infocus · jaidy, and other senior members of staff. on a tour of the hospital where every year...
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InFocusSeptember 07 - Issue 2
T H E N E W S L E T T E R O F S T J O H N S C O T L A N D
www.stjohnscotland.org.uk
www.stjohnscotland.org.uk www.stjohnscotland.org.uk
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With its origins in an 11th century hospital for pilgrims in Jerusalem, the Order of St John has evolved into a charity caring for people in need in over 40 countries.
The order is supported by thousands of volunteers worldwide who share its commitment to help people in sickness, distress, suffering or danger.
Today it is organised from centres, known as Priories, in eight countries: Australia, Canada, England and the Islands, New Zealand, Scotland, South Africa, the United States and Wales.
Founded in 1947, St John Scotland’s mission is to improve the safety, health and quality of life of people in need. Membership is open to all and through the 12 Area Committees, St John Scotland supports a variety of projects across the country.
These include:
supporting mountain rescue teams
providing transport for people needing hospital treatment
supporting palliative care
Unlike its fellow Priories around the world, St john Scotland does not operate the ambulance service or provide first aid training. It does, however, contribute to two significant international projects: the St John Eye Hospital in Jerusalem and St John Malawi’s Primary Health Care Project.
The Order is a royal order of chivalry with Queen Elizabeth II as its sovereign head who confers membership in recognition of an individual’s service and commitment to caring for others.
If you would like to find out more, please contact the Edinburgh Office for details of your local area secretary:
The ninth mountain rescue base provided by St John Scotland to the country’s rescue services was officially opened in July by the Dean of the Priory of Scotland of the Order of St John, the Very Reverend James Harkness.
Situated in Moffat, the base was built at a cost of over £200,000 and provides the team of 26 volunteers with much-needed space for training and equipment storage.
“The base is a superb facility and the result of good teamwork between the Moffat Mountain Rescue Team and St John Scotland. Our new base allows our team of volunteers to provide an effective and efficient rescue service for the benefit of the community,” said Ali Carruthers, team leader of Moffat
Mountain Rescue Team which receives between 15 and 20 call-outs each year.
They work closely with the Royal Navy, HMS Gannet, and RAF Boulmer. An RAF helicopter was present at the opening as was local MP, David Mundell.
Since 1997, St John Scotland has focused its support on boosting national rescue services and has so far funded 25 specialist vehicles as well as nine bases. It was also the main contributor to a new rescue boat at Loch Lomond. This brings its total commitment to rescue services to over £2.3m in 10 years.
“The Order is committed
to supporting our country’s rescue services by providing the best vehicles and fully-equipped bases where they are needed most,” said Sir James Stirling, Prior of the Priory of Scotland of the Order of St John.
Rescue support reaches £2.3m
In this Issue: Festival Report • On tour in Jerusalem • Bravery Medals for Boys
Rescue teams, St John members and others involved in providing the new base
April Gathering The first gathering open to all members was held in April at the Inchyra Grange Hotel in Polmont, Stirlingshire. Around 50 people attended and were treated to presentations from Dr John Calvert on the work of the Eye Hospital, Adam Calderwood on the patient transport service and Bill Spence on defibrillators, with a demonstration from Mike Farrell of Homeheart Care.
Volunteers neededHelpers are needed for stewarding at events such as the festival Contact Audrey Leighton at the Chancery for details.
Order Service MedalsChanges in eligibility for the Order’s Service Medal, which is awarded in recognition of long and efficient voluntary service to the Order, are now in place. The new criteria mean that anyone who gives 60 hours’ or more voluntary service each year for 12 years can qualify for a medal. The service has to be recorded and certified and may include, for example, organising or running events. The awards can be made retrospectively. Further details will be sent to all Priory Members.
New AreaAyrshire and Arran will become an area with its own committee from 1 November 2007 after operating successfully as a branch of Glasgow and the South West for three years. This brings the total Areas in Scotland to 13.
Death of John MacLeod of MacLeodOn 12 February 2007 John MacLeod of MacLeod, the landowner who provided the Order with land for a mountain rescue base on Skye, died aged 71. With Skye such a focus for outdoor activities, a need for modern mountain rescue was self-evident, and in 2001 he donated land in Glenbrittle for a rescue base funded by the Order of St John.
