LIFE-long supporter of St John Ambulance, Keith Turtle, has died at the age of 73.

Arthur Keith Turtle, known to his friends as Keith, was born in his grandmother’s house in Melksham in Wiltshire. He attended the local school and at the age of 13 went to the Adcroft School of Building in Trowbridge. He joined the choir at Melksham Parish Church along with his father and elder brother and later became Head Chorister. In his teens he achieved his Duke of Edinburgh Award and joined the St John Ambulance Brigade as a cadet in 1956 at the age of 14.

After leaving school he worked for a short period in the distribution department of Avon Rubber Co Ltd where his future wife, Doreen, also worked.

Then, upon passing the civil service exam, he joined the Post Office in Wiltshire as a counter clerk. He brought a Vespa scooter to get him to work and joined the West Wilts Scooter Club. In the meantime Doreen had also purchased a Vespa scooter and joined the same club, which is where their romance began. Keith and Doreen got married in 1965 and lived in Melksham for five years, where their son, Andrew, was born. The couple then moved to Bath, where their daughter, Rachael, was born.

In 1975 the family headed to Bournemouth where Keith worked at Westbourne Post Office as the Officer in Charge. He then worked away and travelled the country for around 13 years, before retiring from the Post Office at the age of 50.

He joined Dorset Ambulance Service as an ambulance care assistant on patient transport in 1994, where he worked until 65.

In Bournemouth, Keith became Superintendent of East Howe Cadets and went on to become Divisional Superintendent in 1992 of Bournemouth Transport Division, a post he held in two separate spells for 12 years. He enjoyed going on duty at events and the football matches, rarely missing a home game at Bournemouth.

Keith became a serving brother of the Order of St John in 1977 and was promoted to officer brother in 2008.

He also enjoyed gardening, holidays on cruise ships and listening to his grandsons playing in the Bournemouth Youth Marching Band.

He died on January 14, with his funeral being held at Canford Magna Parish Church.