South Yorkshire Times, May 7, 1966
Awards for Denaby Ambulance Workers
At the Tom Hill Youth Centre at Denaby Main on Saturday it was evident that interest in the St John ambulance movement is again reviving in the village, and the ‘old hands’ who have given long and faithful service where augmented by many younger people.
Cadet Officers are pleased with the renewed interest taken in the movement by young people, but there is still room for more teenagers.
The occasion was the annual presentation of ambulance awards by corps president D. J. C. Macaskill who welcomed the guests to the tea.
Awards
Assessing Area Commissioner N. Hulley, O/O, presented the awards as follows:
Corps Surgeon M. Bell, second bar; Corps Officer H. W. Lambert, 5th bar; Secretary J. Wall, 3rd bar; Cpl A. Holland, 4th bar; Sgt J. Lee, 4th bar; Divisional Officer J. White, Divisional Officer M. Noble, Div. Cadet superintendent G. Trout and Mr H. Ogley, service medals.
Certificates were presented to Messrs. J. Reeve, H. Hulse, J. Hinchcliffe, G. Wall, L. Woods, I. Horner and F. Peace. Mrs B. Gill and Mrs Rylatte received awards due to their late husbands, Mr R. Gill and Mr W. Rylatte,
Corps Superintendent C. J. Pickett, M. B. E., M. C., O/O, received a further certificate, Div. Superintendent, L. Beecham, 1st bar, ambulance officer, J. Hanwell, certificate; Sergeant Major A. Roberts, fo4th bat and certificate; Cpl G. Croydon, certificate; Pte. H. Faller, certificate; Pte. T. Armstrong, medal and certificate; Pte. C. Squires, certificate; and sergeant. E. Hackett, certificate.
Old Stalwarts
Mr Hulley said it was a pleasure to return to Denaby and to meet incredibly so many old friends and old stalwarts of the ambulance movement. The corps was started in 1898 and was perhaps the oldest in the South Yorkshire area. Some members present were attached to the movement before the First World War and it was tribute to the corps that they could keep members interested.
Nursing awards were presented by area superintendent, Mrs E. P. Bell, who referred to the receipt by Nursing Sister Mrs Titley of the Long Service Medal.
Other awards were to Divisional Superintendent, Mrs Hanwell, warrant, certificate and medallion; Cadet divisional supt. Mrs, Scott. Certificate; Nursing Sisters, Mrs Sharpe, third bar; Mrs Roberts, certificate; Acting Sergeant Mrs Higgins, certificate; Nursing Member Mrs Ogley, and Misses Hiscox, Mangham, Long, Richards, Brown, Curtis and Higham, certificate.
Presentation
A presentation was made by Corps Surgeon D. M. Bell to Divisional Officer J. W. Cooke and Lady Div. Superintendent, Mrs Cooke on their retirement. He paid glowing tributes to both, and said that Mrs Cooke for many years had supervised and trained the nursing sisters and had also given valuable help during the war in Conisbrough and Denaby hospitals.
Mrs Cooke joined in 1909 and was ambulance officer from 1920 until 1963. Mrs Cooke joined the Nursing Division in 1912 and assisted in the wonderful work performed at the Cadeby colliery explosion. She became a nursing officer in 1925 and Lady Superintendent in 1939 until about a year ago.
Ovation
The couple received a great ovation as Dr Bell handed to Mr Cook a chiming clock and to Mrs Cooke a gold bracelet watch.
Corps Superintendent, C. J. Pickett, made a presentation to Mr F. Marsland, a representative of Ind Coope, who is shortly retiring. It was a gift from the Headquarters Club in appreciation of his services.
Div. Superintendence J. Hall and L. Beecham expressed thanks to the Youth Club, to the secretary and all helpers.
Bouquets were presented to Mr C. P. Bell and to Maj P. Brocklesby, M. B. E. for Mrs Brocklesby, who was unable to attend.
Major Brocklesby gave a film show of scenes of annual inspections in the past and for Civil Defence work in the last war.