It was an immense pleasure to attend the investiture ceremony of the
Priory in New Zealand of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of Saint John of Jerusalem this afternoon.
The
First Crusade was launched in 1096 with the aim of wresting control of the Holy Land from Islam. Three years later, in 1099, the Crusaders took control of Jerusalem and were surprised to discover a hospital operated by Benedictine monks who'd been there for decades.
Those monks were the founding chapter of what became the Order of St. John. Nine centuries later the hospital is still there, and so is the Order.
It hasn't all been plain sailing. in 1798 Napoleon defeated the armed forces of St. John in an attack on Malta, leaving the Order without territory. Despite having no physical dominion today St. John is a quasi-State which enjoys diplomatic relations with 112 countries. St. John is a
Permanent Observer at the United Nations, alongside Palestine and the Holy See.
Throughout the Commonwealth the process for obtaining a royal honour is the same: an individual is nominated and a sub-committee of the Cabinet sends a recommendation to the Sovereign, a process which is subject to the vicissitudes of whichever political party is in government.
The only exception to this anywhere in the
Commonwealth of Nations is St. John. The Order is entitled to circumvent the political process altogether to make recommendations directly to the Sovereign, and does so.
Which brings me to today.
It was saddening to realise this is the last function I will ever attend in service to our queen. The following individuals invested this afternoon were appointed to the Order of St. John by Her Majesty Elizabeth II:
Bailiff Grand Cross:
Dr. Steven Alan EVANS
Dame of Grace:
Margaret Eileen SUCKLING
Commander:
Patricia Ann CARLYLE
Stephen John FRANKLIN
Grant Raymond HIRST
Officer:
Max Alexander GOING
Peter Findlay ROBINSON
Member:
Inderjeet BAJWA
Rebekah Ellen BUIST
Kathryn Philomena CAULFIED
Petronella Yvonne COPE
Dalice Thora COSSEY
Peter John DAVIS
Amanda Jayne DONALDSON
Alan George FARAC
Janice Claire FRANKLIN
Antony James GABRIEL
Nicola Jan GIRLING
Ping HAU
Anita HOJIRD
Gavin Alister HOLM
Esther Nina Dawn HORTON
Todd Fiona HORTON
Paul KING
Michael Steven LAKER
Corey Ray McCALLUM
Timothy Michael McQUINN
Jean Elizabeth MOOR
Lisa-Jayne RICHARDS
Phillip Lui Ming SO
Kathryn Anne STEEL
Cheryl Judith THOMAS
Deborah Aileen TROW
Kok Kit WONG
Donna Winifred WYATT
By the Sovereign's command. Congratulations to them.
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