|
Cadets win top award and say goodbye to their 'Mr First Aid'
AFTER
30 years of voluntary service to the community, with St John
Ambulance, former Southport Police Sergeant Keith Lloyd is hanging
up his first aid kit and taking a back seat role within the
organisation.
Before doing so, he took time out to present awards to the Cadets of
Southport St John Ambulance Division.
He has been in charge of the youth section and cadets for over 20
years and has seen many achievements obtained and was delighted to
be able to include into the presentation two Grand Prior Awards, the
top award a Cadet can achieve.
He is seen here presenting Cadet - Natalina Lythgoe and Cadet Sgt.-
Chantal Janvier with their certificates, badges and letters of
achievements from the National Headquarters.
Mr Lloyd joined the charity back in 1978 when as an area constable,
he was’ volunteered’ by his then, Chief Superintendent, William
Marsden to become the First Aid Instructor. Following an intensive
training period at the Home Office Training Centre in Harrogate, he
returned to find that his senior police officers were members of St
John Ambulance and that he [Keith] was now also a member and
required to instruct them in the new and up to date First Aid at
Work Acts.
There followed a number of years teaching Police and Public, first
aid at various levels and juggling between his Police duties and his
voluntary work with St John Ambulance. He was asked to take over the
training of the cadets, yet another extension to his life, which
also included sitting and passing his Police promotion exams and
raising a family.
He found that his hectic life was somewhat challenging, but overcame
the difficulties and was promoted to Divisional Officer in charge of
Youth, he also oversaw and was responsible for operational aspects
at first aid duties, including the Southport Flower Show, Airshow,
Musical Fireworks and many other events in and around the area.
He continued to give his time to St. John Ambulance after retiring
from the Merseyside Police after almost 30 years, due to ill heath.
Although unable to put as much into the organisation as he had done
in the past, he was able to lead the Youth onto various
achievements, including Cadets being awarded the County Cadet of the
year for Merseyside, and they in turn being invited to Buckingham
Palace to meet the Commander in Chief of the Cadets, The Princess
Royal, HRH Princess Anne.
Although he is
hanging up his uniform, he has promised to keep an eye on the
progress of the Cadets and also the Badgers, who are tutored by his
wife Ann, the Divisional Badger Leader, who has also been in the
organisation for 20 years.
“I am very proud to have been the Officer in charge of the Youth.
They have kept me on my toes and given me nightmares at times, but
their enthusiasm is infectious and they have given to the community
a fantastic amount of time and energy. True they have picked up
awards on their travels, but they have earned them. Anyone can join
and are very welcome, be they Badger’s age 5 – 10 or Cadet from 10 –
18 and remember we are always looking for Adult volunteers as well”
He went on to say:- “Please remember, St
John Ambulance is a charity, run by volunteers, it receives no
funding from the government or the NHS, and has been around for some
900 years. It was the first official ambulance service in the world,
all present day paramedics and technicians and ambulance staff can
trace their roots back to St John Ambulance. Its history is
fascinating, so if your readers would like to be, a part of that
history, or would like their children to achieve the high standards
that Natalina and Chantal and their friends have done, then contact
the Headquarters in Scarisbrick Street, Southport, they will be made
most welcome.” |
Charity
Glitter Ball at the Formby Hall Golf Resort.
FOLLOWING the sad loss of her
Gran to cancer, Nicola Smith from Birkdale organised a
‘Glitter Ball’ fundraising event to help other cancer
patients.
Two hundred and fifty guests attended the ‘Glitter Ball’
extravaganza at Formby Hall Golf Resort & Spa in black ties and
glamorous ball gowns. Following dinner and dancing, the guests dug
deep as they bidded for luxury mini breaks and football memorabilia
during a charity auction. The evening raised a staggering £17,000
for the Marina Dalglish Appeal.
"I decided to organise the Charity Glitter Ball back in May as a
result of loosing my grandmother to breast cancer back in May 2006.
I felt I really wanted to do something to help people who are
suffering and after learning about Marina's appeal and how hard she
has worked I felt she was the one I wanted to help. (Also my
grandmother was a true red and would have been so proud)
I organised the whole event on my own which was a challenge as I've
never so much as organised a birthday party before.
What started
out as a small event snowballed into a black tie dinner with guests
of 250.
After 6 months of hard work the Glitter Ball came to a head on 2
November 2007. It was a fantastic evening which began with a
champagne reception, then a six course meal followed by a raffle and
auction. The evening then carried on with entertainment from Motown
Magic followed by a disco into the early hours of the morning.
After so much positive feedback and raising just over £17.000 I've
decided to make it an annual event. Next years evening will take
place on Saturday 8 November 2008 again at Formby Hall Golf Resort
and Spa. Hopefully being bigger and better than the previous one."
Nicola told us.
If you can help with donations to the next event in the form of
raffle prizes and things to go into goody bags, please contact our
news desk and we will pass your information on to Nicola.
Also other events for the appeal are being prepared for 2008, and we
will be bringing you information as soon as we can about them.
Search 4 A Star Contestant Sings at the Latin Lounge
THE Latin
Lounge, Southport, yet again had live entertainment, via 2007 Search
For A Star contestant, who sang the night away and was well
appreciated.
Flava Bar Under New Management
FLAVA Bar on Lord street,
Southport, is one of the many venues in Southport having a re-vamp.
Flava is now under new management and is offering Student nights on
Mondays and cool DJ's over the weekends and throughout the week.
 |
