A big-hearted volunteer from North Dorset has received the St John Ambulance service’s equivalent of the MBE.

Jackie Vacher travelled to the historic Priory Church in Clerkenwell, London to receive the Serving Sister award from the St John Prior, Sir Brian Jenkins.

Jackie joined the life-saving service 33 years ago, and for the last five years has run the Blandford St John Ambulance Cadet unit, increasing its membership six-fold.

“I told the Prior my ambitions – to get a building for the Blandford cadet unit, and to train an adult unit,” said Jackie.

Her day job as an NHS ambulance care assistant with a relief crew can see her called at a moment’s notice to help patients anywhere in Dorset.

And her working day does not end with her shift. A bedtime call on her 89-year-old neighbour in Pimperne is often Jackie’s final duty of a day helping others.

Five years ago, Jackie left a 20-year career with a Blandford printing firm and put her first-aid skills to professional use by joining a private ambulance firm offering patient transport services, before transferring to the NHS.

The support of her partner, Mike, and grown up children, Kay and Mark, helps to keep Jackie focused through long days of dedication to others.

Three weekends out of seven, Jackie is out on the ambulance. Every Tuesday night, she leads a group of volunteers training to be community first responders.

And on Friday nights, Jackie can be found leading her team of helpers and young charges in a bid to train the next generation of St John’s Ambulance volunteers.

A St John Ambulance spokesman said: “The Serving Sister investiture is a royal order of chivalry – our equivalent to an MBE.

“It’s given to people who have given a lengthy amount of service or gone above and beyond the line of duty,” he added.