YEARBOOK 2014-2015 2012 Year Book Cover 12/11/12 19:26 Page 3
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YEARBOOK 2014-2015 2012 Year Book Cover 12/11/12 19:26 Page 3 FAMILY SUPPORT OF RESCUE TEAM CONTINUES The Priory of Scotland of theThe Most Priory Venerable of Scotland Order of the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of the Hospital of St John ofof JerusalemJerusalem Hugh MacLeod of MacLeod, of Dunvegan Castle, Skye, followed in his father’s footsteps when he kindly presented the Skye Mountain Rescue Team with a vehicle on behalf of St John Scotland. Hugh handed over the vehicle, for which St John had contributed £20,000, on 12th October 2012. His late father, John MacLeod of MacLeod, presented the team’s previous St John-funded vehicle on 6th October 2001, the same day as he opened the team’s base at Glenbrittle, for which he had generously donated the land. The happy recipient of the keys on both occasions was Gerry Akroyd, the Team Leader. Pro Fide – Pro Utilitate Hominum The arms of the Priory with the mottoes of the Order The arms of the Priory with the mottoes of the Order St John Scotland improves the safety,St John health Scotland and qualityimproves of thelife of safety, health and quality of life of people in need. people in need. CONTENTS The Prior’s Message 3 General Information 4 St John Scotland Projects 8 The Receiver General’s Report 18 Financial Information 21 Activities Report 24 2020 The Way Ahead 32 National and International Events 40 Governance of the Order of St John 46 Governance of St John Scotland 47 Area Committees in St John Scotland 48 Roll of Order Members in the Priory of Scotland 52 In Grateful Memory 74 THE CHANCERY OF THE PRIORY OF SCOTLAND ST JOHN’S HOUSE, 21 ST JOHN STREET EDINBURGH EH8 8DG Scottish Charity SC000262 Telephone: 0131 556 8711 E-mail: [email protected] Website:www.stjohnscotland.org.uk Order Website:www.orderofstjohn.org Her Majesty The Queen Sovereign Head of the Order of St John 2 THE PRIOR’S MESSAGE Each year, as I write my report for the Year Book, I am amazed by the amount that has been achieved and I must start by thanking all who play a part in St John Scotland for their marvellous contributions to the successes of 2014. Since my last report we have held two convocations at Polmont to which we have invited any Members of the Priory who wished to come to suggest and discuss how we might go forward. Presentations this year were given on Patient Transport, Emergency Care training and possibly a new Caring Caller scheme. We also debated ways to increase our membership, especially by attracting young people and we were treated to a fascinating report on the St John Eye Hospital in Jerusalem. These subjects, together Sir Malcolm with others, which are the result of our governance review, will be considered further as options for future development. Support for mountain rescue continues and we were one of the two main sponsors of the conference in Aviemore, which was attended by representatives of all Scotland’s mountain rescue teams. Many members of these teams visited our stand to express their thanks for the bases and vehicles which we have given them. We have also continued to support the works of Eye Hospital and health care in Malawi. Since my last report we have, in partnership with the Blood Transfusion Service in Scotland, held two ceremonies to recognise the men, women and children who have donated organs to enable others to live or enjoy an enhanced way of life. The first of these was in Edinburgh’s City Chambers and the second in the Royal Botanic Gardens in Edinburgh. We were overwhelmed by the numbers wishing to attend. Both events were very moving and I was humbled by the courage and dignity of the family members who came to recognise their loved ones. There is now a charming little Garden of Remembrance in the Royal Botanic Gardens to honour donors. We are working hard to raise the profile of St John Scotland with increased activity, such as Community First Responder Groups, corporate clothing available to volunteers and a much stronger press image. We are also considering a major national fund-raising initiative, possibly to provide another specialist ambulance, following the huge success of the neo-natal vehicle, which we donated, to NHS Scotland last year. I am indebted to Karen Carlton who has acted as interim General Manager in St John’s House during this year. Her contribution will reduce, to allow her to give more to her own business. We have welcomed Tom McFarlane as Business Manager and Alan Lees as Administrator respectively and we will adjust the responsibilities of our longest serving stalwart, Janet Knox, to take on the role of Area Liaison