The five who represent different parts of St John in Guernsey, have been made Members of the prestigious international Order, in appointments sanctioned by HM King Charles, the Sovereign Head of the organisation.
Leon Steyn, Commandery Treasurer, is recognised for his services to the Commandery of St John in Guernsey. The Commandery is the board which oversees the work of both the charity and the ambulance service.
Marc Farror, the chairman of St John Ambulance and Rescue Service and interim chairman of the Commandery of St John in the Bailiwick of Guernsey, is recognised for services to the ambulance service.
Aimee Lihou, Head of Quality and Patient Safety, is recognised for her services to the Ambulance and Rescue Service, particularly in Alderney.
Long serving St John volunteer Dr Rachael Major is recognised for her safeguarding work with the St John Guernsey charity.
Dave Welbourne is recognised for his years of service to the Flying Christine and the marine ambulance service. The former ambulance officer served on the Flying Christine II and was involved with the designing of Flying Christine III.
An individual can be admitted to the Order for outstanding service to St John in recognition of achievement, notable or selfless service or inspiration and encouragement to others. There are five Grades of membership Member, Officer, Commander, Knight or Dame and Bailiff or Dame Grand Cross.
Chief Executive Officer of Ambulance and Rescue, Mark Mapp said: “I want to extend my congratulations to the recipients who have been recognised for their selfless dedication in supporting the work of the Order of St John. It is a privilege to lead an excellent team of dedicated staff and volunteers who provide emergency and non-emergency ambulance services to the Bailiwick of Guernsey. The Order’s recognition of those individuals who have gone above and beyond in their contributions is a testament to their hard work and commitment. Their efforts, which have made a significant impact on our community, have meaningfully advanced the charitable objectives of the Order at a local level, and this recognition is thoroughly well deserved”
Heather Langlois, Chief Executive Officer of the St John Guernsey charity added: Membership to the Order of St John is a global acknowledgment of one’s outstanding contribution to our organisation and is a remarkable achievement. It takes great passion, dedication and commitment to receive such an award, and we could not be more proud of the five individuals from Guernsey who have been recognised. I’d like to congratulate each of the recipients on their awards and express my immense gratitude for their service to St John in Guernsey.
The appointments were published in The Gazette on Thursday 10th October.
The Commandery of St John in the Bailiwick of Guernsey is looking to appoint a new Knight or Dame Commander, who as chair of the organisation will be the leading figure and principal public face of the board which oversees both the St John Guernsey charity and Ambulance and Rescue Guernsey.
The recruitment of a new Knight or Dame Commander follows the recent retirement of John Hollis OstJ who stood down due to poor health.
The role involves leading the organisation, providing strategic oversight and chairing the Commandery of St John in the Bailiwick of Guernsey. The post holder will be an ambassador for St John, engaging with political and community stakeholders, developing and fostering partnerships, working with the media and representing St John at official events locally and in the UK.
Nicola Hoyland-Birch who is leading the appointment process explained: “We are looking for an inspirational leader, who shares the St John values and can support and develop the growth of the organisation as a whole, so we can continue to deliver the excellent care and compassion that islanders have come to expect. The role requires someone who is an experienced and professional chair person, with excellent communication skills and who is able to engage a wide range of stakeholders.”
This is a voluntary role.
St John operates St John Guernsey, a charity which is dedicated to helping islanders through the provision of first aid, training and youth work; and Ambulance and Rescue Guernsey which provides emergency medical and major incident response for the Bailiwick on behalf of the States of Guernsey and the States of Alderney.
The Commandery of St John in the Bailiwick of Guernsey oversees the St John Guernsey charity and St John Ambulance and Rescue Service (Ambulance and Rescue, Guernsey).
The Commandery is part of the Priory of England and the Islands, and St John International
The Order of St John is an Order of Chivalry of the British Crown and His Majesty King Charles III, the Sovereign Head of the Order.
