GG Invested With Order of St. John

Governor-General, His Excellency the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, was on September 2, invested as Knight of Grace of the Order of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem.

This is the second knighthood for the Governor-General, who received the Knight Grand Cross of the Order of St. Michael and St. George from Queen Elizabeth in 2009, when he came to office.

Lord Prior of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St. John of Jerusalem, Professor Anthony Mellows, representing the Queen, presided over the investiture ceremony held at King’s House.

Among those in attendance were the Governor General’s wife, Her Excellency Lady Allen; Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller; and Chairman of the St. John Ambulance Association in Jamaica, Earl Jarrett.

The Order of St. John is an Order of Chivalry of the British Crown, which is bestowed on persons, who have made outstanding contributions to the work of the Order.

Sir Patrick currently serves as Patron of the National Council of the St. John Association in Jamaica.

In his remarks, the Governor-General professed his highest esteem for this award and for the work of the Order of St. John and pledged to do his part to advance its objectives.

He stated that the Order has been a source of inspiration to all who are called to service and is a constant reminder to look beyond each other’s circumstances.

“The selfless dedication, which is the hallmark of staff and volunteers all across the globe, the Order’s contribution to humanity, and the respect with which it is held internationally, makes this investiture all the more meaningful to me,” he stated.

He also noted that the work of the Order of St. John and in particular, the St. John’s Ambulance, has been fully embraced by the people of Jamaica since 1899. During the Second World War, St. John volunteers performed duties at both the refugee and detention camps at Mona, and also at the Kingston Public Hospital.

Professor Mellows, in his remarks, congratulated the Governor-General on behalf of the more than 400,000 members and staff of the Order of St. John world-wide.

“I publicly congratulate Sir Patrick on this honour. It is both an honour for Sir Patrick personally, but it also an honour for Sir Patrick as Governor-General and therefore, in a real sense, an honour for Jamaica as a whole,” Professor Mellows stated.

The Order of St. John is a major international charity primarily led by volunteers. Members provide first aid, health care and support services in some 42 countries around the world.