by Adam Williams

A community hall may have to be demolished after it was damaged
by fire.

St John Hall in Church Lane, Canterbury, had to be
evacuated on Friday evening at about 7.30pm, just as cadets from St
John’s Ambulance began their weekly training session.

The blaze caused extensive damage to the main hall’s roof, floor
and rear storage shed.

Cadet officer-in-charge Jamie Parker said: “I heard a loud bang
outside.

“Shortly after my partner and two cadets said they could smell
smoke.

“I looked outside again and saw flames by the storage shed and
we decided to evacuate the building.”

Among those inside at the time were Jamie’s wife Hazel, 34, also
a St John’s Ambulance volunteer, and their three-month-old daughter
Megan.

Sorry, this video asset has been removed.

Video: Jamie Parker
surveys the charred remains

Fire crews from Canterbury, Sturry and Herne Bay tackled the
blaze, which took about two hours to get under control.

Resuscitation dummies, practice first aid kit, paperwork and
uniforms were all damaged.

An open day, due to take place this Saturday, has been
cancelled.

A tombola, raffle prizes, displays and jumble were also
destroyed in the blaze.

Jamie, 29, who works as a clerk at Canterbury Crown and County
Court, said it was difficult to put a total figure on the
damage.

He added: “It’s most likely tens of thousands of pounds.

“The floor is wrecked, there’s asbestos in the building too, so
that could influence the insurance company when they decide if it’s
going to be worth repairing the damage.”

Northgate Community Centre has given the St John’s cadets one
reason to be cheerful, however, by offering them use of a room.

Training sessions will continue at the temporary base from
7.30pm every Friday.

Anyone with information is asked to contact PC Stewart Walker on
01227 868266.