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Telegraph
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Last St John Ambulance marching band threatened with eviction
Britain's last St John Ambulance marching band faces eviction as the charity's head office cuts costs. The band, based on Kent's Isle of Sheppey, has until next month to find a new home after the organisation moved to cut its property portfolio by three quarters. The musicians have met to practice at their current meeting hall, in Halfway on the Isle of Sheppey, for 50 years. But the group only has eight weeks to find another venue or raise funds to buy the property. Now, it has written a letter to the charity's patron – the King – in an effort to save its hut. Ben Pointing, 43, the band's spokesman and a drummer for the ensemble, said: 'The last remaining St John Ambulance marching band in the UK is being forced out of its home. 'Our building at Halfway was gifted by Lord Harris in 1974 and built with funds raised by the community. 'Now it is being sold by St John Ambulance HQ in London as part of a nationwide 75 per cent reduction of its properties.' The band, established in 1946, is about to celebrate its 80th anniversary. Cadets and adult volunteers also provide first-aid services for island events. Another band member, who wished to remain anonymous for fear of being suspended by the charity, said: 'It's a vital service. We live in a deprived area and we get incredible support from our community. 'We just want them to engage with us. There is a lot of financial pressure, which we understand, but there is always a solution that works for all. 'We are all volunteers – we give up our lives for this and this is the sort of respect we get at the moment. 'It's horrible. I have done nearly 50 years of service with this organisation and I don't think I have ever been treated so poorly... it's not always about the money; it's about the community. That's what the charity should be about.' The Isle of Sheppey premises officially closes on Aug 31, meaning the band, which has regularly played at the Lord Mayor's Show in London, now has just four weeks before it is left homeless. The band has been offered an alternative premises by the charity, more than 25 miles away in Rochester, Kent, which does not have space to house its instruments. A St John Ambulance spokesman said: 'St John Ambulance values the long-standing service and dedication of Sheppey band members, and we recognise the strong connection they have to the building that has been their home since the 1970s. 'We are strongly committed to the future of the band in the region and there has never been any suggestion the band should be disbanded. 'Our focus is on ensuring that both the band and other St John members, including our cadets and badgers, have a suitable meeting place that can continue to meet both its and the wider organisation's needs into the future. 'The decision to close the building took a range of factors into account, including its use, condition, running costs and long-term sustainability. 'This review was part of St John Ambulance's strategy to develop a high-quality estate supporting the delivery of high-quality first-aid and community services across the country.
BBC News
29-07-2025
- General
- BBC News
Britain's last St John Ambulance marching band evicted
Britain's last remaining St John Ambulance marching band has been told it must leave its home in Kent as the building is put up for band is based in Halfway, on the Isle of Sheppey, and says it was told three weeks ago that it must leave the property by 31 August.A spokesperson said the band was offered a new premises 25 miles away in Rochester but members declined because it was "unsuitable" and not big enough to store their John Ambulance said it was committed to the future of the band and is working to find a new premises. The building is used as a meeting place by the band, as well as other groups associated with St John member Ben Pointing said: "Our building in Queenborough Road was gifted by Lord Harris in 1974 and built with funds raised by the community."Now it is being sold by St John Ambulance HQ in London."We were given just eight weeks to find a new venue despite the building costing the organisation nothing."Mr Pointing said members are now "desperate" to find a suitable home, central to Sheppey, which has enough space to practice their routines and store their instruments."All of this comes just months before our 80th anniversary which is a milestone now overshadowed by uncertainty and disappointment," he added."The band, our youth and our volunteers all deserve better."A fundraiser has been set up to help secure new premises for the band or to pay for instrument storage until a new home is found.A spokesperson for St John Ambulance said the organisation was closing the building after reviewing its use, condition, running costs and long-term sustainability."We are strongly committed to the future of the band in the region and there has never been any suggestion the band should be disbanded."Our focus is on ensuring that both the band and other St John members, including our Cadets and Badgers, have a suitable meeting place that can continue to meet both their and the wider organisation's needs into the future," a spokesperson added.
