Leading figures in Milton Keynes’ business and education communities took the opportunity to look round the new Nigel Mobbs Training Centre – named after the former Lord Lieutenant of Buckinghamshire – and to hear about the range of courses on offer.
The first aid charity is keen to develop its relationships with the expanding business and local communities of Milton Keynes.
Visitors to the open day heard about the various first aid courses which St John Ambulance provides for local businesses, as well as finding out how they might volunteer or engage the charity to provide support at specific events.
Former Barclays chairman Sir Brian Jenkins, who is now St John Ambulance Prior of the Priory of England and the Islands, was at the opening.
Sir Brian (pictured) said: "I am enormously impressed with this superb new building. It is the newest training centre in the country for St John Ambulance and has been thoughtfully designed to provide a state-of-the-art facility suitable for all the organisation’s needs. It will enable us to offer far more training courses to people throughout Milton Keynes, which in turn means more people will have potentially life-saving skills."
Buckinghamshire county director Clive Harrington said: "We are very proud of our new centre here which shows our commitment to the future of Milton Keynes. With our roots being founded in local industry of more than a century ago we are now passionate about developing long-lasting relationships with the very proactive and enthusiastic business people of the area."
St John Ambulance volunteers provided more than 110,000 hours service in Buckinghamshire last year.
The charity also trained many people in the basics of safety and first aid. St John Ambulance Buckinghamshire has 14 divisions – including Milton Keynes and Olney – and more than 1,000 members aged from five to 70.
