TRIBUTES have been paid to Divisional Superintendent of the St John Ambulance in Okehampton Jenny Hicks who died recently.
She was described by acting cadet leader Judy Sanders as 'the most dedicated, caring person who was committed to St John and helping people'.
Jenny, who was in her late 50s, re-formed the cadet force a year after joining the St John Division in 1993 when she moved to the Okehampton area.
Being an active member in the adults she provided first aid at many local events such as the Okehampton and Chagford agricultural shows, Cross Rhythms festivals and horse events and such was her dedication that she rarely missed a training session.
She attended many training courses to improve her capabilities in order to provide a higher quality of service to those she trained, patients she administered and organisations with which she communicated.
The St John member was promoted to the rank of divisional superintendent in 1998 but continued to run the cadets.
In the summer of 1999 Jenny was diagnosed with a rare form of terminal cancer and at various times offered her resignation but neither the division's committee or county officers accepted this because they knew of her dedication to the organisation.
St John members in Okehampton said in a few years in the organisation Jenny gave more service to it and the public of mid-Devon than most people could hope to achieve in their lifetimes and her dearest wish would be to see a boost in membership in the cadet force.
Judy Sanders said even through her illness Jenny was as dedicated as ever and not long after she was diagnosed she spent all day with St John evacuating people from the village of Instow after a first world war bomb was washed up on the beach.
'She gave her all right up until the end and we all miss her dreadfully,' she said.
Jenny Hicks was also chairman of the local branch of the Friends of St Loye's College.