Littlehampton Ambulance Service’s Jo retires, aged 96

But now, at the ripe age of 96, the leading figure of the Littlehampton Ambulance Service, Josephine King, is finally calling it a day.

Josephine, known as Jo to her friends and family, is retiring from the service which was set up by her late husband Charles, in 1981.

She said the decision was one she made after the deterioration of her eyesight.

“It was a shame,” admitted the great-grandmother-of-ten. “My eyesight was just getting worse.

“And I really didn’t want to make a mistake, so I thought it would be better to retire.”

Jo, of Seagate Walk, Littlehampton, has ferried countless passengers from the town to hospitals and clinics across the south, including Southampton and Portsmouth and up to London.

She said it was a voluntary role that she was ‘proud to have been a part of’.

Explaining why she continued with the service for such a long time, Jo said: “It was the fact that my husband set it up.

“I felt like I had to carry on. I’d seen just how needed it was.”

Jo is now looking forward to retiring and enjoying a bit of peace and quiet at home.

She is leaving the service in the capable hands of friend and fellow volunteer Len Holloway.

Len, of Helyers Green, Wick, said: “Jo is a lovely woman. She has been with the service for such a long time that everyone knows her.

“She must have helped thousands of people during her time. So it is a shame she is leaving us.”

Jo, who has two children and four grandchildren, said she was now looking forward to enjoying her long-deserved break.

“It will be very nice to not have the phone ringing constantly,” Jo said. “But I shall certainly miss the people. Everyone I dealt with was so friendly and so nice.”