Dedication and hard work of St John People recognised at annual Investiture service

Investiture 2026 Web Banner.jpg

St John Ambulance Cymru rewarded the people who go above and beyond on behalf of the charity at its annual Investiture Service at Llandaff Cathedral on Saturday 6th June.

The charity’s volunteers and staff received a range of awards, including admissions into and promotions within the Priory for Wales of the Order of St John, which are approved by His Majesty the King.

Two long-standing members who have given many years of service to the first aid charity for Wales were promoted to Dame of Grace, the second highest level of honour available.

Caryn Cox, a St John Ambulance Cymru Trustee who is also Chancellor of the Priory for Wales, was promoted to Dame of Grace in recognition of over 46 years of distinguished voluntary service to St John in both England and Wales.

Marion Powell, St John Ambulance Cymru’s Education Standards & Content Manager​ was also promoted to Dame of Grace, having grown up within the organisation and gone on to hold influential leadership and training roles across North Wales and nationally both as a volunteer and staff member.

Among those receiving Long Service Awards were Gareth Baldwin of Griffithstown Division in Gwent, Assistant Chief Commissioner, David Gardner and Dyfri Williams of Chepstow/Caldicot Division, who were each recognised for half a century of service to St John.

Paul Griffiths OBE KStJ JP DL, the Prior for Wales, said:

“While we can never truly repay our St John People for their contributions, this ceremony gives us a valuable opportunity to put on record our thanks and appreciation for all that they do on behalf of our charity, to support people and communities across Wales.

“We are so proud of everything they have achieved and hope this recognition will spur them on, to continue moving us towards our vision of Wales as a community of lifesavers.”

The occasion also saw Children and Young People from St John Ambulance Cymru’s Cadet and Badger programmes receive reward for completing the Grand Prior and Super Badger Awards, which are the culmination of over three years of work on a range of subjects.

The event also marked the official confirmation of St John Ambulance Cymru’s new national lead Cadet and Badger roles, following a selection process which involved an application, first aid demonstration, presentation and interview.

Callum Headland of Holywell Division in North Wales was named National Lead Cadet and Cariad Carpenter of Griffithstown Division, Gwent Deputy National Lead Cadet. Mia Davies of Llanidloes Division, Powys will be National Follow Me Badger and Thea Hale of Griffithstown Division, Gwent will be Deputy National Follow Me Badger.

Those receiving Priory Votes of Thanks included groups of first aiders who helped save the lives of two people while providing first aid cover as part of St John Ambulance Cymru’s presence at the Cardiff City Stadium and the Newport Marathon Festival.

Full list of awards

Priory for Wales of the Order of St John

Promotion to Grand Dame

Caryn Cox - Trustee

Marion Powell - Education Standards and Content Manager,​ and County Training Manager, North Wales

 

Promotion to Officer

Rhys Hamblin – Tredegar Division, Gwent

Rhys Jenkins – Trustee and Chancellor of the Priory for Wales

Sarah-Jane Pitcock – Cowbridge Division, Cardiff and the Vale

Gwyneth Ratcliffe – National Lead for Quality & Patient Safety

Dr Jean White – Trustee

 

Admission as Member

Matthew Hollington – Deputy Operations Manager, West Glamorgan

Carys Davies – Lampeter Division, Dyfed

Alicia Downing – County Training Manager, Dyfed

John Elsmore – Deeside Division, North Wales

Sean Gundy – Knighton Division, Powys

Sharon Hier – Pontarddulais Division, West Glamorgan

Huw Howells – Brecon Division, Powys

Jack Isaac – Deputy Training Manager, West Glamorgan

Dr Gregory James – National Clinical Lead (Medicine)

Melanie Lawlor-Fellowes – Pontarddulais Division, West Glamorgan

David Lewis – Wrexham Division, North Wales

Raymond McGovern – Deputy Commissioner, West Glamorgan

Samantha Owen – Deeside Division, North Wales

Revd. Tudor Thomas-Botwood MBE – Rhayader Division, Powys

Dr Georgia Williams – County Training Manager, West Glamorgan

 

