FORMER sergeant Reuben Stretton had memories flooding back to him after seeing an article about St John Ambulance.

Mr Stretton, from Western Australia, wrote to our offices after seeing a story about St John's 80th birthday, in September 1999.

He said: "I joined the St John Ambulance Brigade as a cadet in 1933 at the age of 12 and was probably in the foreground of the picture that was printed."

Mr Stretton was born in Totteridge and went to Hazlemere Infant School and Priory Road School, High Wycombe.

In September 1939, he joined the Royal Army Medical Corps along with Ray Smith, Philip Constable and another man, whose name he cannot remember.

He explained: "The divisional superintendent was Mr Watts. I also remember a Bill Lunnon and a man called Colin Haynes."

Mr Stretton appeared in the paper in 1942 in a story saying he was safe in India after going missing following the fall of Singapore.

He has been living in Australia for more than 45 years but has regular contact with his sister in Terriers, High Wycombe.

If anybody would like to contact Mr Stretton, write to Kelly Clayton, Bucks Free Press, Gomm Road, High Wycombe, HP13 7DW.