AWARDS, cups and medals were presented at a St John Ambulance ceremony held at the organisation’s headquarters on the Countess of Chester Health Park.

The event took place in the presence of the Lord Lieutenant of Cheshire David Briggs MBE and Lord Mayor of Chester Eleanor Johnson.

The commander for St John Ambulance Cheshire, Dr Don Fitzroy-Smith, welcomed guests to the ceremony and explained the tremendous service St John Ambulance Cheshire volunteers give to the community.

Last year the Cheshire volunteers provided first aid care at 740 local events and treated 1,700 patients. In total they completed 66,000 hours of service.

A vote of thanks from the Priory of England and the Islands was then given to Dr Leonard Kader by the Lord Lieutenant of Cheshire, who is also the county president for St John Ambulance Cheshire.

Dr Kader, who lives in Heswall, has served St John Ambulance in several counties over 35 years and has held senior positions in Cheshire and Berkshire. He was Cheshire’s Commander from 1985 to 1987. He continues to be one of the First Aid At Work course assessors in Chester.

Mr Briggs presented the Leverhulme Cup to Paula Davies, divisional officer of the Halton unit, for the best adult division performance in Cheshire.

Other medals, bars and certificates were presented to members of St John Ambulance Cheshire for their service to the community by the Lord Mayor of Chester and Halton deputy mayor Tom McInerney.