Thanks to John Edmead for this picture.

Here is the pic of the Sheppey Division, St John Ambulance Cadets in 1977, shortly after the amalgamation of the Halfway and Sheerness Divisions.

The event was an inspection/presentation ceremony at Halfway Houses School hall.

We marched the short distance from the St John hall at Halfway to the school. Incredibly we marched on the road, in the early evening, something not even the army feel safe to do nowadays. The traffic must have been less! Mind you health and safety wasn't the spoilsport force it is nowadays; Count the boys in the picture, I can remember one incident where we all bundled into the back of the ambulance, amid a pile of bicycles and other equipment to go to an event.

At the time I was just starting the 2nd year at Danley Middle School, but I went to Halfway prior to that. A small feature visible in the pic that people might recall are the two metal bars on the wall used for clipping the PE benches to, to make a slide.

Of the adults in the picture, it has to be noted how (with all due respect) 'mature' they look. Some fine rows of gongs on display though. One adult face that is missing is that of Mr Willer, (Whiller?) the guy in charge of the cadets, maybe he ran away before the inspection took place!? We did look a bit hotch potch;

The old 1950's style boys cadet uniform of grey flannel shirt with metal buttons, enamel beret badge and knitted tie (with the three stripes on the knot!) was starting to be phased out. A handful are wearing the 'new' black and whites.

If my memory serves me well, it was the medal encrusted gentleman on the right of the picture who inspected us. He told me I looked very smart, and so I did, at least once in my life.

Of the cadets, I have put some names to individual faces and a couple of other silly memories on the Friends Reunited entry for the Sheppey SJAB, so if anyone can help add some more... http://www.friendsreunited.co.uk/FriendsReunited.ASP?WCI=PictureBoard&team_key=12578