An extremely rare example of a Lifesaving award for an incident in Dumbarton, Scotland in November 1980, this in the form of The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents National Award for Bravery, a free standing award in gilt metal, and housed in its John Pinches of London fitted presentation case, as awarded to John Joyce of Dumbarton in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland, who potentially saved the life of his girlfriend, Karen Leslie, on 10 November 1980 when a car careered off the road and headed towards as they were walking along. He pushed her out the way, but was hit and sustained severe injuries himself, nearly losing his leg and being dragged some 80 yards. The car came to rest on top of him and had to be lifted off him by the fire brigade. He was honoured with a cash reward from the Carnegie Hero Fund Trust came through during early 1982. In addition he was awarded the Gold Medal with Certificate by The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, and also this award, the The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents National Award for Bravery, this being made to him by the Scottish Accident Prevention Council, and presented to him at the Dunblane Hydro Hotel in Perthshire.
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents National Award for Bravery, a free standing award in gilt metal, the base engraved: ‘John Joyce 10th: November 1980’, this housed in its John Pinches of London fitted presentation case. Extremely Rare.
John Joyce came from Dumbarton in West Dunbartonshire, Scotland, which is located on the north bank of the River Clyde where the River Leven flows into the Clyde estuary. He was working for the Royal Ordnance Factory in Bishopton, but in 1980 came to local prominence for his actions when he made a heroic rescue of a friend from the path of a careering car.
This incident occurred on 10 November 1980, when he was walking along with his girlfriend Karen Leslie. ‘The drama began when John and Karen were walking along the pavement on the Boulevard near Argyll Avenue in Dumbarton. Suddenly, John saw a car leave the road and head towards them. Quick thinking led him to push Karen into the bushes and over a fence. But John was hit by the car and dragged along the road.’
In all he was dragged some 80 yards and severely injured. When found he was under the car which had to be lifted off him by the fire brigade and taken to Leven Hospital for treatment. He was suffering from a leg broken in three places, and had back injuries and his face badly cut and bruised. He nearly lost his leg, and owing to his injuries, lost his job as an ammunition worker, being unfit to work a year after the accident.
Joyce received much local acclaim, as news of his being honoured with a cash reward from the Carnegie Hero Fund Trust came through during early 1982. In addition he was awarded the Gold Medal with Certificate by The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents, and also the The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents National Award for Bravery, this being made to him by the Scottish Accident Prevention Council, and presented to him at the Dunblane Hydro Hotel in Perthshire.
