Ambulance champion dies aged 88 (From Kidderminster Shuttle)

Ambulance champion dies aged 88

12:00am Monday 4th February 2013 in News

A KIDDERMINSTER woman who dedicated her life to volunteering has died.

Cath Jennings worked with the St John Ambulance service for more than 50 years and also helped create the Wyre Forest Arboretum. She died on January 25, aged 88.

Mrs Jennings received an MBE from Prince Charles in 2004 for her work with the ambulance service and her dedication to conservation.

The Forestry Commission installed a bench in the arboretum in 2008 in honour of Mrs Jennings and her husband Fred to mark the 20 years of care and dedication they put in to the project which included giving their time to plant trees in the woodland.

Mrs Jennings’ daughter, Mary Phillips, said her mother, who was also a member of the Friends of Broadwaters, loved gardening and trees.

“They used to go to the arboretum every Monday for years,” she added.

“She used to go all over the county as a patient escort with St John Ambulance, before they had two people in ambulances.”

She went on: “She was very, very proud of her MBE. For her to get something like that was absolutely wonderful and a very proud moment for all the family.

“She was a wonderful mother, wife and grandma and will be sadly missed.”

Mrs Jennings also leaves behind her husband Fred, son Paul and granddaughter Nicole Jennings.