Long Service Awards

50 Years of Service

Gareth Baldwin – Griffithstown Division, Gwent

David Gardner – Assistant Chief Commissioner

Dyfri Williams – Chepstow-Caldicot Division, Gwent

 

10 Years of Service

Stephen Bowles – Director of Ceremonies

Dr Liz Bragg – Cardiff City Division, Cardiff and Vale

Judith Champion – Porthcawl Division, Mid Glamorgan

Celyn Mai Clement – Pontarddulais Division, West Glamorgan

Samuel Huntley – Grangetown St Pauls Division, Cardiff and Vale

Melanie Lawlor-Fellowes – Pontarddulais Division, West Glamorgan

David Lewis – Wrexham Division, North Wales

Sarah Liddell - Rhiwbina-Llanishen Division, Cardiff and Vale

Gareth Lloyd-Ford – Deputy Commissioner, Gwent

Joanna Morgan – National Clinical Officer (Nursing)

Amelia Powell – Pontypridd & Trehopcyn Division, Mid Glamorgan

Gwyneth Ratcliffe – National Lead for Quality & Patient Safety

Oliver Shaw – Rhiwbina-Llanishen Division, Cardiff and Vale

 

Youth Awards

Grand Prior Award

Isabellah Cable-Davies – Aberdare & Foundry Town Division, Mid Glamorgan

Hamza Chawdhary – Llanidloes Division, Powys

Maelon Dart – Maesteg Division, Mid Glamorgan

Lola Evans – Ammanford Division, Dyfed

Sam Frowen – Grangetown St Pauls Division, Cardiff and Vale

Noel George-Binu - Grangetown St Pauls Division, Cardiff and Vale

Gethyn Griffiths – Maesteg Division, Mid Glamorgan

Hattie Gurney – Aberdare & Foundry Town Division, Mid Glamorgan

Eve Howell – Llanidloes Division, Powys

Theo Jenkins-Roberts – Penarth Division, Cardiff and Vale

Roxy-Marie Jones – Llanidloes Division, Powys

Joseph Newton – Pontarddulais Division, West Glamorgan

Seren Pugh – Llanidloes Division, Powys

Jay Ward – Treharris Division, Mid Glamorgan

Cerys Williams – Ammanford Division, Dyfed

 

Super Badger Award

Logan Bruce – Pontypridd & Trehopcyn Division, Mid Glamorgan

Mason Bruce – Pontypridd & Trehopcyn Division, Mid Glamorgan

Brodie Callander – Pontarddulais Division, West Glamorgan

Skye Callander – Pontarddulais Division, West Glamorgan

Evie Corbett – Griffithstown Division, Gwent

Amelia Cureton-Howells – Griffithstown Division, Gwent

Lydia Davies – Llanidloes Division, Powys

Emma Foster – Rhiwbina-Llanishen Division, Cardiff and Vale

Nathan George-Binu – Grangetown St Pauls Division, Cardiff and Vale

Annie Meredith – Pontarddulais, West Glamorgan

Alex O'Connor – Pontypridd & Trehopcyn Division, Mid Glamorgan

Sarah Trin O'Connor – Pontypridd & Trehopcyn Division, West Glamorgan

Thomas O'Connor – Pontypridd & Trehopcyn Division, Mid Glamorgan

Dylan Sargent – Llanidloes Division, Powys

Logan Tustin – Griffithstown Division, Gwent

Ethan Wong – Rhiwbina-Llanishen Division, Cardiff and Vale

 

Priory Votes of Thanks

Priory Vote of Thanks in recognition of commitment to ensuring and continuously improving the quality of medical provision and mass casualty preparedness at the Principality Stadium: Darren Crossman

Priory Vote of Thanks in recognition of efforts that resulted in the saving of a life following a cardiac arrest at Cardiff City Stadium: Matthew Gooding, Michael Imperato, Cameron Edwards, David Tace Richards, Dr Jens Klocke, Oliver Shaw, Gareth Lloyd-Ford, Adam White