The St John Guernsey charity provides event first aid, youth work, the community library, first aid in schools and St John Training Services.
The St John Guernsey charity is funded by donations and sponsorship.
St John provides the Ambulance Service on behalf of the States of Guernsey through a grant from the Committee for Health & Social Care. The grant is a contribution towards the operating costs of the service, with the remaining costs being met in a variety of ways including the subscription scheme and charges.
Ambulance and Rescue Service is a partner in the HSC Partnership of Purpose.
The ambulance service also provides the non-emergency patient transfer service and a major incident response for the islands.
St John has been operating the Ambulance and Rescue service in Guernsey since 1936.
Guernsey’s Ambulance and Rescue Service also provides the ambulance service for Alderney on behalf of the States of Alderney.
The Flying Christine III is a purpose built marine ambulance, which delivers pre-hospital paramedic care to the islands of the Bailiwick. The crew is made up of skilled volunteers from the local marine community and professional ambulance staff from Guernsey’s ambulance service.
Their Majesties were also introduced to a representative of the marine ambulance team and acknowledged the crew of the Flying Christine III who were on the harbour pontoon. Earlier in the day the royal couple were greeted by St John Cadets as they arrived by helicopter in St Peter Port. 
Mark Mapp, Guernsey’s Chief Ambulance Officer and CEO of St John Ambulance and Rescue Service said: “We were incredibly fortunate and honoured to have welcomed Their Majesties to the Bailiwick of Guernsey. Their profound interest in St John, our charity and professional ambulance service, as well as the iconic Marine Ambulance, the Flying Christine, highlighted their support for our organisation . As the Sovereign Head of the Order, King Charles III’s visit was particularly special. During their visit, Their Majesties met with numerous St John representatives, including our distinguished Knight Commander, John Hollis. We were delighted that the King and Queen signed our signatory book, which is over 70 years old and holds a collection of entries from previous Royal visits. It was an incredibly proud day for me, St John, and the community of Guernsey.
CEO of the St John Guernsey charity Heather Langlois added: “It was both an honour and a privilege to meet His Majesty King Charles III and Her Majesty Queen Camilla on behalf of the St John Guernsey Charity. As CEO, I am humbled daily by the opportunity to work alongside volunteers, staff and young people who make our community a safer place and to represent each of those remarkable individuals on this occasion is a moment I will never forget.”
Dave Welbourne, Flying Christine volunteer coxswain said: “’It was an honour and privilege to speak with Their Majesties yesterday. They took the time to ask lots of questions about the Flying Christine III and seen seemed generally and genuinely interested in our roles as volunteer boat crew. They wanted to know how many cases the marine ambulance does each year and how long we have all been volunteering for.”
John was appointed a Knight Commander in November 2022 and has provided leadership, oversight and direction for the whole of the St John organisation in Guernsey, including both the St John Guernsey charity and the Ambulance and Rescue Service. During his time in office, John shared his enthusiasm, vision and drive to lead the organisation into a new era, conducting a comprehensive review of its structure and core services. As a figure head for St John in Guernsey John also utilised his vast business and government experience to build and strengthen relationships with key stake holders, particularly the States of Guernsey.
In his ceremonial role as Knight Commander, John represented Guernsey at events in the UK and presided over various St John ceremonies and presentations locally. In July this year John was presented to His Majesty King Charles III, Sovereign Head of the Order of St John, during the Royal visit to Guernsey.
CEO of the St John Guernsey charity, Heather Langlois said: “John Hollis is a remarkable individual whose passion, commitment and drive are at the heart of everything he does, and his ability to inspire teams, support ideas and lead change are skills that the Charity will benefit from for years to come. John perfectly embodies the Charity’s values of Humanity, Excellence, Accountability, Responsiveness and Teamwork, and during his time as Knight Commander he has ensured a more sustainable future for the Charity. It will forever be one of my greatest privileges to have had the opportunity to learn from and work alongside John and on behalf of the St John Guernsey Charity I would like to thank him for his service. This organisation is stronger because of his leadership.”
