Two off road training days which took place in the Medway area allowed a number of our volunteers to experience driving their 4x4 vehicles on challenging routes. They were overseen by a trained off road instructor who is a member of our team. There are occasions when a call out requires our on call team to head off road; preparation for these situations is paramount.
South East 4x4 Response members attending Kent County Show were delighted to be talking to visitors about the support work that we, as volunteers, undertake during the year. We have been pleased to welcome a number who have joined our team in recent months. We were thrilled to be awarded the Best Charity/Volunteer Organisation Award by the Kent County Show team; it made us feel very valued.
South East 4x4 Response were proudly supporting Cancer Research UK at the Race for Life in Mote Park, Maidstone, over the weekend!
We were pleased to join other emergency volunteer services sharing what we do to support Kent Police at their annual show. This year our brand new emergency inflatable shelter was on show along with much of the equipment we have for our volunteers to use, dependent on the situation we have been called to support.
Several South East 4x4 Response members were at Minnis Bay to support Kent Fire and Rescue Service at their Meet and Greet afternoon for the local population. For us, this was the second of several being held. A good time was had by all attending.
South East 4x4 Response members were delighted to support Lenham Parish Council's event which gave the Royal Electrical And Mechanical Engineers (REME) Freedom of the Parish, 80 years after the Lenham tragedy when 46 REME personnel lost their lives after a V1 "flying bomb" crashed into the living accommodation of the 6 Guards Tank Brigade Workshop. Twelve of our volunteers used their vehicles to close roads at specific times to stop the traffic so that the parade could move safely to and from the Lenham Square across the very busy A20 for a Remembrance Service in the cemetery. Members also held back traffic from entering the village whilst the event took place. The police were on hand along with marshalls to support as well. We were proud to be part of such a memorable and moving event.
We are extremely grateful to Logistics and Security, Maidstone, who have kindly donated two fire safety sticks to help equip our two new lottery funded response trailers. The presentation by Lawrence Cullinane and Matt Bassett to Max Webb, Trustee and Information Office, South East 4x4 Response, took place at Leeds Castle
South East 4x4 Response, are celebrating being awarded £10,000 in National Lottery funding. The cheque presented by Helen Bonser-Wilton, Chief Executive of Leeds Castle will support our work with providing voluntary assistance to emergency services, communities, Kent County Council and other agencies, particularly in time of adverse weather and when resources are stretched. We have used the money to replace our pre-existing response trailer with two new trailers and to refurbish the livery on an older trailer.
We are delighted to welcome the latest volunteers to our expanding team who completed their two day training this weekend. Well done all! Pictured here with our CEO, David Mills, and our Training Officer, Ross Hart.
This week, we wish to give a massive thank you to all our volunteers, both past and present, for their unfailing support of South East 4x4 Response to ensure that we are a very successful organisation in supporting our communities in difficult times and adverse weather throughout Kent and Medway. Many organisations also rely on volunteers, week in - week out, in order to support and provide support to the many communities and organisations throughout the UK. We thank them all.
