Outdoor exhibition celebrates 90 years of St John Ambulance & Rescue Service
- Free outdoor exhibition '90 Years of Service' opens 2 June at Guernsey Museum to mark the 90th anniversary of St John Ambulance & Rescue Service
- Display features large outdoor panels with historic photographs and research tracing the service from its origins with one second-hand ambulance to today's comprehensive organisation
- Exhibition created through partnership between Guernsey Museums & Galleries and the Ambulance Service
- Opening date coincides with actual anniversary of the first ambulance leaving Rohais station in 1936
- Exhibition runs until 6 September 2026 on the terrace at Candie Gardens with free entry
An outdoor exhibition celebrating nine decades of the St John Ambulance & Rescue Service will open at Guernsey Museum in June.
The free display, titled '90 Years of Service', marks the 90th anniversary of the creation of the ambulance service in 2026. Guernsey Museums & Galleries has partnered with the Ambulance Service to create the exhibition, which opens on 2 June — the actual anniversary of the service's first day of operation.
Located on the terrace outside Guernsey Museum at Candie Gardens, the exhibition features a series of large outdoor display panels telling the story of the service through words and images.
Historic photographs from the archives of both the Ambulance & Rescue Service and Guernsey Museums & Galleries have been combined with historical research to trace the organisation's development.
Visitors will be able to follow the service's journey from its humble origins with one second-hand ambulance housed in a garage at a concrete works, to the comprehensive organisation the island relies on today.
Matt Harvey, senior curator at Guernsey Museums & Galleries, said: "Guernsey Museums is delighted to be able to create a display representing such an important and venerated island organisation. The St John Ambulance & Rescue Service has been a lifeline to islanders since 1936 on both land and sea."
He added: "Everyone knows the Ambulance & Rescue Service - they are part of the island landscape. But I hope that the display will give visitors a deeper appreciation of their amazing work and highlight the energy, dedication and initiative that their members have shown over the last 90 years.
"I hope people will discover the many examples of how the service has led the way in the development of innovative and ground-breaking advances in emergency response and first-aid care over the years."
Dean de la Mare, head of operations at St John Ambulance & Rescue Service, said: "2nd June marks a significant date in the island's history as the anniversary of the first ambulance leaving the Rohais station and responding to an emergency call.
"This exhibition tells the story of the pioneering work of Reg Blanchford through to the modern pre-hospital healthcare service that delivers paramedic-led care today. It has been a great joint project working with Guernsey Museums and our team of contributors, and I am very excited to see the exhibition open to the public."
The exhibition will run until 6 September 2026 and is located in the outdoor terrace area at Guernsey Museum & Art Gallery at Candie Gardens. Entry is free.
Q&A
Q: When does the exhibition open?
A: The exhibition opens on 2 June 2026, which marks the actual anniversary of the first ambulance leaving Rohais station in 1936.
Q: Where is the exhibition located?
A: The exhibition is located on the outdoor terrace area at Guernsey Museum & Art Gallery at Candie Gardens, and entry is free.
Q: How did St John Ambulance & Rescue Service begin?
A: The service began in 1936 with one second-hand ambulance housed in a garage at a concrete works, and has since grown into the comprehensive organisation the island relies on today.
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