CEO of the St John Ambulance and Rescue Service, Mark Mapp said: “The entire ambulance team will miss John, whose extensive support for the service has provided us with stability, transparency, and sustainability. Before becoming our leader, John worked in various sectors of government, where he undertook a comprehensive review of the ambulance service and, as part of the review, considered the broader urgent and emergency care healthcare system. His report was innovative, and many solutions to today’s healthcare challenges lie within his work and recommendations. John has been a strategic motivator and a driving force behind transformative changes, and his legacy will continue to inspire us all.”
Prior to be appointed as Knight Commander, John had previously served as the Chairman of the boards of St John Guernsey and St John Ambulance and Rescue Service. He came to St John following a long and successful career in international business and government adviser, having previously been a non-states member of Treasury & Resources and the States Trading Supervisory Board.
The process of recruiting a new Knight or Dame Commander will begin in the next few weeks.
The St John Guernsey charity will be familiar to many by the light green uniform wearing volunteers providing first aid cover at many local events, the Community Library, First Aid in Schools programme, Badger & Cadet programmes and St John Training Services Guernsey who you may have done your workplace first aid training with.
An Old Elizabethan whose academic achievements at school yielded to his skills and energies as an enthusiastic shot and sportsman, Peter Voute had a distinguished Naval career, including Fleet Air Arm duties and posts, diplomatic assignments including as Naval Attaché in Madrid, besides sea commands and operational service in various areas of confrontation eg Borneo/Indonesia, and which included teaching the King when Prince of Wales to fly helicopters. He retired from active service in 1992 to the no less exacting combats engendered by the UK Government’s assaults on the countryside as a senior executive of the Countryside Alliance. He was one of the organisers of the Countryside Rally, and later the Countryside March, both of which encouraged great support for the retention of traditional countryside pursuits.
On his returning to Guernsey in the early 2000’s, as then Chairman of the St John Council I asked him to become involved with St John, and in particular to review and reorganise its cumbersome and inappropriate voluntary Divisional structure, a project he undertook with characteristic efficiency and precision, and in the result a much leaner and more effective voluntary St John emerged. He succeeded me as Chairman of the St John Council in 2008, and was appointed to the office of Knight Commander on the Bailiwick’s St John activities and undertakings being transferred from the Priory of England and the Islands of the Order to the locally incorporated Commandery in July 2012, in order to give St John in the Bailiwick the independence it deserved as a Crown Dependency. In his dealings to establish the Commandery with the Priory and the Order of St John, he proved a skilled but pragmatic negotiator, and the eventual success of these new arrangements demonstrate the sense and value of his contribution.
Peter married Marta Blad, of the notable Guernsey family, who was a delightful companion, yet a discerning foil. Sadly, due to her illness, he had to step down as Knight Commander sooner than anticipated, but his contribution to the establishment of the Commandery and its subsequent achievements cannot be overemphasised. Peter’s life and career were marked by a sense of duty and discipline, and the maintenance of standards of conduct which he set himself and expected of others; yet he was a thoroughly engaging and interesting, besides modest, gentleman and his ever-courteous manner and characteristic efficiency were hard to match. St John locally owes him much.
Nik van Leuven KStJ.
Posted: March 25, 2024
An Old Elizabethan whose academic achievements at school yielded to his skills and energies as an enthusiastic shot and sportsman, Peter Voute had a distinguished Naval career, including Fleet Air Arm duties and posts, diplomatic assignments including as Naval Attaché in Madrid, besides sea commands and operational service in various areas of confrontation eg Borneo/Indonesia, and which included teaching the King when Prince of Wales to fly helicopters. He retired from active service in 1992 to the no less exacting combats engendered by the UK Government’s assaults on the countryside as a senior executive of the Countryside Alliance. He was one of the organisers of the Countryside Rally, and later the Countryside March, both of which encouraged great support for the retention of traditional countryside pursuits.
