St John Ambulance on the move in Letchworth GC

THE Letchworth GC division of St John Ambulance is on the move for the first time in over half a century.

Their new �20,000 headquarters in Lacre Way will be opened by Stuart Kenny, director general of Letchworth Garden City Heritage Foundation, on Sunday, and replace the wooden building in Birds Hill.

David Larke, spokesman for the St John Letchworth GC division, said: "We are delighted to be officially opening the Lacre Way premises.

"We have been based at Birds Hill since 1953 and, while the building there holds much fondness for the division, we have reached a point where, for a number of reasons, it is no longer fit for purpose."

The new premises include training rooms and a kitchen area, which will be used for the division's weekly training meetings, and an office from which to run the division's wheelchair loan service. It will be open on Mondays and Thursdays between 7.30pm and 8.30pm.

The division has worked hard to raise the funds for the project from donations and events in the town and the old building will be put up for sale.

Mr Larke said: "On behalf of the division I would like to thank everyone who has helped in any way, no matter how big or small, to support us.

"None of this would have been possible without the kind donations and help we have received and we are very grateful. We are now looking forward to settling into our new building."

Children aged six to 10 can join St John as Badgers and begin learning important life and social skills in a fun and interactive way.

Cadets aged 11 to18 begin to use their new-found first aid, communication and leadership skills by accompanying adult members to give first aid cover.

Members of the Letchworth GC division attend many local events, from school and garden fetes to the town centre Christmas lights switch-on.

They also support large county events such as the Sonisphere festival at Knebworth House, and national events such as the London Marathon.