Priory Vote of Thanks in recognition of efforts that resulted in the saving of a life following a cardiac arrest at Newport Marathon Festival: Siem Betts, Dr Gregory James, Dr Rachael Collier, Richard Lee, Alicia Framek Kian Leith, Eric Goulden, Gareth Lloyd-Ford, James Howell, Sharon Pritchard and Jonathon Williams

 

Ymroddiad a gwaith caled Pobl St John yn cael eu cydnabod yn y gwasanaeth Arwisgo blynyddol

Gwobrwyodd St John Ambulance Cymru'r bobl sy'n mynd yr ail filltir ar ran yr elusen yn ei Gwasanaeth Arwisgo blynyddol yng Nghadeirlan Llandaf ar ddydd Sadwrn 6 Mehefin.

Derbyniodd gwirfoddolwyr a staff yr elusen amrywiaeth o wobrau, gan gynnwys derbyniadau a dyrchafiadau o fewn Priordy Cymru o Urdd St John, sydd wedi'u cymeradwyo gan Ei Fawrhydi'r Brenin.

Cafodd dau aelod hirdymor sydd wedi rhoi blynyddoedd lawer o wasanaeth i elusen cymorth cyntaf Cymru eu dyrchafu i Fonesig Gras, yr ail lefel uchaf o anrhydedd sydd ar gael.

Cafodd Caryn Cox, Ymddiriedolwr St John Ambulance Cymru sydd hefyd yn Ganghellor Priordy Cymru, ei dyrchafu i Fonesig Gras i gydnabod dros 46 mlynedd o wasanaeth gwirfoddol nodedig i St John yng Nghymru a Lloegr.

Cafodd Marion Powell, Rheolwr Safonau Addysg a Chynnwys St John Ambulance Cymru, ei dyrchafu i Fonesig Gras hefyd, wedi tyfu i fyny o fewn y sefydliad a bellach wedi dal rolau arweinyddiaeth a hyfforddiant dylanwadol ledled Gogledd Cymru ac yn genedlaethol fel gwirfoddolwr ac aelod o staff.

Ymhlith y rhai a dderbyniodd Wobrau Gwasanaeth Hir roedd Gareth Baldwin o Ranbarth Griffithstown yng Ngwent; y Prif Gomisiynydd Cynorthwyol, David Gardner a Dyfri Williams o Ranbarth Cas-gwent/Caldicot, a gafodd gydnabyddiaeth am hanner canrif o wasanaeth i St John.

Dywedodd Paul Griffiths OBE KStJ JP DL, Prior Cymru:

"Er na allwn byth gwir ad-dalu ein Pobl St John am eu cyfraniadau, mae’r seremoni hon yn rhoi cyfle gwerthfawr inni gofnodi ein diolch a’n gwerthfawrogiad am bopeth maen nhw’n ei wneud ar ran ein helusen, i gefnogi pobl a chymunedau ledled Cymru.

“Rydym mor falch o bopeth maen nhw wedi’i gyflawni ac yn gobeithio y bydd y gydnabyddiaeth hon yn eu sbarduno ymlaen, i barhau i’n symud tuag at ein gweledigaeth o Gymru fel cymuned o achubwyr bywydau.”

Yn ystod yr achlysur derbyniodd Plant a Phobl Ifanc o raglenni Cadetiaid a Moch Daear St John Ambulance Cymru wobrau am gwblhau Gwobrau’r Prif Brior a’r Bathodyn Uwch, sef uchafbwynt dros dair blynedd o waith ar amrywiaeth o bynciau.

Roedd y digwyddiad hefyd yn nodi cadarnhad swyddogol rolau Cadetiaid a Moch Daear arweiniol genedlaethol newydd St John Ambulance Cymru, yn dilyn proses ddethol a oedd yn cynnwys cais, arddangosiad cymorth cyntaf, cyflwyniad a chyfweliad.

Enwyd Callum Headland o Adran Treffynnon yng Ngogledd Cymru yn Gadet Arweiniol Cenedlaethol ac enwyd Cariad Carpenter o Adran Griffithstown, Gwent yn Ddirprwy Gadet Arweiniol Cenedlaethol. Mia Davies o Adran Llanidloes, Powys fydd y Mochyn Daear  'Dilynwch Fi' Cenedlaethol a Thea Hale o Adran Griffithstown, Gwent fydd y Dirprwy Mochyn Daear 'Dilynwch Fi' Cenedlaethol.

