Denaby SJ.A.B. Corps – Recruits Needed – Seek One Per Member

May 1955

South Yorkshire Times May 28, 1955

Recruits Needed
Denaby SJ.A.B. Corps
Seek One Per Member

Speaking at the annual distribution of awards of the Denaby Main Corps of the St. John Ambulance Brigade in the Epworth Hall schoolroom on Saturday, Corps Officer J. Halford said that younger members had not been coming into the movement the way they would have liked. ‘I appeal to all colleagues in the Brigade to get one volunteer,’ he added.

The large gathering were welcomed by Corps Supt. C. P. Pickett M.B.E., M.C., who thanked members of the Denaby Main Corps ‘and their ladies.’ He mentioned the annual inspection to be held on Doncaster Racecourse on June 5th and hoped there would be a good turn-out.

Corps Officer Halford referred to a group of people who formed a hospital some 900 years ago – after recommending the younger end to read the history of St. John. ‘They started something which has gone on from that day to this,’ he said. No one would have thought that that little beginning would have grown to such magnitude. It now stretched to nearly every corner of the earth.
Nine hundred years ago a Brother Gerard was made the first Grand Master, he continued, and also designed the flag and the cross. ‘When you think it has stood the rest of time for 900 years and it has grown stronger and stronger, you realise there is some tradition somewhere.’

The S.J.A.B. Was formed in 1887. Corps Officer Halford said, and this was due in a large part to the number of accidents which were happening in the mines in those days. Some four or five years ago the Denaby Corps celebrated its 50th anniversary so that the whole organisation had only been going some 80 or 90 years ‘when we started.’

They were proud of what they stood for but they had now reached the stage where they should be getting someone to take their places. They had gone through the last war and the period since the war and had asked for volunteers but they not been coming the way they would have liked. He appealed to all colleagues in the Brigade to get one volunteer.

Replying to the toast. ‘The St. John Ambulance Brigade.’ County Officer E. Soar said that the movement had been designated a sum of money from the King George VI Memorial Fund. It had been decided to encourage the younger end and hold two conferences in the country, the one for the North to be held at Harrogate next month. He said it was a good thing for the movement to get more younger members. – They were still hoping for support from the N.C.B. Which had been mentioned from time to time. A plan had been put forward and when it was seen in London it was said it would apply to the whole of the country. He thought it would be very substantial and they must thank the N.C.B. For the support they had received since nationalisation.

‘The Guests’ was proposed by Corps Officer G. Williams who said it had always been a pleasure to organise the function no matter what work was involved. The success of the occasion made it worthwhile.

The Vicar of Denaby, the Rev. A.V. Roebuck, in responding, said that one of the characteristics of this age was change. This applied to the coal mining industry where, they had discarded the old pit ponies and very nearly discarded the pick and shovel. All these things were for good but there were some things which could not be outworn. No matter what changes were made in individuals lives the support of the Ambulance Brigade was essential.

Long service medals: Pte N. Willis, Pte. H. Smith, Pte. D. Spurr, Cpl. S. Lote. Bars: Ambulance Officer J. W. Cooke, Cpl. J Mason, Pte. E. Spurr, Cpl. S. Lote, Pte. R. Gill, Pte. F. H. Clempson, Cadet Officer A. Roberts.

Cadeby Division: Labels, Div. Supt. L. Harvey, Cadet Supt. H. W. Lambert, Sgt. P. Murgatroyd, Cpl. C. Jackson, Cpl. H. Edwards, Ptes. J. F. Lee, A. Holland, H. Corbridge. A. Jackson, W. Watt, M. Noble, A. Farmer, H. Ogley, J. Hinchliffe, A. Savage, J. Trout, J. Wall Hon Sec. G. S. Davies, Medallion, Pte J. White.
Third bar to service medal, Cpl. C. Jackson; first bar to service medal, Pte. A Holland; service medals, Pte. H. Hulse, Pte. A. Farmer.

After these presentations Sgt. Stanley Davies of Cadeby Division, and secretary for the past 18 years, was presented with a clock by Corps Supt. Pickett.
A vote of thanks: including one to the doctors present, was proposed by Div Supt. L. Harvey.
M.C for dancing was Mr S. Lote and M.C’s for games were Messrs N. Willis and J. White.