Aid Came First From The Railmen (24 September 1976)

My congratulations to the Bletchley St. John Ambulance Brigade on reaching the 50^th anniversary of their formation.  Theirs is a long and honourable story of voluntary public work if ever there was one.

Actually, first-aid work in Bletchley goes back a good deal further than 50 years.  As with so many other movements in the then one-industry town, it began among railwaymen.  Towards the end of last century the railway company and their employees alike were becoming increasingly concerned at the number of injury – accidents involving passengers, railmen, postmen and others using the railway.  First aid classes were organised and railmen were encouraged to join them by the offer of special privileges, such as extra free passes.

Throughout the country there was a general public awakening to the value of prompt and skilled attention.  So in 1888 the modern Order of St John was chartered and began to organise the movement, to foster first-aid and to set standards of proficiency with the aid of doctor lecturers and examiners.

The St John Ambulance association was then formed and in 1898 the North Bucks Centre of the association was established.  Other North Bucks groups went under their town names, but the Bletchley group was known as Bletchley Station for some time.

There were about 40 qualified railmen at the time and the main equipment was kept handily at the station.  The town as a whole, however, was not neglected by those who were also members of the association.  During those years a first-aid box was fixed to the outer wall of the council offices at Fenny and stocked by Col P B Giles.  Later, some equipment was also kept at the police station in Simpson Road.

When motorised ambulances came into being, the local urban council acquired one for use in co-operation with St John.  It was kept at McLaren’s garage in Fenny High Street and its council driver was Mr Horace Hawes, who lived in a cottage nearby.

But what persuaded the association men to set up their own town brigade 50 years ago?  Former superintendent, Mr Fred Barden, who was a railman and was in the brigade from its inception, tells me that a main reason was one of recognition by the public.  They had been allowed to wear only armbands and consequently were apt to be pushed around or over-looked, or ignored when attending public events.  Their presence in full uniform put an end to all that.

Mr Brown was the first superintendent, followed by Mr Tugwell, then Mr A Underwood and then Mr Barden.

Mr Barden was in charge during the whole of the last war and for some years afterwards.  He organised the men’s ARP side in the town.  Headquarters were at the Bletchley Road Clinic and were manned by St John men day and night.  He has vivid memories of Bletchley’s worst-ever train crash which occurred in the blackout in December 1939, and in which four people were killed and 40 injured.

A permanent HQ became an increasingly pressing need and eventually salvation came in the form of a bequest of three to four thousand pounds from Mrs Emily Brooks, which enabled them to open their present headquarters in Sherwood Drive in 1962, the late Mr Bert Weatherhead (president) and the later Mr Ernest Dodd being great helpers.  In 1966 further financial help came under the will of Mr Joseph Underwood.

When Mr Barden retired after 40 years’ St John service, he was followed in charge successively by Mr Frank Clarke, Mr Bill Atkins, Mr Len Torode, Mr R H Bettam and the present Mr John Littlechild, who has Mr Peter Kirkham as transport officer.  Two Bletchley men are also northern area officers – Mr H J Bonarius, being acting area superintendent, and Mr E J Irons, area staff officer.

A remarkable fact is that throughout the history of first aid in Bletchley there have been only three medical instructors – Dr Bradbrook from 1897 to about 1929, Dr Francis Morphy from 1930 to his retirement from general practice and now his son, Dr Brian Morphy.

Over the years a number of Bletchley men have been honoured by the Order.  The doyen of them all, Mr W Brown was made first a Serving Brother and then an Officer Brother.  Mr Barden was made a Serving Brother, followed by Mr Robert Frogley and Mr Clarke.  Last year Dr Morphy was also admitted a Serving Brother.

Mr Ron Pollard is the present president.

The crying need now is for more qualified men.  The present number of effective members – a mere 16 – may be fewer than at any time in the past 50 years.  When you consider the great number of men who in recent years have been certificated after taking St John courses, this is quite incredible.  But all the more praise to the gallant 16.