GWENT dignitaries were among those to receive a major honour by St John Cymru Wales.

Canon Dr Stephen James and Canon Mark Soady, from the Diocese of Monmouth, were admitted to the Venerable Order of St John at the charity’s annual Investiture ceremony held in Llandaff Cathedral in Cardiff.

Dr James, currently Director of Education for the Diocese, was honoured for his work as Chaplain to St John’s Ambulance Brigades in Gwent, and Canon Soady, who is Vicar of St Mary’s Priory Church in Abergavenny, was honoured for his work as Chaplain to St John’s Council in Gwent.

The Chief Constable of Gwent Police Jeff Farrar was admitted to the Order alongside First Minister of the Welsh Government, Carwyn Jones, Roger Lewis the Chief Executive of the Welsh Rugby Union and Rebecca Smith, of Ebbw Vale, who has been active with her local Brigade since the age of eight.

The ancient Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem was established in about 1070, when a hospice was established in Jerusalem by monks from a neighbouring Benedictine abbey to care for the growing number of Christians making the long and dangerous pilgrimage to the holy city.

After a chequered history in Britain in which the Order was suppressed by Henry VIII and revived by Queen Mary, it was eventually recognised in Britain by Queen Victoria and became an Order of Chivalry of the British Crown in 1888.

In many parts of Britain, St John – which now operates in more than 40 countries - was the first and only provider of an ambulance service up to the middle of the 20th century.

“Hundreds of people from all over Wales were at the Investiture to congratulate all those who have done so much to help others in the name of St John Cymru-Wales,” said Chief Executive Keith Dunn.

“Mr Farrar was just one of 41 people who were promoted or admitted into the Order, while there were a range of other awards and commendations handed out to St John Wales volunteers, members of our Badger and Cadet sections, other police officers, members of the public, and many others, who have gone above and beyond the call of duty in the past 12 months.”

Mr Farrar said: “I am extremely proud to be admitted as an Officer of the Order of St John. I will continue to support St John’s Cymru through our work as a police force in training children first aid skills and also personally. I am also very proud of the other 20 officers who received Certificates of Commendations and Meritorious First Aid Certificates from St John Cymru at the event”

The vicar of Abergavenny, Canon Mark Soady said: “It is a great privilege to have been admitted to this Order with its 1,000-year history. A trained psychiatric nurse, Fr Mark added: “Nursing has been part of my life, so the Order’s close connection with St John Ambulance is very important to me.”

Miss Smith, 29,