On his returning to Guernsey in the early 2000’s, as then Chairman of the St John Council I asked him to become involved with St John, and in particular to review and reorganise its cumbersome and inappropriate voluntary Divisional structure, a project he undertook with characteristic efficiency and precision, and in the result a much leaner and more effective voluntary St John emerged. He succeeded me as Chairman of the St John Council in 2008, and was appointed to the office of Knight Commander on the Bailiwick’s St John activities and undertakings being transferred from the Priory of England and the Islands of the Order to the locally incorporated Commandery in July 2012, in order to give St John in the Bailiwick the independence it deserved as a Crown Dependency. In his dealings to establish the Commandery with the Priory and the Order of St John, he proved a skilled but pragmatic negotiator, and the eventual success of these new arrangements demonstrate the sense and value of his contribution.
Peter married Marta Blad, of the notable Guernsey family, who was a delightful companion, yet a discerning foil. Sadly, due to her illness, he had to step down as Knight Commander sooner than anticipated, but his contribution to the establishment of the Commandery and its subsequent achievements cannot be overemphasised. Peter’s life and career were marked by a sense of duty and discipline, and the maintenance of standards of conduct which he set himself and expected of others; yet he was a thoroughly engaging and interesting, besides modest, gentleman and his ever-courteous manner and characteristic efficiency were hard to match. St John locally owes him much.
Nik van Leuven KStJ.
The car will be used by Specialist Paramedic Kelly Marquis in her role proactively supporting independence and safety in the home environment and promoting physical health and well-being in the over-80s. The preventative care service is operated as a partnership between the Ambulance and Rescue Service and States of Guernsey Health and Social Care (HSC).
The Peugeot E-Rifter electric car was presented to the ambulance service in memory of Mavis Lesbirel, by her cousin Marion Gallienne, and brother Mike Le Lacheur. It is the first electric car in the ambulance fleet and is stocked with a Zoll defibrillator and monitoring machine, emergency response bag, emergency lifting chair and various pieces of equipment and diagnostic tools that may be of benefit to patients undergoing assessments. Although the primary role is to facilitate the preventative care service, the vehicle also carries a defibrillator and emergency response bag, so can be deployed to life-saving medical emergencies in the immediate vicinity, if it is not committed elsewhere.
Ambulance service Chief Executive Officer, Mark Mapp said: “We are extremely grateful to the family of Mavis Lesbirel for the generous donation of this electric car for the preventative care service. It is a good example of how the ambulance service is working together in partnership with Health and Social Care to support the changing needs of our community. Identifying potential problems in their infancy and implementing preventative care measures can help reduce the demand for acute ambulance calls and avoidable hospital admissions. The work of the ambulance service is supported by charitable donations, which allows us to develop additional community services, not covered under our contract with the States of Guernsey.”
During the first two years of the Preventative Care project a vehicle was loaned to the ambulance service by the St John Guernsey charity.
Mr Mapp added: “In our journey toward sustainability and reduced operational costs, investing in electric vehicles for our fleet was a pivotal decision. As we progress, each vehicle replacement will prioritise minimising our environmental footprint through greener alternatives. Importantly, this shift also aligns with our commitment to enhancing air quality on our island, underscoring our dedication to both environmental stewardship and the well-being of our community.”
Kelly Marquis said: “I would also like to thank the Lesbirel and Gallienne families for their support for this project. Having a dedicated vehicle will allow the continued development of the preventative care project, which has already helped more than 300 people since the pilot scheme launched. The project provides a comprehensive assessment and support service in the pre-hospital setting, allowing early preventative measures to be put in place, which not only helps keep people safely in their own home, but can also address issues of social isolation.”
The new vehicle was supplied by Motor Mall Guernsey and sign written by Smith Signs.
