We were delighted to welcome, Lord Prior for the Order of St John, Professor Mark Compton, to Wales during a visit which took place on Sunday 15th and Monday 16th September.
Professor Compton received a warm welcome from volunteers at St John Cymru Pencoed-Bridgend before enjoying a WW1 first aid re-enactment from Cadets from St John Cymru Griffithstown.
After a buffet lunch, Cadets and young adults from our organisation led a question and answer session with the Prior for Wales, Sir Paul Williams and the Lord Prior.
Cadets learned more about the Lord Prior and asked pressing questions about including one about the future direction of youth within St John International as a whole.
Then, it was on to Cardiff City Football Stadium where volunteers from Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan demonstrated specialist skills, showcasing how our volunteers support casualties who need to be treated and extracted from complex situations.
Later, Cornerstone, Cardiff’s newest conference, arts and community centre, welcomed members, management and trustees from across our organisation where guests enjoyed a hot buffet supper and were delighted to present the Lord Prior with a Welsh love spoon, representing the history and culture of Wales. The presentation was made by Prior for Wales.
On Monday, our Patient Transport Service, based at Norbury Road Cardiff, was the next stop for the Lord Prior and offered the opportunity to see St John Cymru at the forefront of patient care.
The Lord Prior was shown around the site, which is home to over (number) vehicles, and learned more about the ways in which our organisation works with health boards across Wales to help assist the transport of patients to and from hospital.
He was also shown more about our Caring Caller and Falls Assistant Programmes which aim to support elderly and vulnerable individuals when they need it most.
St John Cymru NHQ, on Ocean Way, Cardiff, was the final stop on the whistle-stop tour where the Lord Prior met each department and learned more about the exciting processes which are being put in place in the lead up to our changing identity.
“We were delighted to be a place the Lord Prior could call home for the duration of his stay in Wales.
I, the Prior for Wales, volunteers and colleagues from across St John Cymru, enjoyed getting to know the Lord Prior and learning more about his ambitions for St John Priories and Commentaries, globally.
“We really appreciate the Lord Prior taking the time to visit us. We wish him all the best for a prosperous term as Lord Prior,”
St John Cymru Acting Chief Executive Officer, Helen Smith
”Thank you [to St John Cymru] also for hosting such a delightful supper on Sunday evening, with a further opportunity to meet senior volunteers, staff, Trustees and senior Order members.
Helen and her team did a great job along with you in putting together a really interesting program and I thank you and them for the effort….
Thank you for all that you and your team do for St John and I look forward to being able to visit again in the future.”Lord Prior for the Order of St John, Mark Compton
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