Archive Hour: Helensburgh man's Order accolade in 2009

Here's how the honour to John Brown was reported in the Advertiser on July 9, 2009...

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A HELENSBURGH man has been awarded the Service Medal of the Order of St John, which is awarded to recognise long and efficient service to the Order.

John Brown, of Cairndhu Gardens, who is treasurer of St John Dunbartonshire, was one of two recipients to be presented with the medal by the Prior of Scotland, Sir James Stirling of Garden, at the recent annual Festival of St John held in Inverness Cathedral.

To qualify for the medal, a person has to work voluntarily for St John for 60 or more hours per year for 12 years, and it is considered a prime means of recognising service in Scotland.

St John Dunbartonshire chairman Donald Fullarton said: “John has worked exceptionally hard for the Order for the past 15 years in an individual way, as well being a key member and office bearer.

"This award is very well deserved, and as far as I know, he is the first Dunbartonshire member ever to receive it.”

The festival was also a special occasion for the Dunbartonshire vice-chairman Douglas Dow, who earlier this year was appointed the Priory of Scotland’s director of ceremonies, and was in charge of all the procedure of the festival and investiture.

The Order in Scotland supports medical and rescue charities, in particular mountain rescue and palliative care.

In recent years it has paid for the construction of bases for the mountain rescue teams at Arrochar and Drymen, and was the major donor for the latest Luss rescue boat, the St John.

The Order ranks in precedence immediately after the Order of the British Empire.

Its Sovereign Head is Her Majesty the Queen, who sanctions all admissions to and promotions within the Order.