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Taunton Courier, and Western Advertiser Wednesday 30 Sep 1931
Page 2 Column 2
WORK OF THE RED CROSS.
MEDALS FOR TAUNTON AMBULANCE SECTION.
The Mayor of Taunton, Councillor C. Harold GOODLAND, attended a social held at the British School, Taunton, on Tuesday evening, to present certificates and badges awarded to members of the Somerset (23) Voluntary Aid Detachments of the British Red Cross Society. The presentation was preceded by a short concert given by Mr. Bob STEVENS and his party. Mr. STEVENS was thanked by Mr. S. WHITE, commandant of the detachment.
Mr. WHITE said they were proud of their detachment, and the members who had gained awards thoroughly deserved them. Since the detachment was re-formed in 1924, one hundred and sixty members had sat in British Red Cross Society examinations. Of that number, one hundred and fifty-two passed. In 1930 there were 29 members examined, and 27 passed. Of the ten who sat for the nursing examination last year nine were successful. Road scouts and men in charge of first-aid boxes frequently sat for the Society's first-aid examinations. The Commandant added that he would like to see more people from outside the Society sitting for these annual examinations. Altogether the two ambulances have covered 70,000 miles, the longest journey being to North Wales, a distance of 168 miles. All the ambulance work was quite voluntary, and the members of the detachment put in many hours in examinations and drills. He appealed to those present to do all they could to help the Red Cross Society and inform their friends of the good work that is being done. Mr. WHITE thanked the Mayor, who is chairman of the Ambulance Committee, for presenting the prizes.
TOWN'S APPRECIATION.
On behalf of the townspeople of Taunton, Mr. GOODLAND said how greatly the work of the men and the ambulance is appreciated in Taunton and district. “I was rather bewildered,” he continued, “at seeing all these certificates and medals, but one thing which stood out was the Red Cross. All of us, from the time we were small children, learnt to severe <sic> and honour the Red Cross. It seems to me, that we, in this country, hardly realise the amount of work that is put in by ambulance men and women.” This, he said, was only a small part of the great amount of voluntary work which is being done by societies and organisations throughout this country. He hoped that the Taunton detachment would get more efficient and that they would increase in strength. The Mayor apologised for the absence of the Mayoress, Mrs. GOODLAND.
The awards were as follows:-
First certificates – Ernest CULVER, Leonard CANN(?), Harold Edwin MATRAVERS, Sidney Ernest OATEN, Sidney Owen PERKINS, Ronald PUDNER, Clifford Sidney ROSEWARNE, William Henry STUTT, Leslie SMITH, Rupert William WAKEFORD, and Sidney John WILLIAMS.
Second advanced certificates – Frederick Henry Ernest BOND, David Thomas HAWKINS, Percival James HARDING, Charles PRING, and George Aldhelm Frederick REEVES.
Proficiency badges – Albert John HUXTABLE, Gilbert James MAPLEDORAM, William Clifford BOND, and George Robert James BARTON.
Profficiency bars – William Frederick R. CLARK, Walter HILL, Walter Leslie George HILL, George David LAVEROCK, John NEWTON, Charles WILLIAMS, Wilfred John YARD.
A newly issued badge for three years' service, with a bar for every succeeding three years up to 12 years, was awarded to Quarter-master W. HILL (12 years), Head Section Leader W. L. G. HILL (six years), Second Leader W. CLARK (six years), G. L. MAPLEDORAM, A. P. B. BROOM, and A. J. HUXTABLE (three years).
A dance, for which Clarence BROWN's Orchestra was engaged followed.