St John Ambulance Cymru honours its volunteers at Llandaff Investiture

On Saturday, 3^rd June St John Ambulance Cymru held its Commemoration, Rededication and Investiture Service in Llandaff Cathedral.

The Priory for Wales of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem is the Welsh branch of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem which traces its origins back to the Knights Hospitallers in the Middle Ages. The Annual Investiture Service acknowledges those who have selflessly given their time to support St John Ambulance Cymru and their local communities.

The service marked the first year HM King Charles III has personally sanctioned admissions and promotions within the prestigious Order.

At the service Dr Dale Cartwright, CStJ DL was promoted  to Commander of the Order being presented by the Grand Prior, His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester. Dr Cartwright joined St John Ambulance Cymru as a cadet at the age of 13.

He said, “In addition to learning essential first aid skills, I gained many interpersonal skills including communication, teamwork and leadership

As a doctor, I now have the opportunity to give something back to St John in terms of the clinical skills and experiences that I can share with others.  

I was completely surprised to receive the news that I was being promoted to the position of Commander.

It is a huge honour, and I think I read the letter back a few times before it sunk in.

The letter arrived the morning after my daughter was born so it was the icing on the cake at a time of great joy.”

 The charity’s Head of Community Operations, Darren Murray, was also invited to join the Order as an Officer.

He said, “ St John Ambulance Cymru is an important part of my life, having been a volunteer for coming up to 14 years.

What started off as ‘something to do’ and an attempt to keep my first aid skills up to date, quickly progressed into giving hundreds of hours a year as a volunteer.

This has now turned into my career as I approach my first anniversary as Head of Community Operations.

 I was honoured to have been put forward for promotion to Officer.

Whilst we don’t volunteer for the accolade, to know someone has taken the time to submit a nomination and that it has been accepted is very humbling, and something I am grateful for. “

Also made Officers were Kate Arnold, Richard Brake, Stephen Cook, Kathleen Eardley, Beth Francis, Mark Gordon, Ieuan Healan, and Sian Howell.

Lee Brooks QAM, Dr Aled Davies, Dr Anthony Dew, Joseph Griffiths, Rebecca Jolliffe, Carl Neale, Gavin Rees, Aron Roberts, Martin Thompson and Marion Thompson were made Members of the Order.

This year’s event was also significant as the organisation welcomed its 11^th Prior, Paul Griffiths OBE KStJ.

Paul Griffiths joined the Gwent Council for St John Ambulance Cymru in 2016 and soon became Chair in 2017. His commitment to serving the communities in Wales is evident, through his 29 years of public service in the Police.

 The newly appointed Prior for Wales, said, “I begin my tenure as Prior for Wales humbled by the selfless dedication our St John People have shown to those in need in communities across Wales.

The motto of the Order of St John is Pro Fide, Pro Utilitate Hominum, For the Faith and in the Service of Humanity. We believe that our people represent the very best of humanity, and it is important for us to acknowledge the huge role they play in making sure we can continue to be there for everyone, anytime, anywhere.

I am delighted to see their efforts recognised at our South Wales Investiture Service, and I look forward to many more of these events in the years to come.”

If you would like to support the work of St John Ambulance Cymru you can make a donation or find out how to volunteer with us by clicking here.

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Ar Dydd Sadwrn, 3ydd Mehefin cynhaliodd St John Ambulance Cymru ei Wasanaeth Coffáu, Ailgysegru ac Arwisgo yn Eglwys Gadeiriol Llandaf.

Cangen Gymreig Urdd Hybarch Ysbyty Sant Ioan o Jerwsalem yw Priordy Cymru o Urdd Hybarch Ysbyty Sant Ioan o Jerwsalem sy'n olrhain ei tharddiad yn ôl i Farchogion Ysbyty'r Oesoedd Canol. Mae’r Gwasanaeth Arwisgo Blynyddol yn cydnabod y rhai sydd wedi rhoi o’u hamser yn anhunanol i gefnogi St John Ambulance Cymru a’u cymunedau lleol.

Roedd y gwasanaeth yn nodi'r flwyddyn gyntaf y mae EM Brenin Siarl III yn bersonol wedi cymeradwyo derbyniadau a dyrchafiadau o fewn y Gorchymyn mawreddog.

 Yn y gwasanaeth cafodd Dr Dale Cartwright, CStJ DL ei ddyrchafu i Gomander yr Urdd a gyflwynwyd gan y Prif Brior, Ei Uchelder Brenhinol Dug Caerloyw. Ymunodd Dr Cartwright ag St John Ambulance Cymru fel cadét yn 13 oed.

