On Wednesday 14 May, the Order of St John marked a momentous occasion with a solemn and dignified service at the historic St John’s Gate. The event included the dedication of a new Great Banner of the Order, the Investiture of Postulants on the Central Roll, and the presentation of an Order Vote of Thanks.
The ceremony was presided over by The Lord Prior, Professor Mark Compton AM GCStJ, and led by The Right Reverend Timothy Stevens CBE GCStJ, the Prelate of the Order. The musical elements of the service were performed by the Choir of St Paul’s Cathedral, under the direction of James Orford, with Christopher Too, Organ Scholar, on the organ, and Lance Sergeant Douglas Warren of the Scots Guards serving as Piper.
The occasion formed part of the triennial Alliance and Joint Orders meetings, bringing together senior representatives of the Five recognised Orders of St John:
-
The Sovereign Military Order of Malta (SMOM)
-
The Bailiwick of Brandenburg of St John and Jerusalem
-
The Order of St John of the Netherlands
-
The Order of St John in Sweden
-
The Order of St John (host)
This rare assembly symbolised the unity and shared mission of the Five Orders as they reaffirmed their historic ties and collective service ethos.
Order Symbols and the Great Banner
The service highlighted the significance of the three principal symbols of the Order:
-
The Great Banner, representing all members past and present
-
The Sword of the Order, symbolising the temporal authority of His Majesty The King
-
The Cross of the Order, denoting the jurisdiction of the Prelate
The newly dedicated Great Banner displayed the ancient arms of the Order with an augmentation of honour granted by King George V in 1926, featuring the Sovereign’s Crest and the Tudor Crown, symbolising the authority of His Majesty The King, Sovereign Head of the Order.
The Investiture of Postulants
The Investiture of Postulants welcomed new members into the Order, recognising individuals who had demonstrated exceptional dedication to the mission and values of St John. All admissions and promotions were made by invitation, subject to the approval of the Grand Prior and the sanction of The King. The honourees represented the global reach of the Order, from clinical experts and legal counsel to fundraisers, diplomats, and high-level volunteers.
Key Promotions and Admissions:
-
Sir David Hempleman-Adams KCVO OBE DL
Was promoted to Bailiff Grand Cross for his preeminent service to the Order as a Fundraising Ambassador and leader of the new Special Projects team. -
Kathryn Frances Colvin CVO
Was appointed Dame of Grace for 17 years of dedicated service to the Order’s Honours and Awards Committee. -
Robert James Ingham Clark
Was made a Knight of Justice for his service on the ceremonial staff and governance of the St John Eye Hospital Group.
Officers:
-
Paul Raymond Clement
Was recognised for his fundraising efforts for the St John Eye Hospital Group. -
Diane Corner CMG OBE
Was honoured for her service to the St John Eye Hospital Group. -
Professor Lyndon da Cruz
Was acknowledged for his work in clinical development, education, and innovation at the St John Eye Hospital Group. -
Andrew James Kimberley Wells
Was recognised for his service as the Order’s Deputy Legal Counsel. -
Jonathan Knight
Was commended for his contributions to St John Association Malta while serving as the Deputy British High Commissioner in Malta.
Members:
-
Dr Elin Minerva Bohman
Was recognised for developing ties between the Order of St John of Sweden and the St John Eye Hospital Group. -
Karin Read
Was acknowledged for her service as Finance Director at St John International.
Presentation of an Order Vote of Thanks
The service also included the presentation of an Order Vote of Thanks, a special recognition awarded by His Royal Highness, The Grand Prior, to individuals or organisations who had rendered outstanding benefit to the Order. It served to express the high esteem in which the Order held the recipients.
On this occasion, the Order Vote of Thanks was awarded to Roger Willoughby and John Wilson, co-authors of the book For Service in the Cause of Humanity. Published in 2024 by Worcestershire Medal Service in association with the Order, the book documented all known recipients of the Order of St John Lifesaving Medals and Certificates of Honour, while also tracing the development of these awards.
Their work not only preserved the legacy of past recipients but also reinforced the enduring ideals of service and selflessness upheld by the Order. The publication contributed meaningfully to the Order’s objectives both as a historical record and an inspiration for future acts of humanitarian service.
This deeply symbolic and moving service celebrated the Order’s living traditions, reaffirmed its connection to Crown and community, and honoured the exemplary individuals who embodied its mission: “For the Faith and in the Service of Humanity.”
