Royal Visit by His Royal Highness, The Duke of Gloucester Marks New Chapter for St. John Ambulance in Jersey

James Qualtrough | September 10, 2012 | 0 Comments

His Royal Highness, The Duke of Gloucester, The Grand Prior of the Order of St. John, is to visit Jersey on Sunday 16th September to celebrate the start of a new chapter for St. John Ambulance in Jersey.

His Royal Highness will lead an inauguration ceremony at the Parish Church of St Helier to mark the formation of the Bailiwick of Jersey as a Dependent Commandery of the Priory of England and the Islands, and a separate entity from the UK.

Mrs Cynthia Rumboll, Dame Commander, said, ‘The inauguration by His Royal Highness, The Duke of Gloucester is a great honour for Jersey. The greater independence resulting from becoming a Commandery allows St. John Ambulance Jersey to build on its existing services whilst tailoring courses and services to the unique needs of island life on Jersey. The move to a Commandery underlines the fact that funds raised in Jersey will continue to stay on the Island to be used for local initiatives and the benefit of Jersey people.’

As part of the inauguration ceremony, His Excellency, General Sir John McColl, the Lieutenant-Governor of Jersey, will be invested into the Order as a Commander and Mrs Rumboll will be invested as Dame Commander and Chairman of the new entity.

Islanders are invited to celebrate this fantastic occasion and enjoy the pageantry of the day. Before the inauguration ceremony, the public will be able to watch the Commandery procession and the Lord Prior’s procession, dressed in formal robes and insignia and accompanied by banner bearers, make their way from the States building to St Helier Parish Church at 2.15pm on Sunday 16th September. Following the ceremony, His Royal Highness and His Excellency will join the procession on its return to the States building.

His Royal Highness, The Lord Prior, The Dame Commander and His Excellency will then walk to the Town Hall, where The Duke of Gloucester will take the salute and meet St. John Ambulance members, staff and sponsors. The march past by the members of St. John Ambulance Jersey will take place from the Royal Square to the Town Hall, via King Street, at about 4pm for those wishing to watch.

St. John Ambulance Jersey provides vital support at public events and back up to the States of Jersey ambulance service, as well as being the leading provider of first aid courses in schools and places of work. The charity is always looking for new volunteers to join them.

Mrs Rumboll continued, ‘Members of St. John Ambulance Jersey provided over 22,000 hours of voluntary service in 2011, which represents more than 100 hours from every Adult, Cadet and Badger Member. Not only that, last year St. John Ambulance in Jersey trained a total of 4,839 people in various first aid courses. This shows the significant impact that the organisation had in 2011 alone, and the move to a Commandery secures an exciting future for St. John Ambulance in Jersey.’