A PENSIONER who has volunteered with the St John Ambulance service for nearly seven decades and served at both the Queen’s coronation and Churchill’s funeral is this week’s local hero.

John Wright has volunteered with the charity for 67 years and has been promoted to the position of commander within the Order of St John.

The 85-year-old’s promotion recognises his years of service and his work as both an ambulance volunteer and as a youth leader.

Mr Wright, from Yapton, near Bognor, has performed lifesaving cardiopulmonary resuscitation at least ten times while working as a volunteer and more recently as a community first responder for South East Coast Ambulance Service.

In his long career Mr Wright also volunteered with the ambulance service at Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953 and at the state funeral of wartime Prime Minister Winston Churchill in 1965.

He has also volunteered much of his spare time to passing on his first aid skills to the next generations of lifesavers with the Bognor Regis Cadets.

Mr Wright said: “My volunteering role with St John Ambulance volunteers has allowed me to help ensure first aid is available and whenever it is needed.

“I feel honoured to have been recognised as commander and I would encourage as many people as possible to learn first aid so they too can be the difference between a life lost and life saved.”

As Mr Wright was honoured, 8-year-old Abigail Betsworth, from Barnham, and 15-year-old Poppy Shallis, from Bognor, were also honoured for their work with the district group. Bognor Regis Cadets and Badgers are keen for more young people to join the units, which meet weekly for around two hours on a Thursday evening. Anyone interested in getting involved with the charity should contact Christine McIntyre on 01243 555485.