St John People and supporters from all over Wales the country gathered in Britain’s smallest city on Saturday 19th October for St John Ambulance Cymru’s Priory Visitation and Investiture service.
The service at St Davids Cathedral acknowledged those who had selflessly given their time to support the first aid charity for Wales and their local communities.
The occasion included admissions into the Priory for Wales of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem, which are personally approved by HM the King, who is the Sovereign Head of the Order.
The service held particular significance as it saw James O’Connor OStJ, one of the charity’s Trustees, installed as the Bailiff of St Davids. This is one of the most senior roles in the Priory for Wales. Mr O’Connor was also part of the Côr Meibion Morlais male voice choir which performed at the service.
The Prior for Wales, Paul Griffiths OBE KStJ DL, admitted two Members into the Order. Clare Buckley, who is Divisional Officer in Charge of Deeside Division, was recognised for her hard work which included giving 1,700 hours of time performing duties for the charity in 2023.
Gillian Knight, who is the Welsh Government’s Acting Chief Nursing Officer, was also admitted as a Member of the Order. Gillian has been a Trustee of the charity since 2023 and has brought a wealth of expertise in nursing and healthcare policy to the St John committees she supports.
Seven St John Ambulance Cymru volunteers were presented awards for long service totalling over 150 years.
There was a family theme with husband and wife, Kevin Lippiatt (Divisional Officer in Charge of Mumbles Youth Division) and Danielle Lippiatt (Divisional Officer in Charge of Gower Operations Division) both receiving 10 Year Service Medals.
Geoffrey Brown (Operational Member of Newtown Division) received an award in recognition of 40 years’ service, while his sister Iris Brown (Operational Member of Bettws Cedewen Division) was awarded for an extraordinary 55 years’ service.
Receiving awards for 20 years’ service were Lynda Cook (Operational Member of Haverfordwest Division) and Roger Viccars (Ambulance Operations Road Crew in West Glamorgan), while Neil Alderman (Operational Member of Loughor Division) received a 1st Gilt Bar for 30 years’ service.
Also being recognised for her efforts was Charlotte Parry (Griffithstown Division), who received the Super Badger Award, which is the highest accolade achievable within the charity’s Badger programme for 5 to 11 year olds.
The sermon was given by Rev Tudor Thomas-Botwood MBE BD, who was recently appointed Senior Chaplain for the Mid and West Wales Region, who also volunteers for the Rhayader Division.
Prior for Wales, Paul Griffiths OBE KStJ DL, said:
“It was a pleasure to bring so many St John People together with supporters and dignitaries to celebrate these awards and appointments, which recognise the hard work and commitment that underpins the work of our charity.
“I would also like to thank the Port of Milford Haven for kindly sponsoring the event.”
Tom Sawyer, CEO of the Port of Milford Haven added:
“We are delighted to support the St John Ambulance Cymru Visitation Service, recognising the incredibly selfless volunteers who give up their time and energy for the charity. This event is a reminder of what can be achieved when we collaborate and the real difference it makes to our communities.”
The service was followed by a special dedication of a new ambulance in the cathedral grounds, the vehicle having be purchased thanks to a huge fundraising effort with significant contributions from the Gosling Foundation, West Wales Masons, the Masonic Charitable Trust and many other generous supporters.
Seremoni yn Nhyddewi yn dathlu ymroddiad a sgiliau achub bywyd Pobl St John
Daeth Pobl St John a chefnogwyr o bob rhan o Gymru ynghyd yn ninas leiaf Prydain ar ddydd Sadwrn 19 Hydref ar gyfer gwasanaeth Ymweliad ac Arwisgiad Priordy St John Ambulance Cymru.
Roedd y gwasanaeth yn Eglwys Gadeiriol Tyddewi yn cydnabod y rhai oedd wedi rhoi o’u hamser yn anhunanol i gefnogi elusen cymorth cyntaf Cymru a’u cymunedau lleol.
Roedd yr achlysur yn cynnwys derbyniadau i Briordy Cymru o Urdd Fwyaf Hybarch Ysbyty Sant Ioan o Jerwsalem, a gymeradwyir yn bersonol gan Ei Mawrhydi'r Brenin, sef Pennaeth Sofran yr Urdd.
Roedd y gwasanaeth yn arbennig o bwysig gan iddo weld James O’Connor OStJ, un o Ymddiriedolwyr yr elusen, yn cael ei benodi’n Feili Tyddewi. Dyma un o'r rolau uchaf ym Mhriordy Cymru. Roedd Mr O’Connor hefyd yn rhan o gôr meibion Côr Meibion Morlais oedd yn perfformio yn y gwasanaeth.
