St John Ambulance volunteers kept people safe at events

Without them, organisers would have found it difficult to meet safety requirements, protect everyone and keep within budget.

Over the years, members have protected thousands of people at events big and small across the county.

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The Oxford Mail has devoted many column inches to the activities of St John Ambulance volunteers, including some lighter moments as in Picture 1.

Regulars at the Chester Arms pub in East Oxford raised £350 at an auction and by holding raffles in 1990 towards the cost of a special stretcher for patients with spinal injuries.

Pub landlady Sheila Guinnane is seen trying out the ‘scoop’ stretcher, with its head and body harnesses, with St John members Karen Moss and Martin Ashby making sure she is safe.

Anatomic Anne, the model in Picture 2, was presented by Oxford Lions in 1987 to help St John train people in mouth-to-mouth resuscitation.

Oxford Mail:

Lions’ president David Iredale, watched by fellow Lions Geoff Basker, left, and Jerry Gerrard, is seen presenting a cheque for more than £300 to St John area superintendent Steve Smith.

Picture 3 was taken at a presentation evening when 45 St John members who worked for the Post Office in Oxford, received badges and certificates in 1974.

Oxford Mail:

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Student nurse Sharon Killner, 20, raised nearly £300 with her first parachute jump and in Picture 4, hands a cheque to St John superintendent Val Longford in 1987.

She decided to jump after the Northway division’s ambulance at Headington was stolen and later recovered badly damaged.