Jonathan Morgan-Kent joined St John Ambulance Gibraltar Association in 2019, when the Association was going through a very difficult period having lost most of its senior volunteers. It was a period when volunteers were taking up responsibilities and shortly afterwards would resign from the Association, there was thus an incredible turnover at management level with retention very low. Very quickly Jonathan became the anchor of the volunteers and by far the most reliable volunteer. He took charge of the situation and agreed to be appointed an R2 officer (a Regional Manager).
Soon after the Covid pandemic hit. Jonathan led the volunteers throughout this difficult period. Volunteers were very active delivering medicines and food to the vulnerable, supporting the Gibraltar Health Authority (GHA) Ambulance Service, and providing the ‘dirty vehicle’ for the GHA for the transportation of those infected or suspected of being infected.
More recently, in August 2023, a Gibraltar resident of Moroccan origin was terminally ill and wanted to return to their homeland to die. Once again Jonathan led by example, he volunteered to transport the person to Morocco, however, when they arrived at Tangiers the Moroccan authorities impounded the ambulance. Jonathan spent three days in Tangiers sorting out administrative issues until eventually the ambulance was released and was able to return to Gibraltar. The patient passed away the morning after they arrived, at home surrounded by this family.
Jonathan is not just the reliable volunteer willing to take on any challenge, he is also an example to all other volunteers. They all look up to him.
