A HUSBAND and wife team from Brynmawr helped save their local St John Ambulance branch from closure, after increasing the membership more than tenfold in just eight years.

Pam Hancock joined the local branch in 1999 and her husband Rob two years later when she needed an extra pair of hands.

When they started, it was at risk of shutting down as they had just six members and no one to run the classes.

Eight years later and thanks to the Hancocks' tireless efforts, the membership has increased to 75.

Pam, 48, is a cook at All Saints Road Catholic School in Ebbw Vale and Rob, 45, is a baker at Brynmawr Asda.

Pam said: "I became involved by accident, when the branch was going to close someone asked me to come along and as they say the rest is history.

"If the ambulance service receive a 999 call and can't get there in a reasonable time we will attend the scene until they arrive."

"We won't get called out to every kind of emergency but there are 117 we can attend, like heart attacks."

Pam and Rob are always looking for new members, and they are also fundraising for a new ambulance.

The Cardiff headquarters will provide half of the £50,000 required, and the group has collected £23,000 so far.

Pam said: "The one we've got is 14-years-old and although it's very faithful it's a bit out of date to say the least."

  • Meetings are held at Brynmawr St John Ambulance Hall in George Street, children on Mondays and adults on Wednesdays.