Dates for the DiaryThursday 13 September Dumfries & Galloway: AGM, Cumbeland Day Centre, Dumfries. Talk on the Order from Charles McKerrell. Details from John Brotherston 0796 7916925.
Saturday 22 September Highland: Bottle Stall at Strathnairn’s inaugural Vintage Tractor Day.
Wednesday 26 September Fife: annual golf match at Elie. Contact Ron Parsons : [email protected]
Friday 28 September Highland : Open Evening Inverness Masonic Club, Gordon Terrace Inverness. 7.00 for 7.30pm. Talks from Frank Spencer-Nairn on the recent trip to the Holy Land and from Sam Warden on the Order of St John Insignia. There will also be a short presentation about a local charity, Tadpoles, Refreshments and raffle. Tickets £10. – all welcome. Contact Bob or Gwen Fullerton 01463 224973
19-21 October Glasgow : Art Sale, Pollockshields Burgh Hall.
Saturday 20 October Edinburgh: Autumn Fair and Coffee Morning 10.30-12.30 at Saughtonhall United Reformed Church, 85-87 Saughtonhall Avenue. Admission £1.50. Details from Dennis McEwan 0131 555 0849.
Wednesday 28 November Highland: AGM, Lochardil Hotel, Inverness. 6.30pm with two course meal at 7.45pm. Tickets £20. Please contact Bob, Gwen or Kirsty Fullerton. 01463 224973.
Sunday 18 November Perth and Kinross. St Petersburg Choir Concert, Methven Castle. Details 01764 663755
Sunday 2 December Fife: Carol Service, Largo & Newburn Church. 5pm. Refreshments afterwards. All welcome. Contact Mary Gilmour 01333 350209
A party of some two dozen from the Order of St John in Scotland travelled to the Holy Land at the end of May to take part in the 125th anniversary celebrations of the St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital.
Organised and led by Order member Frank Spencer - Nairn, the trip gave the group the chance to visit many of the holy sites in Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Jericho and the Dead Sea accompanied by their Palestinian guide, Louis Michel from Bethlehem.
The first day began with a visit to the St John Eye Hospital where we were met by chief executive officer, Rod Bull, the matron, Jackie Jaidy, and other senior members of staff.
On a tour of the hospital where every year more than 65,000 patients are seen and over 4,000 operations are performed, we saw the full range of modern facilities and met nursing staff and patients.
We heard of the difficulties in providing ophthalmic services in the current political climate, and how the hospital’s outreach services in the West Bank and Gaza had adapted to the dangerous situation. The hospital has satellite clinics in Gaza City, Hebron and Anabta, and two mobile clinics.
The following evening the group returned to the hospital as guests at a packed buffet held in the Cloisters. It was attended by the Lord Prior, Eric Barry, the Order Hospitaller, Tony Chignell, the chairman of the
Hospital Board, Lord Vestey, and parties from the St John family throughout the world. On view was the Icon created to raise awareness of the history and current activities of the hospital.
The highlight of the trip was the Service of Celebration and Thanksgiving for the 125 years service. It was held at the Cathedral Church of St George The Martyr, and conducted by the Bishop of Jerusalem, the Right Rev Suheil Dawani, the Acting Dean of the Cathedral, the Rev Hosam Naom, and the Chaplain to the hospital, the Right Rev Riah Abu-Assad.
Lessons were read by the Lord Prior and Lord Vestey, and members of the hospital staff took part in the Intercessions before an inspiring sermon was given by the Order Prelate, the Right Rev John Waine. The service ended with an Act of Rededication.
An Investiture followed, at which the Lord Prior invested a number of hospital staff who had
Heat, Dust and DaytripsREPORT
Helping here and around the world
The Chancery of the Priory of Scotland, St John’s House, 21 St John Street, Edinburgh EH8 8DG
Telephone: 0131 556 8711 Email: [email protected] Scottish Charity SC000262
Priory Secretary RIchard Waller OStJ visits St John Malawi’s Primary Health Care Project
Produced by CNPR www.cnpr.co.uk • Designed and printed by HB Rutherford 01382 737703
by Donald Fullarton
A team from RAF Boulmer dropping in
been promoted or admitted. Lord Vestey then presented St John Service Medals to staff members, with four receiving the gold bar for 30 years’ service, and various diplomas, certificates and annual trophies.
