Prestigious honour for volunteer
A man has been invested as a Knight of the Order of
St John at a special ceremony held in the Grand Priory
Church, London.
James Brownfield, 65, is the former Commander of St John
Ambulance Suffolk and was recognised at the prestigious event in
honour of his exceptional service to the nation's
leading first aid charity.
From Lowestoft, James was presented with his insignias by the
Grand Prior, His Royal Highness The Duke of
Gloucester. Each award had been previously approved by
Her Majesty The Queen, Sovereign Head of the Order of St
John.
He said: 'It was a fantastic day and I felt very honoured to
have been asked to attend. I was among 15 people selected for this
particular investiture from across England. It is a real privilege
because the event only takes place every three years.'
James joined the St John Ambulance family at the age of nine,
back in 1953. He worked his way through the charity's youth
programme and has served the organisation in a variety of senior
roles.
He has given thousands of hours of his time over recent years,
assisting at key county events as well as travelling to St John
Ambulance units around the UK in an advisory capacity.
He added: 'Being a part of St John Ambulance is something of
which I have always felt deeply proud. It has a special place in
the heart of myself and my family, so receiving this recognition is
a genuine honour. I hope to continue to serve the charity in
various guises for many years to come.'