Nottinghamshire History

Robin Hood

We are seeking to expand our history section further. If you have any information you wish to contribute please contact Jane Ansell on 0115 978 4625

For more information on the history of St John Ambulance in general please visit the national history pages.

Nottinghamshire’s connection with the Order of St John of Jerusalem, from which the St John Ambulance movement sprang, dates back many centuries. 

11th Century

When the call came from Peter the Hermit for volunteers to join the first Crusade men from Worksop were among the first to answer. Gerard de Furnivall, of Worksop Manor and his three sons went to serve in the crusades. Gerard and his son, Thomas, were killed in battle and buried in “The Holy Land” but Thomas' body has since been brought back to Worksop and reburied in a vault on the north side of Worksop Priory Church.

Hugo Travers, a serf, of Alvington, Newark, survived plague, shipwreck and battle to return home and was rewarded with freedom for himself and his family as well as a gift of 260 acres of land at Alvington. 

In the 12th century the entire town of Winkburn, near Newark, including its church was given to the Knights Hospitallers of St John of Jerusalem. Winkburn church is still a place of pilgrimage due to its unique dedication to St John.

The foundation of St John Ambulance in Nottinghamshire

St John Ambulance in Nottinghamshire was founded in 1881 and rapidly grew with the growth of the coal mining industry in the county. Mining communities were very reliant upon the first aid expertise provided by St John Ambulance and for young people the Brigade was often the only opportunity for organised activities, celebrations and camping holidays

St John Ambulance also responded pro actively to the two world wars, with 14 divisions being opened during the first world war and 9 in the second world war.

St John Ambulance county headquarters

In the late 1940’s St John Ambulance Nottinghamshire established its first county headquarters and on the 1st of June 1981 moved to the current premises at 561 Valley Road, Nottingham.  

Units in Nottinghamshire

Listed below is a record of 94 St. John Ambulance Divisions and their seniority dates. Some have since closed or merged, with the current number standing at around 60.  

Year

 

Division

1897

 

Worksop Combined Division

1901

 

Mansfield Borough Combined Division 

 

 

Sutton Portland Combined Division

1911

 

Cresswell Quad Division

 

 

Mansfield Colliery Combined Division

1912

 

Newark Ambulance Division

1913

 

Wellbeck Colliery Quad

1914

 

Worksop Nursing Division

 

 

Nottingham City Combined Division

1915

 

Bulwell Ambulance Division

 

 

Carrington Ambulance and Nursing Divisions

 

 

City Nursing Division

 

 

Kirkby and Bentinck Colliery Combined Division

1916

 

Stapleford and Sandiacre Division

 

 

Central Robin Hood Combined Division

 

 

Stapleford and Sandiacre Ambulance Division

1917

 

St John Ambulance Ceremonial Band

 

 

Bulwell Nursing Division

1918

 

Mapperley Nursing Division

 

 

Manvers Nursing Division

1919

 

Stapleford Nursing Division

1920

 

Mapperley Ambulance Division

1921

 

New Hucknall Colliery Combined Division

1922

 

Retford Combined Division

1923

 

Basford Ambulance Division

1924

 

Teversal and Silverhill Ambulance Division

 

 

Sutton in Ashfield Nursing Division

 

 

Skegby Quad Division

1925

 

Clipstone Colliery Ambulance Division

 

 

Clifton Colliery Ambulance Division

 

 

Wollaton Colliery Ambulance Division

 

 

Radford Combined Division

 

 

Newstead Village Quad Division

1926

 

Rufford Colliery Combined Division

 

 

Annesley Colliery Combined Division

1927

 

Cinderhill Ambulance Division

 

 

Mansfield Nursing Division

 

 

Ollerton Colliery Ambulance Division

 

 

Pleasley Stanton Iron Works Division

 

 

Bilsthorpe Colliery Quad Division

1928

 

Basford Nursing Division

 

 

Sutton Colliery Ambulance Division

1929

 

Stockhill Ambulance Division

 

 

Nottingham Corporation Patient Transport

 

 

Stanton Collieries Ambulance Division

 

 

Wellbeck Colliery Nursing Division

1930

 

Radcliffe Ambulance Division

 

 

Shireoaks Colliery Ambulance Division

1931

 

Thoresby Colliery Combined Division

1933

 

Harworth Colliery Combined Division

1936

 

Linby Colliery Ambulance Division

1939

 

Sherwood Colliery Quad Division

 

 

Beeston Combined Division

 

 

Nottingham City Combined Cadet Division

 

 

Ollerton Colliery Quad Division

1940

 

Moorgreen Colliery Nursing Division

1941

 

Moorgreen Colliery Nursing Cadet Division

1943

 

Bulwell Robin Hood Combined Cadet Division

 

 

Beeston Combined Cadet Division

 

 

Sutton Portland Ambulance Cadet Division

 

 

Sutton Portland Nursing Cadet Division

1946

 

Newark Ambulance Cadet Division

 

 

Blidworth Colliery Quad Division

1949

 

Moorgreen Colliery Ambulance & Ambulance Cadet Division

 

 

Pyehill and New Selston Quad Division

 

 

Gedling Colliery Ambulance Division

 

 

Hucknall Colliery Ambulance Division

1950

 

Kirkby Colliery Ambulance Cadet Division

 

 

Bestwood Colliery Ambulance Cadet Division

 

 

Harworth Combined Cadet Division

1951

 

Calverton Colliery Nursing Cadet Division

1952

 

Rufford Combined Cadet Division

 

 

Calverton Colliery Combined Division

1953

 

Newark Nursing Division

 

 

Bentinck Colliery Ambulance Cadet Division

1954

 

Hucknall Colliery Nursing Cadet Division

 

 

Newark Nursing Cadet Division

1955

 

Mansfield Colliery Combined Cadet Division

 

 

Hucknall Colliery Ambulance Cadet Division

1957

 

Pinxton / Brookhill Quad Division

 

 

Lodge Colliery Quad Division

1959

 

Mansfield Borough Combined Cadet Division

1960

 

Calverton Colliery Ambulance Cadet Division

1963

 

Retford Combined Cadet Division

1964

 

Hucknall Colliery Nursing Division

 

 

Gedling Colliery Ambulance Cadet Division

1965

 

Gedling Colliery Nursing Cadet Division

1973

 

Gedling Colliery Nursing Division

1974

 

Bestwood Colliery Ambulance Division

1975

 

Annesley Combined Cadet Division

1977

 

Linby Colliery Nursing Division

1983

 

Radford Combined Cadet Division

1989

 

Carlton Combined Division

 

 

Carlton Combined Cadet Division

 

Mining communities were very reliant upon the first aid expertise provided by St John Ambulance