Caterham really rises to the occasion when it comes to learning how to save lives. Despite the awful weather, 256 people turned out to learn first aid for free with St John Ambulance at their Caterham HQ in Timber Hill Road. Once again the division topped the league for the numbers trained.

The free training day was held on Saturday 28th April at 15 venues across Surrey and as a result, If someone collapses in Surrey today, there are 1,238 more people out there in the community who would know what to do to help save their life.

High Sheriff of Surrey, Karin Sehmer and most of the mayors and council chairmen supported the event, attending their local centre and practising how to put casualties in the recovery position, clear their airway and perform chest compressions.

The Chairman of Tandridge District Council, Brian Perkins, is a firm believer in the importance of first aid. He is President of Felbridge and East Grinstead St John Division and St John Ambulance is one of his chosen charities for his year in office.

St John believes no-one should die from a lack of first aid knowledge, and this annual free training event has given a total of 7,745 people life saving skills since it was launched by Surrey St John in 2007. Caterham alone now has 1,396 people who know how to make the difference between life and death.

The training took place between 10am and 3pm at Addlestone, Ash Vale, Caterham, Cobham, Cranleigh, Dorking, Epsom, Farnham, Guildford, Haslemere, Horley, Leatherhead, Reigate, Walton on Thames and Woking.