Rotherham St Johns volunteers chosen for King's Coronation celebration

Jay Hughes and Michelle Hartley have been allocated places by St John Ambulance for the concert at Windsor Castle on Saturday.

Jay has been a volunteer since he was 14, when he joined as a cadet, learnt basic first aid skills and attended community events, including Rotherham United matchdays.

He is now a qualified paramedic but still serves St John as a volunteer, youth group leader and first aid trainer.

Michelle, a youth leader with 17 years’ experience, said she was excited about the trip to Windsor and hoped to catch a glimpse of the coronation procession through London.

Jay (23), of Catcliffe, explained: “St John Ambulance was given ten pairs of tickets for the Coronation celebrations at Windsor castle.

“In order to be selected for the ballot, I had to have served three years of voluntary service and nominate another volunteer who met this requirement.

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“I nominated Michelle, thinking no more of it, and thinking we wouldn’t be selected.

“A week later, I received a call from the head of the chancery for St John and was told that myself and Michelle had been selected, along with a small number of other volunteers from across the country to attend the celebrations at Windsor Castle.

“We will be making our way down to London on the coronation morning and we are most looking forward to watching to procession down the mall, the King’s appearance on the balcony of Buckingham Palace and finally attending the concert at Windsor Castle.”

Michelle, of Bolton on Dearne, said: “I still can’t believe St John had ten pairs of tickets and we got one. We initially thought we’d have to go in uniform but St John said we can wear what we want so I couldn’t resist getting a new dress.

“I hope we can see some of the procession, too — even just to catch a glimpse would be amazing.”

She added: “Jay was actually one of my cadets.

“I joined the junior section, the Badgers, when I was about seven but sadly that group folded a few years later. I rejoined when I was 17 and am now a youth leader and help run our cadet division.

“The young people we have coming through are brilliant. They work really hard and have first aid skills you would not believe.”