St John Ambulance volunteers in Lowestoft have welcomed a prestigious visitor to their training centre.

Surgeon Rear Admiral Lionel Jarvis visited their training centre in Oxford Road, Lowestoft last week.

Dr Jarvis is Prior of the Priory of England and the Islands of the Order of St John and is Chairman of the national Board of Trustees for St John Ambulance.

He met more than 50 volunteers from the nation's leading first aid charity – including cadets and members of the St John Fellowship.

The Cadet unit gave a demonstration of their wide ranging first aid activities, including casualty simulation. The Prior was then shown a practical scenario of advanced first aid followed by a demonstration from the cycle response unit of their technical road skills and their state-of-the-art cycles, which cost £5,000 fully equipped.

The St John Ambulance Heritage Centre was viewed by the Prior, and Fellowship members explained the 102-year history of the Lowestoft Unit.

He presented a 25 year membership certificate to Beryl Bendell, a certificate marking Brian Hall's time as Cadet Divisional Superintendent, and Commendation Certificates to Alex Hepburn, Sadie Heath and Corey Soanes following their handling of a recent first aid incident.

Duncan Parnell and Tony Curd presented the Prior with a special copy of their book 'St John Ambulance Lowestoft, 100 photographs for 100 years'.

The Prior was accompanied on his visit by a team from St John Ambulance; Suffolk County President Laura Wallace, District Manager Tony Curd, Area Manager Conrad Butcher and the District Cadet of the Year Logan Marriott.

He was greeted by Cadet Unit Leader Maxine Mitchell and Adult Unit Manager, Lynne Slowey.

Speaking about his visit, Dr Jarvis said: 'I thoroughly enjoyed my visit, especially the immense enthusiasm shown by all the Suffolk volunteers.'

Lynne Slowey, Unit Manager, said after the visit: 'The Prior was genuinely interested in our work and we were really pleased to welcome him to Lowestoft to explain the impact our life saving volunteers have had in our community.'

Have you got a Lowestoft story? Send your details to senior reporter Mark Boggis via mark.boggis@archant.co.uk