Finding love in the service

Training and working as a paramedic is an emotional and physical journey, but imagine finding your one true love along the way to guide and support you through your experiences.

When Shelley Crook embarked on her paramedic training in 2019, after working as a health care assistant in the NHS, she didn’t imagine just four years later she’d have found the love of her life on the job. But in that time, she’s qualified as a paramedic, experienced personal struggles, covid barriers, raised two children from previous relationships and finally welcomed a new born baby girl with partner and fellow paramedic, Ian Williams.

It’s fair to say, when we spoke to the pair, they are definitely in-sync. When asked separately how they felt about each other and their relationship, they gave identical answers, saying: “You know when you watch a romantic comedy, and wonder if relationships ever work out like that? Well, it turns out they do, we just laugh at everything, it’s easy, simple and flows perfectly. We love the bones of each other."

But how did love’s young dream begin in the midst of working a demanding role where saving lives in urgent situations occur every shift? Shelley and Ian walk us down their very own ‘yellow brick road’.

Shelley says: “I first met him on placement. As students we were teamed up with a paramedic and naturally I was really nervous. When introduced to Ian, he was quite reserved and didn’t say much, it absolutely was not love at first sight!” Shelley explains with a laugh:

“It turned out, after just one shift together, Ian was really supportive and encouraged me to keep in touch during my training if I needed any advice or guidance. Ian then became my mentor towards the end of my first year and into my second.”

Once qualified, Shelley began working the odd shift with Ian every few months. Ian fondly recalls that once they began working together, he quickly developed feelings

for Shelley as their relationship grew as friends and work colleagues. It seems, the first push towards dating was all down to Shelley’s teenage daughter from a previous marriage who announced one day, “Mum, you really need to go on a date with Ian and stop friend-zoning him!”

With Shelley’s teenage daughter and Ian’s young son, acceptance of the new relationship was really important to them both. Shelley says, “Ian quickly became a trusted father figure to my daughter, he’s so family-focused, we both have great relationships with each other’s children.”

Fast forward to January 2022, the pair were delighted to discover they were pregnant with their first child together, after Shelley experienced a miscarriage a few months before. Delighted to welcome a new member to the fold, little Arabella was born. Now six months old, Shelley is enjoying maternity leave with the help of “brilliant dad” Ian.

Speaking on what it’s like to work and live with a fellow paramedic, Shelley explained: “As I’m relatively new to the role compared to Ian, there are things I’ve not done yet, not seen or experienced and it’s nice to be able to come home and discuss the good, bad and pressured days. I get to play out scenarios and offload onto someone who knows exactly how I feel. It’s nice to have someone who knows how to manage any post-traumatic situations too.”