"It's always nice to be appreciated"

"One of the reasons I work as an AA Patrol, and not as a mechanic in a garage, is that I really like meeting people. That, and the fact that in this job I actually get to see just how much my work affects the people I rescue. Oh, and I also prefer being out in the open air to being stuck inside.

"However, it does mean that it’s not always possible to stick rigidly to my shift. After all, you have to see every job through to the end don’t you. And if that extra half hour or so means it saves a member a load of inconvenience then, to me, it’s got be worth every minute. Especially when you see how much they appreciate it. There was one sweet young lady I helped out recently who was so pleased that she gave me a hug and called me 'one in a million'. That kind of thing makes all the difference – even if the boss says that I’m really only 'one in 2,973', or however many other AA patrols there are."

Brian Evans, AA Patrol