THE Minehead division of St John Ambulance has passed on its good fortune to the people of Freetown, in Sierra Leone.
The division has a new Crusader Ambulance, worth £42,000, thanks to a National Lottery grant, so one of its other ambulances has now been released to Sierra Leone.
It was handed over to the country's High Commissioner, Soulaiman Tejan-Jalloh, last Tuesday at the St John Ambulance Minehead headquarters in North Street.
The presentation was made by Lord Lieutenant for Somerset Lady Gass, who is also county president of the Council for the Order of St John. Lady Gass and Mr Tejan-Jalloh are pictured on the right.
Among those at the presentation ceremony were First Secretary to the High Commission for Sierra Leone Mr Soulaiman Daramy, St John Ambulance Western area commissioner Margaret Sweet and Minehead Town Council chairman Megan Lyons.
Representatives of St John Somerset included chairman Brigadier John Hemsley, Commissioner Mrs Pat Comer and president Diana Silk. Minehead division president Tim Holt and superintendent Robin Cramp were present along with several members.
The new Crusader multi-purpose ambulance is geared towards the needs of the volunteers as they cover local public events and transport patients within and around Minehead.
Extra members are now being recruited by Minehead St John Ambulance. For details contact Mr Cramp on 01643 702400 or visit http://www.somerset.sja.org.uk/minehead">www.somerset.sja.org.uk/minehead
Photo: Steve Guscott.