gill and Graeme Clark were among the families of 53 recipients of the Elizabeth Emblem honoured this month. They attended a reception at 10 Downing Street yesterday, where they met Chief Secretary to the Prime Minister, Darren Jones.
The Clarks were joined by other grieving families, including those of lollipop lady Stephanie Davies, who was killed by a bus in Salford in 2006, and Jonathan White, a council worker who died after a 30-foot fall while putting up Christmas lights in Blackpool in 1986. This is the third list of recipients published since the emblem was established in March 2024.