The final anniversary event was a splendid evening reception given by the directors of the American Colony Hotel at which Frank spoke about the work of the Spafford Children’s Center in Jerusalem.
It was an amazing trip on many levels. We learned more about the hospital which the Order in Scotland has always held dear, renewed old friendships and made new ones. There were highs from visiting so many spiritual places and lows from hearing gunfire at night, seeing the Separation Wall and the armed guards boarding the bus, and enduring the stringent security checkpoints
It was an experience none of us will ever forget.
Paddling in the Dead Sea: Priory administrator, Joan Blair with husband, Eddie
On tour in Jerusaelm
www.stjohnscotland.org.uk www.stjohnscotland.org.uk
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AberdeenAberdeen provided one of the more colourful fundraising ventures of recent years when massed piped bands beat retreat in May.
The drums and pipes of Aberdeen University OTC and Robert Gordon’s College combined to give a display which drew warm applause from the assembled 200 guests.
Under the command of Pipe-Major Michael Laing, the youthful bandsmen and women marched and countermarched providing a memorable display of drill and musical skills. The salute was taken by Lord Provost John Reynolds, who was invested as an OStJ in Dunfermline last year.
Guests enjoyed splendid refreshments and a generous raffle thanks to help from Stuart and Sheena MacBride, Lesley Donaldson and Marjorie Donaldson. Vice-Chairman, Jenny Shirreffs, not only provided brisk commentary for the auction, but also put her services to provide and cook dinner for six up for offer. Well done, Jenny!
Dumfries and GallowayAlthough a far cry from vintage, a St John people carrier was on show at a Vintage Car Rally in Stair Park, Stranraer in May (pictured). It caught the attention of visitors to the event who were able to find out about the St John transport service offered to cancer sufferers in the area.
Along the same theme but this time at Park Farm, Dumfries, St John volunteers had a stall at a Classic Car Rally in August and ran a tombola at the Border Gathering. A coffee morning in St John’s Church, Annan, proved a great success helped by the presence of Annan British Legion Juvenile Pipe Band.
EdinburghAt a special garden party in July, members of St John Edinburgh thanked retiring couple, Anne and Gordon Wilson, for their hard work and dedicated service at the St John Home, Cramond.
Fife In April, a reclining chair was presented to the hospice ward in Queen Margaret Hospital, Dunfermline The chair, which retails at around £1200, was welcomed by the ward staff as it allows very frail, terminally-ill patients to relax in comfort while enjoying the view from the window.
The Fiddlers’ Rally in Dunfermline in May provided a night of great entertainment from Bruce Davies and the Dunfermline, Strathspey & Reel Society. A tombola and children’s games were the attractions of the St John stall at Crossford Gala in June. Together the events raised over £500.
Perth and KinrossTea parties, a barbecue and a wine and strawberry evening have given a significant boost to funds for St John Perth and Kinross. Over £2500 in total was raised through these events which were well supported. The annual coffee morning at Methven Castle was held on 1 September and the annual lunch will be in the Royal George Hotel on Sunday 28 October. Friends who may be interested in joining St John are welcome to come along and find out more . Details from John Ferguson Smith 01764 663765
Welcome to the second issue of In Focus which contains so much news that it was hard to keep it to six pages.
The departure of one third of the work force – in the form of Joan Blair -from the Chancery is a major change for the Priory. Joan is known to all of you and her cheery enthusiasm and knowledge of the ways of the Order will be greatly missed. Her successor is Audrey Leighton…who is showing no signs of flagging as she spends hours reading minutes, files and notes. Audrey is working the same hours as Joan: Monday to Thursday 9am until 5pm.
On the communications front I am delighted to say the website - www.stjohnscotland.org.uk - has been redesigned which I hope you will find easier to find your way around. I will be updating it regularly – depending on how frequently you supply me with news, photos and reports from events. One area I would like to develop with your help is feedback from people and organisations which you are supporting.
