IN THE first article in this series on August 9 we considered the early history of the St John Ambulance Association (SJAA), a branch of which had been formed in High Wycombe in the 1880s following an initiative by the Volunteer Fire Brigade.

Its mission was to provide training in first aid on a voluntary basis to people and organisations in Wycombe.

These included not only the Fire Brigade but the Tricycle Club, and the Borough and County Police Forces.

The initiative for the formation of a local branch of the St John Ambulance Brigade (SJAB) took place at the end of the First World War.

The Bucks Free Press (BFP) reported that “A well attended meeting was held on Wednesday evening, July 23 1919, at the Headquarters of the 1st Battalion Bucks Volunteers (the Home Guard of WWI) to consider the formation of a St John Ambulance Brigade for High Wycombe”.

A Dr C.A.Parker, who was later to become the Divisional Superintendent of the Brigade from 1933-1938, presided at the meeting.

He explained that “it had always been the ambition of the Ambulance Section of the Volunteers that as soon as military work was at an end a St John Ambulance Brigade would be formed”.

This would “carry on the training, it being felt that such a Brigade would be of value to the town, with its large numbers engaged upon wood-working machinery”.

Mr E. McDermott put forward the motion that a Brigade should be formed for High Wycombe & District.

This was carried unanimously and a sub-committee formed to “consider further details”.

The sub-committee reported back at a meeting on August 13 1919, with Dr Parker again presiding, with a good attendance.

He said that he had approached the Mayor and a number of prominent townspeople, and visited the headquarters of the Brigade in London and obtained copies of the rules and regulations, which he tabled at the meeting.

He went on to propose that “the Association should enlist the sympathies of masters and men in all factories and workshops, so that all accidents may promptly be dealt with, thus saving serious complications. Furthermore that they should combine with the Town Council and the Police Force.

A list of those men with their business and private addresses qualified to render first aid had been furnished to the Superintendent.”

The Divisional rules were read to the meeting:

• Entrance fee – 4 shillings

• Annual membership fee – 4 shillings, payable quarterly

The Membership Roll was signed by those certificated members present and the following were appointed officers of the Division:

• Medical Officer Dr C.A.Parker

• Superintendent Mr J.Bailey

• Ambulance Officer Mr E.McDermott

• First Class Sergeant Mr Pitman

• Corporals Mr J.Menday and Mr B.Payne

• Secretary Mr R.M.Blaikie

Dr Parker also said that it was hoped that Major Reynolds would become an Honorary Member and also Treasurer.

One of the first tasks of this newly formed High Wycombe branch of the St John Ambulance Brigade (SJBA) was to arrange to “visit Loakes Park [then the home of Wycombe Wanderers football club] whenever football matches are played, and render assistance, if required, to any injured players”.

That assistance continues to this day and is not only to the players, when necessary, but also to the spectators.

One of the first, if not the first, matches they would have attended was on September 27 when the Wanderers entertained Reading Utd in the Preliminary round of the F A Cup.

This was played in the midst of the national furniture industry lock-out strike, which caused great hardship in Wycombe, so the Wanderers committee kept the entrance price to the “lowest possible minimum”.

But they thought it appropriate to warn that when “normal conditions were resumed” they would be compelled to raise the price to 8d.

The Wanderers won the match 6-2, with Frank Adams scoring a hat-trick.

They went on to beat Maidenhead and Slough in the next rounds, before losing to Hampstead Town 4-1.

With the SJBA established, Mr R M Blaikie, who was the principal of a local firm of accountants with offices at No. 27 High St, was appointed Divisional Superintendent, and Dr Parker Divisional Surgeon.

One of the first improvements to the Brigade was the acquisition of a means of transporting patients to the Cottage Hospital in Priory Road.

This was a St John’s litter, a body-sized covered basket on wheels.

With no external means of propulsion, the litter had to be propelled by manual labour. This was no easy task in a very hilly district like Wycombe!

If any readers have been members of the St John Ambulance Brigade, or have experienced their assistance, and would like to share their memories, please contact me, Mike Dewey on 01494 755070 or email deweymiked@aol.com.