Ymhlith y rhai a dderbyniodd Bleidleisiau o Ddiolch gan y Priordy roedd grwpiau o weithwyr cymorth cyntaf a helpodd i achub bywydau dau berson wrth ddarparu cymorth cyntaf fel rhan o bresenoldeb St John Ambulance Cymru yn Stadiwm Dinas Caerdydd a Gŵyl Marathon Casnew

 

Rhestr lawn o wobrau

Priordy Cymru o Urdd St John

Dyrchafiad i Fonesig Gras

Caryn Cox – Trustee Ymddiriedolwr a Changhellor Priordy Cymru

Marion Powell - Rheolwr Safonau Addysg a Chynnwys, a Rheolwr Hyfforddiant y Sir, Gogledd Cymru

 

Dyrchafiad i Swyddog

Rhys Hamblin – Adran Tredegar, Gwent

Rhys Jenkins – Ymddiriedolwr

Sarah-Jane Pitcock – Adran Y Bont-faen, Caerdydd a'r Fro

Gwyneth Ratcliffe – Arweinydd Cenedlaethol dros Ansawdd a Diogelwch Cleifion

Dr Jean White – Ymddiriedolwr

 

Derbyn fel Aelod

Matthew Hollington – Dirprwy Reolwr Gweithrediadau, Gorllewin Morgannwg

Carys Davies – Adran Llanbedr Pont Steffan, Dyfed

Alicia Downing – Rheolwr Hyfforddi’r Sir, Dyfed

John Elsmore – Adran Glannau Dyfrdwy, Gogledd Cymru

Sean Gundy – Adran Trefyclo, Powys

Sharon Hier – Adran Pontarddulais, Gorllewin Morgannwg

Huw Howells – Adran Aberhonddu, Powys

Jack Isaac – Dirprwy Reolwr Hyfforddi, Gorllewin Morgannwg

Dr Gregory James – Arweinydd Clinigol Cenedlaethol (Meddygaeth)

Melanie Lawlor-Fellowes – Adran Pontarddulais, Gorllewin Morgannwg

David Lewis – Adran Wrecsam, Gogledd Cymru

Raymond McGovern – Dirprwy Gomisiynydd, Gorllewin Morgannwg

Samantha Owen – Adran Glannau Dyfrdwy, Gogledd Cymru

Y Parch. Tudor Thomas-Botwood MBE – Adran Rhaeadr, Powys

Dr Georgia Williams – Rheolwr Hyfforddi’r Sir, Gorllewin Morgannwg

 

Gwobrau Gwasanaeth Hir

50 Mlynedd o Wasanaeth

Gareth Baldwin – Adran Griffithstown, Gwent

David Gardner – Prif Gomisiynydd Cynorthwyol

Dyfri Williams – Adran Cas-gwent-Cil-y-coed, Gwent

 

10 Mlynedd o Wasanaeth

Stephen Bowles – Cyfarwyddwr Seremonïau

Dr Liz Bragg – Adran Dinas Caerdydd, Caerdydd a'r Fro

Judith Champion – Adran Porthcawl, Canol Morgannwg

Celyn Mai Clement – ​​Adran Pontarddulais, Gorllewin Morgannwg

Samuel Huntley – Adran Grangetown St Paul, Caerdydd a'r Fro

Melanie Lawlor-Fellowes – Adran Pontarddulais, Gorllewin Morgannwg

David Lewis – Adran Wrecsam, Gogledd Cymru

Sarah Liddell - Adran Rhiwbina-Llanisien, Caerdydd a'r Fro

Gareth Lloyd-Ford – Dirprwy Gomisiynydd, Gwent

Joanna Morgan – Swyddog Clinigol Cenedlaethol (Nyrsio)