Meddai, “Yn ogystal â dysgu sgiliau cymorth cyntaf hanfodol, enillais lawer o sgiliau rhyngbersonol gan gynnwys cyfathrebu, gwaith tîm ac arweinyddiaeth.

Fel meddyg, mae gennyf gyfle yn awr i roi rhywbeth yn ôl i Sant Ioan o ran y sgiliau a’r profiadau clinigol y gallaf eu rhannu ag eraill.

Cefais fy synnu’n llwyr o dderbyn y newyddion fy mod yn cael dyrchafiad i swydd Comander.

Mae'n anrhydedd enfawr, a chredaf imi ddarllen y llythyr yn ôl ychydig o weithiau cyn iddo suddo i mewn.

Cyrhaeddodd y llythyr y bore ar ôl geni fy merch felly roedd hi’n eisin ar y gacen ar adeg o lawenydd mawr.”

  Hefyd gwahoddwyd Pennaeth Gweithrediadau Cymunedol yr elusen, Darren Murray, i ymuno â’r Gorchymyn fel Swyddog.

Meddai, “Mae St John Ambulance Cymru yn rhan bwysig o fy mywyd, ar ôl bod yn wirfoddolwr am hyd at 14 mlynedd.

Datblygodd yr hyn a ddechreuodd fel ‘rhywbeth i’w wneud’ ac ymgais i gadw fy sgiliau cymorth cyntaf yn gyfredol, yn gyflym i roi cannoedd o oriau’r flwyddyn fel gwirfoddolwr.

Mae hyn bellach wedi troi yn fy ngyrfa wrth i mi nesáu at fy mhen-blwydd cyntaf fel Pennaeth Gweithrediadau Cymunedol.

 Roedd yn anrhydedd i mi gael fy enwebu i fod yn Swyddog.

Er nad ydym yn gwirfoddoli ar gyfer yr anrhydedd, mae gwybod bod rhywun wedi cymryd yr amser i gyflwyno enwebiad a’i fod wedi’i dderbyn yn ostyngedig iawn, ac yn rhywbeth rwy’n ddiolchgar amdano."

Swyddogion hefyd oedd Kate Arnold, Richard Brake, Stephen Cook, Kathleen Eardley, Beth Francis, Mark Gordon, Ieuan Healan, a Sian Howell.

Gwnaed Lee Brooks QAM, Dr Aled Davies, Dr Anthony Dew, Joseph Griffiths, Rebecca Jolliffe, Carl Neale, Gavin Rees, Aron Roberts, Martin Thompson a Marion Thompson yn Aelodau o’r Gorchymyn.

Roedd digwyddiad eleni hefyd yn arwyddocaol wrth i’r sefydliad groesawu ei 11eg Prior, Paul Griffiths OBE KStJ.

Ymunodd Paul Griffiths â Chyngor Gwent ar gyfer St John Ambulance Cymru yn 2016 ac yn fuan daeth yn Gadeirydd yn 2017. Mae ei ymrwymiad i wasanaethu cymunedau Cymru yn amlwg, trwy ei 29 mlynedd o wasanaeth cyhoeddus yn yr Heddlu.

Dywedodd y Prior sydd newydd ei benodi i Gymru, “Rwy’n dechrau fy nghyfnod fel Prior i Gymru wedi fy llethu gan ymroddiad anhunanol ein Pobl Sant Ioan i’r rhai sydd mewn angen mewn cymunedau ledled Cymru.

Arwyddair Urdd Sant Ioan yw Pro Fide, Pro Utilitate Hominum, Er Mwyn y Ffydd ac yng Ngwasanaeth y Ddynoliaeth. Credwn fod ein pobl yn cynrychioli’r gorau oll o ddynoliaeth, ac mae’n bwysig inni gydnabod y rhan enfawr y maent yn ei chwarae wrth sicrhau y gallwn barhau i fod yno i bawb, unrhyw bryd, unrhyw le.

Rwy’n falch iawn o weld eu hymdrechion yn cael eu cydnabod yn ein Gwasanaeth Arwisgo yn Ne Cymru, ac edrychaf ymlaen at lawer mwy o’r digwyddiadau hyn yn y blynyddoedd i ddod.”

Os hoffech gefnogi gwaith St John Ambulance Cymru gallwch wneud cyfraniad neu ddarganfod sut i wirfoddoli gyda ni trwy glicio yma.