2:37pm Thursday 30th March 2006
By Lewis Cowen
LITTLE Sophie Bryant from Pewsey came face to face with her namesake last week when she presented a posy to the Countess of Wessex, who had come to Devizes to open the Wiltshire St John Ambulance's new headquarters building.
Sophie, 11, is a member of the Pewsey Badger group, the junior section of St John, which provides voluntary first aid cover at public events and arranges first aid courses for businesses, community groups and individual residents.
She was selected to present the posy as a reward for giving a particularly good turn-out at a recent annual inspection and, despite being extremely nervous, presented the posy to the Countess at the end of her visit last Thursday.
The Countess, who last visited Devizes in January 2003 with her husband the Earl, formerly known as Prince Edward, is the Grand President of the Priory of St John Ambulance.
She arrived at the new HQ in company with Lord Lieutenant of Wiltshire, John Bush, and Chief Constable Martin Richards.
She was introduced to the High Sheriff of Wiltshire, David Margesson, the vice chairman of Wiltshire County Council, Coun Kevin Wren, the chairman of Kennet District Council, Coun Peter Richardson, and the Mayor of Devizes, Coun Peter Evans.
Inside, the Commander of St John Ambulance Wiltshire, Colonel Robert Rowe, introduced the Countess to Libby Anson, chairman of the fundraising committee which raised the £420,000 needed to cover the difference between the sale of the former HQ, St John House in Devizes, and the building of the new centre.
Some £25,000 of that was raised by sale of bricks and Mrs Anson showed the Countess one of three "walls of bricks" donated by companies and individuals from all over the county.
The Countess then met St John members from all over the county.
She spoke to Patricia Harvey from Salisbury, who often provides first aid cover at Salisbury racecourse. Mrs Harvey said: "I told her I always put a bet on the Queen's horse and sometimes I win!"
She heard from members of the Devizes division how the Badger and Cadet sections are thriving but they have had to close their adult section because of lack of members.
Member in charge Sarah Banks said: "We have a total of 21 cadets and Badgers and we meet on Wednesday evenings at the Canal Centre on Wharfside.
"We have no adult section at the moment, but we are looking for volunteers to start one up again."
If anyone can help, they should phone Mrs Banks on (01380) 723886.
Pewsey's is the youngest division in the county, having been set up three years ago.
Division officer Ray Hinson said: "Originally we were part of Wiltshire Red Cross but St John adopted us. We have seven or eight cadets, 12 Badgers and ten in our adult division, some of whom are from Devizes.
"We meet at Wilcot because it is halfway between the two."
One of the Pewsey cadets, 14-year-old Luke Ratcliffe, said he joined St John because he is looking at a career as a paramedic.
His fellow cadet, 16-year-old Lauren Arlott, has her sights set on going into nursing or midwifery.
After being shown round the first floor offices, the Countess was invited to sign the visitors' book.
Then it was Sophie's big moment and the Countess happily posed for pictures with her.
After unveiling the plaque to mark the opening of the new HQ, which has actually been in operation since last September, the Countess paid tribute to the volunteers of Wiltshire St John Ambulance.
She said: "What a lovely visit this has been, and especially to meet the Badgers who are normally all at school.
"Thank you for all the work you do for St John and for the community. You turn out week in, week out, year in, year out and many events would not take place without your efforts."
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