Derbyniwyd dau Aelod i'r Urdd gan y Prior i Gymru, Paul Griffiths OBE KStJ DL. Cydnabuwyd Clare Buckley, sy’n Swyddog â Gofal dros Adran Glannau Dyfrdwy, am ei gwaith caled a oedd yn cynnwys rhoi 1,700 awr o amser yn cyflawni dyletswyddau ar gyfer elusen yn 2023.
Derbyniwyd Gillian Knight, sy’n Brif Swyddog Nyrsio Dros Dro Llywodraeth Cymru, yn Aelod o’r Urdd hefyd. Mae Gillian wedi bod yn un o Ymddiriedolwyr yr elusen ers 2023 ac mae wedi dod â llawer o arbenigedd mewn polisi nyrsio a gofal iechyd i’r pwyllgorau St John y mae’n eu cefnogi.
Cyflwynwyd gwobrau wasanaeth hir i saith o wirfoddolwyr St John Ambulance Cymru, gyda chyfanswm eu gwasanaeth dros 150 o flynyddoedd.
Roedd thema deuluol gyda gŵr a gwraig, Kevin Lippiatt (Swyddog â Gofal dros Adran Ieuenctid y Mwmbwls) a Danielle Lippiatt (Swyddog â Gofal dros Adran Gweithrediadau'r Gŵyr) yn derbyn Medalau Gwasanaeth 10 Mlynedd.
Derbyniodd Geoffrey Brown (Aelod Gweithredol o Adran Y Drenewydd) wobr i gydnabod 40 mlynedd o wasanaeth, tra dyfarnwyd gwobr i’w chwaer Iris Brown (Aelod Gweithredol Adran Betws Cedewain) am 55 mlynedd o wasanaeth eithriadol.
Yn derbyn gwobrau am 20 mlynedd o wasanaeth roedd Lynda Cook (Aelod Gweithredol Adran Hwlffordd) a Roger Viccars (Criw Ffordd Gweithrediadau Ambiwlans yng Ngorllewin Morgannwg), tra bod Neil Alderman (Aelod Gweithredol Adran Llwchwr) wedi derbyn Bar Euraidd 1af am 30 mlynedd o wasanaeth.
Hefyd yn cael ei chydnabod am ei hymdrechion oedd Charlotte Parry (Adran Griffithstown), a dderbyniodd Gwobr y Bathodyn Uwch, sef y clod uchaf y gellir ei gyflawni o fewn rhaglen Badgers yr elusen I blant 5-11 oed.
Traddodwyd y bregeth gan y Parch Tudor Thomas-Botwood MBE BD, a benodwyd yn ddiweddar yn Uwch Gaplan ar gyfer Rhanbarth Canolbarth a Gorllewin Cymru, ac sydd hefyd yn gwirfoddoli i Adran Rhaeadr yr elusen.
Dywedodd Paul Griffiths OBE KStJ DL, y Prior i Gymru:
“Roedd yn bleser dod â chymaint o bobl Sant Ioan ynghyd â chefnogwyr a phwysigion i ddathlu’r gwobrau a’r penodiadau hyn, sy’n cydnabod y gwaith caled a’r ymrwymiad sy’n sail i waith ein helusen.
“Hoffwn hefyd ddiolch i Borthladd Aberdaugleddau am noddi’r digwyddiad yn garedig.”
Ychwanegodd Tom Sawyer, Prif Swyddog Gweithredol Porthladd Aberdaugleddau:
“Rydym yn falch iawn o gefnogi Gwasanaeth Ymweliad St John Ambulance Cymru, gan gydnabod y gwirfoddolwyr anhygoel o anhunanol sy’n rhoi o’u hamser a’u hegni i’r elusen. Mae’r digwyddiad hwn yn ein hatgoffa o’r hyn y gellir ei gyflawni pan fyddwn yn cydweithio, a’r gwahaniaeth gwirioneddol y mae’n ei wneud i’n cymunedau.”
Dilynwyd y gwasanaeth gan gysegriad arbennig o ambiwlans newydd ar dir y gadeirlan. Prynwyd y cerbyd diolch i ymdrech enfawr i godi arian gyda chyfraniadau sylweddol gan Sefydliad Gosling, Seiri Rhyddion Gorllewin Cymru, Ymddiriedolaeth Elusennol y Seiri Rhyddion a llawer o gefnogwyr hael eraill.