News 2011
DVD for Carers at Home launched, Fri 18 Nov
St John Central is the main funder of a new DVD produced by NHS Forth Valley as a guide to moving and handling for people who are caring for a relative at home.
Aptly named, Moving Forth, the DVD is available as a free download through the link to YouTube below.
www.youtube.com/user/NHSForthValley
Royal Boat Naming, Monday 26 September
HRH The Princess Royal is visiting the Union Canal at Ratho, near Edinburgh to name a new boat for the Seagull Trust Cruises charity of which she is the Royal Patron. The charity provides canal cruises for disabled and special needs passengers in specially built boats and operates across Scotland’s inland waterway network. Last year Seagull Trust Cruises, which is entirely run by volunteers, carried well over 25,000 passengers from branches in Ratho, Falkirk, Kirkintilloch and Inverness.
The new boat, number 9 in the fleet, will be named St John Edinburgh reflecting a substantial grant of £80,000 from St John Scotland, part of the Order of St John, well known for its St John Ambulance activities, and will help to support the increasing demand for the unique service offered by Seagull Trust Cruises . Other generous funding came from the Queensbury Trust, passengers taking trips from Ratho and a large legacy from a late crew member at Ratho.
Mr David Mieras, Chairman of the Seagull Trust’s Ratho Branch said “We are delighted to welcome Her Royal Highness to Ratho and to recognise the generosity of the Order of St John and their handsome donation which has enabled the building of this Flagship boat. This will enable us to extend the number of cruises we are able to offer to people with special needs from Ratho”.
Sir Malcom Ross, The Prior (Chairman) of St John Scotland said “We are very pleased to be able to continue our support for the valuable work of the Seagull Trust and we are delighted that this splendid new boat is being named after St John Scotland”.
NEW BOAT FOR SEAGULL CRUISES IS LAUNCHED IN JUNE 2011
2010
Well Done Dael
Congratulations and thank you to Dael Wilson for completng his 1000 mile cycle ride around Scotland to raise awareness of St John Scotland and its support of Scottish Mountain Rescue. A great effort which raised over £700. Pictured here at both the start and finsh point - St Andrews Cathedral - after six weeks in the saddle when he returned on 19 June.
Thursday 1 July HRH Duke of Gloucester opens new base for the Ochils
HRH The Duke of Gloucester officially opened the new base for the Ochils Mountain Rescue Team on Thursday 1 July at 2.15pm.
The purpose-built base is in Clackmannanshire outside Tillicoultry, was opened by the Duke of Gloucester in his capacity as the Grand Prior of St John Scotland. The base cost around £250,000 bringing the total support by St John Scotland to Scottish Mountain Rescue to over £2.5m.
As well as bases, St John Scotland has provided 25 vehicles and equipment to volunteer rescue teams across Scotland. It wasalsothe main sponsor of the new rescue boat on Loch Lomond and supports SARDA, the Search and Rescue Dog Association.
“We are delighted at the provision of a building that is not only fit for purpose but has been designed to keep energy use to a minimum and therefore reduce running costs,” said Kev Mitchell, Team Leader of the Ochils MRT (pictured top left). “Our first base in 1971 was an old police cell and as we grew, we moved from place to place. Now our team is 35 and we have a waiting list. This base is meets all our needs so we will not be moving on again.”
“The mission of St John Scotland is to improve the health, safety and quality of life of people in need and it is entirely fitting that we support the country’s mountain rescue operations.We plan to continue this partnership and work with Scottish mountain rescue to ensure they can operate effectively. They are thoroughly professional and offer an invaluable service," said Sir Malcolm Ross, Prior of St John Scotland.
1 May - 8 June 2010
Daels' Epic Cycle Ride -donate here www.justgiving.com/Dael-Wilson
Departing St Andrews Saturday 1 May. Arriving at The Discovery, Dundee.
13 May - Inverness Cathedral with Duncan Chisholm, member of St John Highland, and members of two mountain rescue teams plus Skye, the rescue dog.
At John O'Groats; Kylestrome, Sutherland and the St John Cross, Iona
With Arran MRT and on HMS Gannet.
8 June - With Jenny Smith of Galloway MRT
1 May 2010
Dael pedals 1000 miles for St John Scotland
Keen cyclist, 67-year-old Dael Wilson from Fife, sets off on his 1000 mile cycle trip around the borders of Scotland. Starting in St Andrews, Dael, a retired police constable, will be following the coastline where possible and be on the road for around two months.
He wants to raise awareness of the work of St John Scotland and its significant support of Scottish Mountain Rescue. A record of his ambitious trip will be shown here. Donations can be made online through www.justgiving.com/Dael-Wilson or simply send a cheque to St John Scotland's head office in Edinburgh.
1 January 2010
New Year Dook to raise funds in Stranraer
New Year's Day at Portpatrick Beach 1 January 2010, 2pm. It was organised by members of Portpatrick Coastguard Team, friends & family. Twelve swimmers took part and collected sponsors with all funds going to the Order of St John Stranraer Branch to help fund the palliative care unit in the Galloway Community Hospital as well as provide transport for ill patients to travel to hospital outside the region. The swimmers entered the water and swam around the RNLI rescue boat then back to the beach cheered all the way by a large crowd of supporters who had gathered along the sea front. Thanks to Iain Ritchie for photos.