Officer. I have much enjoyed meeting many of you at our successful Festival in Edinburgh and at other events. Your commitment to St John Scotland is enormously appreciated and I send you every good wish for your future work and happiness. Sir Malcolm Ross GCVO OBE 3 THE ORDER OF ST JOHN - HISTORICAL BACKGROUND The origins of the Order of St John can be traced to an 11th century hospital - the Hospital of St John in Jerusalem. In 1113 the people who administered this hospital were formed into a religious Order. Soon after, they took on military duties and became known as Knights Hospitallers. That Order, which exists today, is now commonly called the Order of Malta. It recruited members and owned property throughout Western Europe. The Order’s principal property in Scotland was at Torphichen, in West Lothian. Being Roman Catholic, the Order ceased to function in the British Isles at the time of the Reformation. In the first half of the 19th century a group of people set out to revive the Order of Malta in the United Kingdom but ultimately formed themselves into a separate organisation which they called the Order of St John. In 1877 they founded the St John Ambulance Association, whose role was to provide training in first aid and similar activities. Ten years later the St John Ambulance Brigade was created, as a uniformed body of trained volunteers to provide first aid cover for the public. In 1968 it was decided to merge the Ambulance Association and Brigade into “St John Ambulance”, to allow closer co-ordination of the two roles of training and public duty. In 1882, as a further means of providing to those in need and recognising its origins, the Order opened a hospital in Jerusalem. This was to treat eye disease, prevalent in the Middle East. (At that time, Jerusalem was part of the Ottoman Turkish Empire.) In 1888, Queen Victoria made the Order a Royal Order of Chivalry with the monarch as its Sovereign Head. Since then the Grand Prior has always been a member of the Royal Family. Today the Order of St John functions throughout the United Kingdom, in many other Commonwealth countries, in the United States of America and at the hospital in Jerusalem. THE ORDER IN SCOTLAND In its early years, the Order provided training in first aid and related subjects in Scotland, as in other parts of the United Kingdom. However, the Scottish-based St Andrew’s Ambulance Association was formed later and began similar activities, both in Scotland and England. In1908 it was agreed that the association would cease first aid training south of the border and the Order north of it. In the 1940s, some of its members felt there was scope for the Order to undertake a variety of public services in Scotland. In 1947, the Scottish Priory of the Order was formed and since then, from a standing start, it has achieved remarkable success in meeting a wide diversity of need. Over the years the Priory has responded to changes to some of these 4 needs brought about by developments such as the creation and evolution of the National Health Service. In recent times, the Priory has extended its support to mountain rescue teams in Scotland through the provision of vehicles and bases, and has funded minibuses for other needy organisations. Facilities provided include a palliative care unit, patient transport, sheltered residential accommodation and, most recently, a First Responder service. Also, help is given to many local initiatives which provide services and supplies for people of all ages who are ill, disabled, infirm or in danger. The Priory has always supported the Order’s hospital in Jerusalem and currently sponsors its Medical Director. Additionally, help is given to St John Associations in developing countries, especially Malawi. OBJECTS The objects of the Order in Scotland include: • the encouragement of all that makes for the spiritual and moral strengthening of mankind; • the encouragement and promotion of all work of humanity and charity for the relief of people in sickness, distress, suffering or danger; • the provision of assistance to the St John Eye Hospital in Jerusalem and its clinics and research projects; • the provision and maintenance of nursing homes, sheltered housing, hospices and rest and residential homes in Scotland; • the provision of a library. GOVERNANCE OF THE PRIORY The Priory of Scotland is governed under the Royal Charters, Statutes and Regulations of the Order, and the Rules of the Priory of Scotland. Copies of these are available from the Chancery. Those in management or control of the Priory are the Prior and members of the Priory Chapter, listed on page 53. The Priory is administered from the Chancery, St John’s House, at 21 St John Street, Edinburgh.