Amelia Powell – Adran Pontypridd a Threhopcyn, Canol Morgannwg

Gwyneth Ratcliffe – Arweinydd Cenedlaethol dros Ansawdd a Diogelwch Cleifion

Oliver Shaw – Adran Rhiwbina-Llanisien, Caerdydd a'r Fro

 

Gwobrau Ieuenctid

Gwobr y Prif Brior

Isabellah Cable-Davies – Adran Aberdâr a Thref y Ffowndri, Morgannwg Ganol

Hamza Chawdhary – Adran Llanidloes, Powys

Maelon Dart – Adran Maesteg, Morgannwg Ganol

Lola Evans – Adran Rhydaman, Dyfed

Sam Frowen – Adran Grangetown St Pauls, Caerdydd a’r Fro

Noel George-Binu - Adran Grangetown St Pauls, Caerdydd a'r Fro

Gethyn Griffiths – Adran Maesteg, Morgannwg Ganol

Hattie Gurney – Adran Aberdâr a Thref y Ffowndri, Morgannwg Ganol

Eve Howell – Adran Llanidloes, Powys

Theo Jenkins-Roberts – Adran Penarth, Caerdydd a’r Fro

Roxy-Marie Jones – Adran Llanidloes, Powys

Joseph Newton – Adran Pontarddulais, Gorllewin Morgannwg

Seren Pugh – Adran Llanidloes, Powys

Jay Ward – Adran Treharris, Morgannwg Ganol

Cerys Williams – Adran Rhydaman, Dyfed

 

Gwobr y Bathodyn Uwch

Logan Bruce – Adran Pontypridd a Threhopcyn, Morgannwg Ganol

Mason Bruce – Adran Pontypridd a Threhopcyn, Morgannwg Ganol

Brodie Callander – Adran Pontarddulais, Gorllewin Morgannwg

Skye Callander – Adran Pontarddulais, Gorllewin Morgannwg

Evie Corbett – Adran Griffithstown, Gwent

Amelia Cureton-Howells – Adran Griffithstown, Gwent

Lydia Davies – Adran Llanidloes, Powys

Emma Foster – Adran Rhiwbeina-Llanisien, Caerdydd a’r Fro

Nathan George-Binu – Adran Grangetown St Pauls, Caerdydd a’r Fro

Annie Meredith – Pontarddulais, Gorllewin Morgannwg

Alex O'Connor – Adran Pontypridd a Threhopcyn, Morgannwg Ganol

Sarah Trin O'Connor – Adran Pontypridd a Threhopcyn, Gorllewin Morgannwg

Thomas O'Connor – Adran Pontypridd a Threhopcyn, Morgannwg Ganol

Dylan Sargent – ​​Adran Llanidloes, Powys

Logan Tustin – Adran Griffithstown, Gwent

Ethan Wong – Adran Rhiwbeina-Llanisien, Caerdydd a’r Fro

 

Pleidleisiau o Ddiolch gan y Priordy

Pleidlais o Ddiolch i gydnabod ymrwymiad i sicrhau a gwella ansawdd y ddarpariaeth feddygol a pharatoadau ar gyfer anafiadau torfol yn Stadiwm y Principality yn barhaus: Darren Crossman

 

Pleidlais o Ddiolch y Priordy i gydnabod ymdrechion a arweiniodd at achub bywyd yn dilyn ataliad ar y galon ger Stadiwm Dinas Caerdydd: Matthew Gooding, Michael Imperato, Cameron Edwards, David Tace Richards, Dr Jens Klocke, Oliver Shaw, Gareth Lloyd-Ford, Adam White

 

Pleidlais o Ddiolch y Priordy i gydnabod ymdrechion a arweiniodd at achub bywyd yn dilyn ataliad ar y galon yng Ngŵyl Marathon Casnewydd: Siem Betts, Dr Gregory James, Dr Rachael Collier, Richard Lee, Alicia Framek Kian Leith, Eric Goulden, Gareth Lloyd-Ford, James Howell, Sharon Pritchard a Jonathon Williams

 

Published June 15th 2026

Looking for other ways to get involved?

Whatever you enjoy doing and however much time you can commit, there’s a volunteer role for you.

Donate Volunteer