£183.99 was raised through a cookie sale last week by the four students at the school – Felicity, 10, Eva, 9, Grace, 10, and Megan, 12.
All proceeds have been donated to the upkeep of the Flying Christine III.
St John Ambulance & Rescue then invited the girls to take a joy ride on the vessel from Herm’s harbour this week, where they were taught the history and role of the marine ambulance which they supported.
Jim Cathcart, Communications Officer for Ambulance & Rescue, said “for a small island and a small school of four children to raise almost £200 pounds was fantastic, so we’re very grateful to them.
“They really enjoyed the trip, a great opportunity for them to get on board and we taught them all about the boat and how it’s a lifeline for Herm and the other islands of the Bailiwick.”
A few of them had a go at driving it too.
Mr Cathcart said the upkeep of the boat relies on fundraising, with the boat built 30-years ago with the help of public funds and donations.
“It doesn’t matter if those donations are big or small, it’s all really important,” he added.
Pictured: The children preparing for their sailing.
Lee Harvey, lead teacher at Herm, said it was the girls’ idea to hold a bake sale and offer the money to St John to help maintain the boat.
“We were talking about being good citizens and part of a community, it just so happened at the time we were doing a little bit of baking, so the children came up withan idea to raise money for the community through a cookie sale,” he said.
“They did all the measuring all the mixing themselves, all the advertising posters – they did all the work for it.Four children doing all that, it’s amazing.
“When people were coming off the ferry we were calling them over, we kind of made them by cookies, but everyone likes cookies so that’s okay.”
Mr Harvey said the children couldn’t wait to get through their lessons to take a ride on the boat.
By chance a Flying Christine enthusiast was in the island at the same time. Peter Rutsch was invited on the trip after he created a 12th-scale replica of the boat in 2018.
He has now been commissioned by St John to create an updated version with fresh livery to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the ambulance.
Mr Rutsch said he’d do it for free, and it will be unveiled in November.
Pictured: The model replica of the ambulance.