Posted: March 15, 2024
Heather Langlois, Chief Executive Officer of the St John Guernsey charity said: “When the Commandery of St John in Guernsey was first formed in 2012, Peter was appointed as our very first Knight Commander. Being a Commandery meant that even though we retained our ties with the Priory of St John England, we became an independent entity. Peter made a much valued contribution to the history of St John Guernsey, providing oversight and counsel during what was a significant period of change. He brought a wealth of experience and wisdom to the role as well as being a loyal supporter and advocate for St John for after his retirement.”
Mark Mapp, Chief Executive Officer of Guernsey’s Ambulance and Rescue Service also paid tribute: “Captain Peter Voute’s leadership marked a pivotal moment for Guernsey as it transitioned to a self-governing commandery, bringing local St John assets under regional control while remaining affiliated with the Priory of England and the Islands. Captain Voute’s tenure was characterised by his profound pride in overseeing an organisation that stood out within the global Order of St John for its comprehensive range of services. Under his stewardship, the ambulance service in Guernsey not only continued its long tradition of land-based assistance but also celebrated a rich history of rescue operations—a facet of the service that filled Peter with immense pride. His vision and dedication to St John have left an indelible legacy, reflecting a commitment to excellence and compassion that will be sorely missed.”
Phil Ozanne, Community Operations Manager for St John Guernsey charity said: “Peter was a very warm and approachable person and was one of those people you could always have an informal chat with if you needed any advice or guidance. I know that he will be missed by all who knew him. The thoughts of all those associated with St John are with his family at this time.”
The flag at the Rohais has been flying at half mast as a mark of respect. Our thoughts are with Peter’s family at this time.
Displays will include a 4 x 4 off-road vehicle, ambulance equipment, major incident tent and first aid skills. There will also be live demonstrations and a rare opportunity to go aboard the Flying Christine III marine ambulance. The vessel will be alongside in the Victoria marina and the volunteer crew will be on hand to provide guided tours.
The special event will also feature the popular variety of Seafront Sunday stalls, family activities, attractions, food outlets, arts & crafts and market traders.
Heather Langlois, Chief Executive Officer of the St John Ambulance Guernsey charity said: “St John offers so many services in the Bailiwick and many of these operate quietly behind the scenes. This will be a great opportunity to highlight these services and to show islanders all of the great work that the St John organisation does”.
“Seafront Sundays are a great day out for the whole family and this will be a chance for people to enjoy all that the event has to offer as well as find out what St John is all about, to meet our dedicated teams and to see first-hand just what we do”.
Chief Executive Officer of St John Ambulance & Rescue Service, Mark Mapp added: “The Flying Christine III is a purpose built marine ambulance, which has been serving the Bailiwick for nearly 30 years. We are delighted to be able to invite visitors onboard the Flying Christine III to learn more about this essential lifeline service. The Seafront Sunday is also an opportunity for us to say thank you to islanders for their support.”
St John Ambulance has been active in Guernsey since the 1930s, initially with the teaching of first aid courses before evolving in to the St John organisation we know today. Throughout its history, St John Guernsey has served the Bailiwick by delivering care and compassion, reflecting the enduring charitable promise of the worldwide Order of St John to serve humanity.
Today the St John Ambulance Guernsey charity and the St John Ambulance & Rescue service provide the Badgers and Cadets youth programme, adult volunteers, event first aid, a community library, Community First Responders (CFRs), Caring Callers, first aid in schools Volunteer Ambulance Reserve, a Cycle Response Unit (CRU), the ambulance service in Guernsey and Alderney, medical outreach to the whole Bailiwick with the Flying Christine marine ambulance and major incident responses for the islands.
St John Training Services also delivers a wide range of courses as the Bailiwick’s leading provider of first aid training.
The St John Seafront Sunday event takes place on Sunday 24th September from 10am-4pm and further details can be found at www.ambulance.gg/seafront-sunday
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