It is with great sadness that we received the news of the passing of Rt Hon Baroness Audrey Emerton DBE, GCStJ, DL, the first Chancellor and Chief Commander for the Priory of England and the Islands on its formation. She was a devoted servant of the Order for 80 years.
Baroness Emerton joined St John as a cadet in 1946, and began her nursing career in 1953 as a State Registered Nurse working at St George’s Hospital in London.
In her professional life, she was one of the leading nurses in the UK. Having trained at St George’s she progressed to Senior Tutor, Regional Nursing Officer for South East Thames Regional Health Authority, Chairman of Brighton Health Care NHS Trust, Vice President of the Royal College of Nursing and President of the Florence Nightingale Foundation. She was given a unique Special Lifetime Achievement Award by the Royal College of Nursing in 2020 for her dedicated service to the profession over six decades.
In 1978, Baroness Emerton recognised for her long service to the Order of St John when she was sanctioned as Commander of the Order. She was appointed as Chief Nursing Officer in 1988, and asked to serve as Chairman of the Medical Board in 1991. In 1993, Baroness Emerton was promoted to Dame of Grace within the Order, and in 1994, she was appointed Nursing Advisor to St John Eye Hospital in Jerusalem. In June 1998, Baroness Emerton became the Chief Commander for St John Ambulance, and Chancellor of the newly titled Priory of England and the Islands in 1999.
Baroness Emerton was promoted to our highest rank, a Dame Grand Cross of the Order of St John, in August 2004.
Baroness Emerton was honoured a Dame of the Order of the British Empire in 1989 for services to Nursing, and was created Baroness Emerton of Tunbridge Wells and Clerkenwell for services to nursing and St John in 1997. She was active in the Lords until her health started to fail, and ensured that St John was included in the Civil Contingencies Act – maintaining our State responder status within England.
She has been awarded four university honorary doctorates, is an honorary Fellow of the Royal College of General Practitioners, a Fellow of the Royal College of Nursing and was a Deputy Lieutenant of Kent.
Professor Mark Compton, Lord Prior, reflects on Baroness Emerton’s lifelong service:
“Baroness Emerton was a true icon of our Order, dedicating her life to serve others – professionally, within our Order, and in the wider community. Her commitment to teaching and nurturing young healthcare professionals, St John volunteers and many others is a testament to her devotion.”
Mrs Elizabeth Mellows, wife of Professor Anthony Mellows, who was Lord Prior from 2008-2014, remembers her fondly: “she was a very good and kind friend, when you really needed a good and kind friend. She knew what she was talking about , with a brilliant memory and was very highly regarded by all who knew her.”
Baroness Emerton lived her life in the Christian service of our Lords, the sick and the poor. May she rest in peace and rise in glory.