Thank you to everyone I have met on my trips and at the festival where I was able to put faces to names at last. Keep in touch with what’s happening in your area and I hope you enjoy this issue of In Focus.
Carolyne NurseCommunications Officer
Editorial
Two rescue vehicles provided a focal point for the 2007 Festival which was held in Dundee on 22 June.
Donated to Dundee and Tayside as part of the Order’s support for rescue services nationally, the vehicles were on show in City Square as the Officers of the Order processed from Dundee City
Chambers to Dundee Parish Church.
After the service, the investiture of the following postulants took place:
Serving Sister/Brother: Alison Campbell, James Delaney, Daniel Gallacher, Evelyn Gosman, Elizabeth Hamilton, Michael Hill, Edith Kinnear, Marigold Parker-Jervis, Dennis Marshall, Gillian Munro, Margaret Munro, David Rennie, William Russell, Alison Steel, Ellen Walker.
Officer: Susan Balfour, Fiona Crighton, Florence Dewar, John Ferguson-Smith, Mary Gilmour, Jessie Greenwood, John Letford, Atholl McInnes, Georgiana Osborne, Isobel Paterson and William Paterson.
Commander: Archibald Brown, Joseph Coleiro, Keith Rennie and Lady Fiona
Stirling.
Knight: (to be invested at a ceremony in London in November) Thomas Crichton, John Gooch and Ewan Murray
Lunch at the Apex Hotel saw festival organiser for the last nine years, Joan Blair, receive a farewell presentation from the Prior in anticipation of her retirement as administrator of the Priory of Scotland on 18 July.
Festival draws a crowd in Dundee
Three teenagers from Penicuik are to receive life-saving medals from St John Scotland for their actions at a shooting incident last year.
Liam Dugan (15), Aaron Moore (14) and Daniel Sturrock (16) witnessed a shooting incident in Penicuik on 4 December 2006 while on their way to army cadet training.
The boys rushed to help the victim who was bleeding extensively from a shotgun wound in the abdomen. Their immediate and effective response helped to save his life and resulted in their nomination to the Order of St John for a bravery award.
“Life-saving medals are bestowed by the Order when a person has performed a conspicuous act of bravery endangering his own life in order to save the life of another,” explained Richard Waller, chief executive of St John Scotland. “We are delighted to have had their nomination for an award approved by the Grand Prior, the Duke of Gloucester.”
Colonel David McFadyen, Commandant of the Edinburgh & Lothians Battalion said, “We are extremely proud of the way that three of our young cadets responded in a practical and professional manner putting their training and self confidence to immediate positive effect.”
The boys will receive their medals at a special ceremony in Edinburgh in the Autumn. They are only the second recipients of a St John life-saving medal in Scotland since the Priory of Scotland was founded in 1947. The last recorded award was in 1949 to a lorry driver who rescued workers trapped in a collapsed tunnel.
The Prior, Sir James Stirling and the Priory Secretary, Richard Waller headed to South Africa in May for the annual Grand Council meeting which this year was held in Cape Town.
Along with representatives from the eight Priories and four of the Associations, they attended a three day programme of meetings and discussions on a wide range of topics relating to the activities of the Order of St John worldwide.
A special event in the programme was the investiture of President Thabo Mbeki as a Knight of the Order of St John, following in the footsteps of Nelson Mandela and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
The Grand Prior, the Duke of Gloucester carried out the investiture in St George’s Cathedral, Cape Town. He explained that by vowing to conduct himself as a “true knight”, the President was accepting the mantle of the ultimate symbol of his ability to act in the service of the poor, sick and suffering in South Africa.
At the evening dinner, the President confirmed his commitment to supporting the work of the Order of St John to help people in need in his country.
Area Round Up Medals for brave boys
Following in Mandela’s Footsteps
The Grand Prior, the Duke of Gloucester, accompanies President
Thabo Mbeki in St George’s Cathedral
Elizabeth Roads, Charles Burnett and Robin Blair in the in the procession to the Church
Priory Chancellor and Registrar John Ford announces the postulants
Rescue vehicles on display in the City Centre
Lawson Rennie, Staff Nurse - Nancy Smith seated,
Ward Sister - Linda Spinks from Queen Margaret Hospital.
On parade in the Quadrangle of Robert Gordon’s College