HOW many of us would have had the presence of mind to do what Tamie and Charlene Kellard did when they saw a tramp lying on the railway line at Pershore? Very few, if we're honest.

Where most of us would have frozen - ill-equipped to do what was necessary, or simply too frightened to react - the Pershore sisters spotted his crumpled body on the track and rushed straight to help. And thank goodness they did.

The two put their St John Ambulance first-aid training into action and, putting their own safety to one side, set about saving his life.

While they're keen to locate the man who owes that to them, to find out how he is, their achievement says two things.

First, the younger generation has more gumption and community spirit than many people give them credit for.

Second, too few people have bothered to equip themselves with the skills to do the same in similar circumstances.

There's a lesson in both.

Perhaps we can all start looking for the better side of our young adults more than we do. There's a lot of good being done which goes unheralded.

And, with the time for New Year Resolutions fast approaching, perhaps we can also decide to add ourselves to the ranks of potential life-savers.

As Tamie and Charlene can testify, none of us knows when we'll need them - or whether it will be ourselves who are glad to be on the receiving end next time.

Well done to them both.