Going cold turkey: meet the people who work on December 25

Firefighters, police and paramedics have to put out fires, treat medical emergencies, and sometimes face tragedy while the rest of the nation is snug in their homes.

That's not to mention to the volunteers who don't get paid.

Reporter Pete Hughes caught up with just a few of the people who will be working this Christmas Day.

The firefighter: Mike Adcock

AFTER working for Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service for 20 years, Mike Adcock has spent more Christmas Days at work in the past two decades than he's had off.

That means, more often that not, having to abandon his wife Becky and their four children at home in Faringdon to go and respond to a genuine emergency.

This year is going to be one of those years.

"It's definitely not a normal Christmas Day. I am on call so my family have to accept that at a moment's notice, whether we're opening presents or cooking the turkey or eating dinner, I might get called away.

"It's the same as the majority of our staff – they're on call so they have to respond to pages. Should it happen, they will have to leave their family."

Having previously worked as a firefighter, Mr Adcock is now emergency response manager for the whole of Oxfordshire: that means that at any given time, he has to know how many firefighters he has available, where they are, what they're doing, and what equipment he has.

If a firefighter gets called to an emergency anywhere in the county he has to know about it.

Thankfully these days, that doesn't necessarily mean leaving the house: using laptops, mobile phones and radios he is hoping he will be able to do any work he needs to from home.

Meanwhile about 40 of his staff will be sitting in fire stations around the county having their turkey dinner together, ready to drop it at and run to the county's aid.

Certain calls are more expected than others: road traffic accidents and fires caused by electrical Christmas presents or faulty tree lights.

Mr Adcock, 46, has seen it all over the years. But he still urges people to keep safety in mind: "Electrical safety is paramount – people are enjoying their Christmas lights so make sure your equipment is safe to use.

"If you have a real fire going or a log burner, make sure your chimney is properly swept.

"If you're visiting relatives on Christmas, ensure there is a designated driver."

But Mr Adcock knows that however much safety advice he gives out, accidents will always happen, and that is the nature of the job: "When you join the service, you sign up for 24 hours a day, seven days a week: that is just part and parcel of the job, it's just the type of people we are: we are here to help – we just hope you don't need us."

Air ambulance: Lisa Brown

HAVING worked with the ambulance service for 17 years, Lisa Brown has worked many a Christmas Day, but this will be the first time she has spent it working for HEMS – the Helicopter Emergency Medical Service.

This year she will spend Christmas Day with her colleague Andy Colledge and helicopter pilot Dave Webber at Thames Valley Air Ambulance HQ – RAF Benson, near Wallingford.

It might be some small consolation that Mr Webber has worked many Christmases before on HEMS.

When she sets off for work she will be leaving her partner and son Josh at home near Reading.

She is also working Boxing Day, so it will be a while before they can catch up and have their own Christmas.

But she is nothing if not professional about her shift.

"I feel it is my duty to work Christmas day as this is a job that requires 24/ 7 emergency cover.

"My family Christmas will be on another day this year and my son is still happy that he will see me for a bit in the morning before I leave for work."

Thankfully her partner is very understanding – he is an air ambulance pilot so has had to spend Christmas Day working himself in the past.

Luckily, he has the day off this year to stay at home with Josh.

Mrs Brown added: "I have already made plans to see my family and in-laws after the festive period.

"I will ensure Christmas day will be fun for my child regardless whether his dad or I has to work and if anything he knows that Christmas for him is over days, rather than just on one day of the year."

The paramedic: Gary Toohey

IF you accidentally carve yourself instead of the turkey; if you get a shock while fixing the Christmas tree lights, or even if you wake up on December 25 with a tickly cough that won't go away, the chances are you might be seeing Gary Toohey.

From 10am on Christmas morning this year he will be at Chipping Norton First Aid Unit, dealing with whatever comes in until 9pm – and that's if he's lucky.

One year not so long ago he was closing the doors at five to nine when a woman came in whose waters had just broken: he stayed for another two hours delivering the baby.

"If somebody comes in, we'll see them," the 58-year-old says: "If they have made the effort to come and see me, I'm not going to say 'no'.

"People will come in with a persistent cough – if you're feeling rotten it doesn't make any difference what day of the year it is."

As a specialist paramedic with 37 years' experience under his belt, it's all part of the job, and he says his wife Tracy and their two children are used to it by now.

It is them he will be leaving at home in Oxford this year, along with his brother-in-law and his family who are coming for Christmas dinner.

He says: "When I do get home I'll probably just have a pig in a blanket – I leave them to it.

"Like most people, I prefer chicken to turkey anyway."

The charity champion: Ray Collins

THE only thing worse than spending Christmas day with your family is spending it without them.

When we are busy with our own Christmas preparations it can be easy to forget neighbours, friends, and even relations who will be spending the day alone.

One man who does not forget those people is Wantage electricals shop manager Ray Collins.

For a third year in a row this year he is going to be spending this Christmas Day with dozens of elderly and vulnerable people from Wantage, Grove and surrounding villages who would otherwise be spending the day alone.

Waitrose in Wantage is contributing £1,000 worth of food and drink and a small army of volunteers will be cooking, serving and even performing at Wantage Day Centre.

All the guests will be collected and taken home free of charge and get a traditional Christmas day dinner with all the trimmings.

Mr Collins, who manages Peter Ledbury Electricals in Wantage, said: "It's fantastic having such wonderful support once again from Waitrose Wantage enabling us to provide so many wonderful local people a sensational Christmas day dinner an entertainment.

"Rather than being on their own, we can now show them the sort of Christmas Day we all would love."