00:00For the band members of St John Ambulance in Sheppey, this is the sound of unity, friendship
00:13and passion. Something they are fighting to preserve following an eviction notice from
00:19the charity.
00:20Unfortunately St John nationally is going through a little bit of a financial crisis
00:24and they are now reducing their portfolio of properties and therefore we have been under
00:29a review for the last four years, so really unsure of what is going on and whether we
00:34are going to be closed or not. Dramatically reducing the amount of buildings that they
00:40own because of the cost and we were told on the 26th of July with no pre-warning that we
00:47were being closed and we had eight weeks to leave the premises.
00:51The 38 person unit, with members ranging from 90 to 10 years old, is rallying to keep
00:58the St John Ambulance to change its mind.
01:01What do you think of the decision?
01:03Me!
01:04Without the band, I would have nothing. It's my life. It's given me a good life and I don't
01:15want to see that disappear. The friendship of the band is even better than can I say a family.
01:25I've been coming for a year, well not even a year yet, and now they're closing and if
01:32they move I won't be able to go.
01:36The MP for Sittingbourne and Cheppy has urged a public consultation, hoping to reverse the
01:43plan.
01:44We've got 83 people associated with this branch. That's a lot of individuals and then their wider
01:49friends and family. Clearly actually this is a nucleus that they could be building around.
01:54And to lose that bit of the heritage, I think it loses part of the soul of what St John's Ambulance actually is.
02:00St John Ambulance said the decision to close the unit, which has been standing since the 1970s, has been made
02:09because of a range of factors, such as cost, sustainability and the building's condition.
02:15Even though they recognise and honour the commitment of the unit, it says plans must be made for the future.
02:22However, the Sheppard community has come forth to help the unit find a new home.
02:29We've been offered around about 15 different premises to go and have a look at, which is brilliant.
02:35Obviously they've got to serve our requirements and we don't want to sound ungrateful because, you know,
02:40even if we had to go six floors up and cart drums around just still to be part of this island's community, then we would do that.
02:47Even though its eviction is planned for next month, its members are standing in arms so that they can continue playing together.
02:57Henry Luck for KMTV on the Isle of Sheppey.
