Priest takes on senior first aid role
An ordained Church of England priest has
been given one of the most senior voluntary roles at St John
Ambulance Hampshire.
The Revd Graham Smith – who is also a
qualified paramedic - has been appointed Commissioner (Operations)
for the first aid charity and will be responsible for the first aid
cover at hundreds of public events across Hampshire each year.
I’ve been a member of St John Ambulance for 25 years and I’m delighted to have been given this role.
Rev. Graham Smith
Commissioner Operations, Hampshire
Graham, 47, said: ‘I’ve been a member of St
John Ambulance for 25 years and I’m delighted to have been given
this role. Our members provide a vital and professional service and
I’m proud to represent them all.’
He has had a varied career since leaving
school. He served as a Royal Navy Weapons Engineer Officer before
training as a priest. After serving in Canterbury Diocese for his
initial parish appointment he returned to the Royal Navy as a
Chaplain.
Graham had several front-line appointments
and was also Chaplain to the Royal Naval Hospital, at Haslar. Here,
he provided general pastoral care and support to staff and patients
and became involved in more specialist work among sufferers of Post
Traumatic Stress Disorder.
After leaving the Royal Navy Graham served
as a Chaplain with Sussex Police and as a Hospital Chaplain in
Portsmouth specialising in Critical Care. He remains a
registered healthcare chaplain.
Last year, Graham qualified as a paramedic
and now practises across Hampshire and Sussex for NHS
contractors.
Graham has had a long history of association
with St John Ambulance in various parts of the UK and comes from a
family of long serving St John members.
David Harrison, Commander of St John
Ambulance Hampshire, welcomed the appointment: ‘Graham is a
dedicated volunteer who brings a combination of wisdom and
knowledge to the role.’
Graham was previously the County Personnel
Officer for St John Ambulance Hampshire, which is also an unpaid,
voluntary role.