CADETS of the St John Ambulance’s Oswestry Unit were presented with awards from the county's top brass, all for efforts completed despite the challenges of Covid.

In a special awards evening and social gathering, young cadets of the volunteer-led First Aid charity were presented with certificates in recognition of earning their Grand Prior Award.

The awards were presented by Kate Ware, St John’s Shropshire county president, and David Davies, Shropshire Priory Group chairman, who commented how impressed they were with the Cadets and congratulated them for all the effort they had put in.

St John Cadets, as well as keeping their First Aid skills up to date, complete a range of topics such as leadership and teamwork, adventure skills, casualty simulation, power of communication, among others.

These units lead to Bronze, Silver, Gold and finally the Grand Prior Award on completing 16 topics.

A spokesman for the organisation said: "The scheme encourages the young people to be creative, adaptable and conscientious.”

The ongoing Covid-19 pandemic left cadets and their leaders unable to meet face to face, instead meeting virtually and kept in touch to study and maintain their development and skills.

At the same ceremony where the cadets were presented with their awards, a service award was presented to David Matthews for 20 years’ service to St John Ambulance and Georgina Buxton for 10 years’ service.

The pair had been unable to attend the County Awards ceremony held earlier, in which service awards are usually presented.

Oswestry Cadets meet on a Tuesday evening from 6-7.30pm and interested young people are encouraged to email brad.pritchard@sja.org.uk