1 November 2009
Celebration of the work of the Order of St John
His Royal Highness, The Duke of Gloucester KG GCVO, The Grand Prior of the Order of St John, attended the celebraiton of the work of the Order of St John which marked the retirement of the Prior, Sir James Stirling of Garden, and the installation of the new Prior, Sir Malcolm Ross. The event took place on Friday 30 October at the Canongate Kirk, The Royal Mile, Edinburgh (pictured).
Pictured above is Sir Malcolm Ross who replaced Sir James, who had been Prior for 14 years. The distinctive ceremonial black robes worn by Members of the Order were on show as they processed at 2pm from St John’s House down the Royal Mile via St John’s Cross to the Canongate Kirk (pictured far left).
The day was a celebration of the charitable work of the Order both worldwide and in Scotland.The Priory of Scotland has given long-standing support to the St John Eye Hospital in Jerusalem, The St John Malawi Primary Health Care Project and made significant contributions to the Scottish Mountain Rescue teams.
'We are pleased to be celebrating the work of St John in over 40 countries across the world. We are very glad to welcome today representatives from several other humanitarian organisations and we are honoured to have with us His Royal Highness The Duke of Gloucester representing our sovereign head, Her Majesty The Queen, said Richard Waller, chief executive of St John Scotland.
Photos: Courtesy Antonia Reeve, Edinburgh.
1 August 2009
Opening of Mountain Rescue Base on Arran
Over 200 past and present members and guests celebrated the opening of the new Arran Mountain Rescue base at Cladach on Saturday 1 August. The base signifies a major step forward for Arran Mountain Rescue, Team providing the team with not only space to weekly training but also much needed facilities for storing and drying equipment and clothing.
The main contributor to the new base was St John Scotland, which was represented by Lady Fiona Stirling, Hywel Davies, chairman of St John Ayrshire and Arran, Tricia Davies, former chair of St John Ayrshire and Arran, Mrs Roseanne Cuninghame of Caprington Castle, Kilmarnock, Richard Waller, CEO of St John Scotland and his wife Gilli. Representing The Mountain Rescue Committee of Scotland were Chairman Alfie Ingram and his wife Joy.
The opening was led by The Isle of Arran Pipe band to rapturous applause, followed by a welcome speech from the master of ceremonies, team leader Alan McNicol, and contributions from past team leaders, Stewart Lambie Snr MBE and Alistair Hume, who worked tirelessly over many years to make the base a reality as did Alistair Bilsland. The ceremony was completed by Sir James Stirling KCVO CBE GCStJ TD – the Prior of the Priory of Scotland of the Order of St John.
In addition to the new base, St John Scotland supplied Arran with a fully equipped Mountain rescue Land Rover More recently, the team purchased another Land Rover and had it branded with St John Scotland's logo in recognition of the charity's continuing generosity.
Past team leader, Alistair Hume said,"The new Cladach base with its location next to the start of the main tourist path to Goatfell is a fantastic asset with all the facilities we need to provide a more professional service, everyone who has worked very hard over the last few years and today is the culmination of that. It's great to see all the former members and supporters here and hopefully this memorable occasion will be the start of a new beginning for the Arran mountain rescue team."
The land for the base was made available by North Ayrshire Council and Highlands and Island Enterprise also made a very generous contribution to the building of Scotland's newest and most modern mountain rescue base.
Team leader, Alan McNicol, said,'I would like to thank all the past and present team members along with their families, all supporters/fundraisers and organisations that all contributated to make the opening of the new Cladach base possible.'
March : At Home and Abroad
Left: Former Strathkelvin chairman, Alastair Petrie presents a cheque for £1200 to Rosemund Blair, Director, on behalf of RDA Glasgow Branch for a new pony, Dilon. Right: children in Zimbabwe learn about hygiene as part of a cholera prevention education porgramme delivered by St John Zimbabwe.
January 2009
Left: Farmer`s wife Kathleen Parker won the main prize at a Stranraer fundraiser on February 27 - bottles and bottles of wine -so many she could hardly lift the barrow - which was not included in the prize! Members and friends had gathered for a supper and a music programme at Dunskey Golf Club in Portpatrick which raised raised £500 for local projects Pictured are Kathleen with barrow and branch chairman Ken Paterson on left.
Centre:Presentation of an Etude bed to the Wellesley Unit at Randolph Wemyss Hospital Buckhaven in Fife. Pictured are Carolyne Williamson(Nurse), Norma Wilson Chair Kirkcaldy & Levenmouth CHP, Liz Baglow(Order) Lawson Rennie Chairman Fife Area Order ofSt John, Rhonda Duffy(Charge Nurse). In front William(Bill) Cheape(Patient), Hazel Turnbull(Nurse).
Right: At a reunion of the group who travelled to the St John Eye Hospital in Jerusalem Freddie Spencer Nairn (left was presented with a salver as a thank you for organising the trip by Perth and Kinross Chairman, John Ferguson Smith.