Volunteers with St John Ambulance, the nation’s leading first aid charity, took time out recently to say thank you to the Masons for the donation of a new ambulance which will be based at the charity’s Denton unit.

The new ambulance is one of over 50 vehicles which are being handed over in England, Wales, Northern Ireland, the Isle of Man and the Channel Islands in a phased programme from October 2017 and throughout 2018.

The vehicles have been secured thanks to a capital grant by the Mark Master Masons through their Mark Benevolent Fund to the Order of St John with the specific aim of providing new ambulances, treatment centres and support vehicles to St John Ambulance, the Order’s operational arm in England and the Islands.

The Denton vehicle will be put to use at events in the county as volunteers deliver life saving first aid to members of the public.

Alex McLaren, Provincial Grand Master at the Mark Master Masons in East Lancashire, said: ‘We’re delighted to be able to support St John Ambulance and the life saving work that they do.’

Darren Clark, Chair of the Greater Manchester County Priory Group, said: ‘The donation of this vehicle is wonderful news for the county and will significantly help enhance patient care and contribute to more lives saved locally. We’re immensely grateful to the Mark Master Masons in the East Lancashire Province and to the Mark Benevolent Fund for their generosity and we look forward to seeing the positive use made by local St John Ambulance volunteers of the vehicle in the future as they continue the charity’s life saving mission.’

PRESS RELEASE USED BY KIND PERMISSION OF ST JOHN’S AMBULANCE