ST JOHN DAY ROOM OPENS IN PERTH

In this issue: St John Festival • Celebration of the work of St John • Area News

Deecembber 09 -- Isssuee 6wwww.stjohnnscotland.oorg.uuk

In 2006, St John Perth and Kinross

were looking to fi nd a new project

which they hoped would be

in the area of cancer/palliative

care. The announcement of the

Macmillan Cancer Support project

for a new palliative care unit at

Perth Royal Infi rmary inspired

our committee to see what

contribution we could make.

The unit was much needed as it would

save patients in the more remote areas

of Perth and Kinross from travelling

the long distances to Dundee. In

discussions with Macmillan, St John

Perth and Kinross agreed to fund a

day room in the new unit, known as

the Cornhill Macmillan Centre, and set

about raising the necessary £75,000.

It was by far the most ambitious

project our committee had ever

undertaken. Thanks to the hard work

of organising a variety of fundraising

events and with the generosity of

many St John people who gave directly

to project, we reached our target

before the end of 2008, beating the

requested deadline of April 2009.

The cheque was handed over to

Macmillan in September 2009 at the

annual St John coff ee morning at

Methven Castle. The day room, marked

with a glass plaque recognising the

contribution of St John Perth and

Kinross, was opened by the Lord

Standing in the middle:

Brigadier Melville Jameson, Lord

Lieutenant for Perth & Kinross and St

John Perth & Kinross Hon. President.

Sitting: Neil Kennedy (Macmillan

Cancer Support); John Ford (St

John Scotland Chancellor); John

Ferguson-Smith (St John P&K

chairman); Lisle Pattison (St John P&K

treasurer); John Blair (St John P&K)

Standing: Dave Sherman(St John P&K);

Douglas Pover (St John P&K); Dr Elspeth

Atkinson (director, Macmillan Cancer

Support Scotland), Sheila Ferguson-

Smith (St John P&K), Ailsa Blair (St John

P&K); Shirley Millar (Macmillan Cancer

Support); Dorothy Sinclair (St John

P&K); Dorothy Pattison (St John P&K)

Outside the new Cornhill Macmillan Centre which off ers residential, day care

and drop in facilities for those with cancer and life-limiting illness.

Lieutenant for Perth & Kinross and the

honorary President of St John Perth

& Kinross, Brigadier Melville Jameson

on Monday 19 October 2009.

Well done and thank you to everyone

who helped us to reach our target.

Contributed by John Ferguson-Smith

www.sttjohnscottland.orrg.ukk

PAGE 2

The Highland Committee hosted

the annual St John Festival on

24/25th June in Inverness. The civic

reception was held in the historic

Town House, and the Festival Service

and Investiture were in St Andrew’s

Cathedral, by the banks of the River

Ness.

The conclusion was a splendid lunch

at the Drummossie Hotel. At the

lunch, the Prior, His Successor, Sir

James Stirling, addressed the guests.

Sir Malcolm Ross was also present.

At the end of his speech, Sir James

announced that next year’s Festival

will be in Perth. 2010 is an important

year for Perth as it celebrates the

800th anniversary of the granting of

the Royal Burgh Charter to Perth by

King William the Lion in 1210. There

will be a programme of ‘Perth 800’

events throughout the year, and so it

is a special time to bring the St John

Festival back to Perth. The

dates for the St John Festival

are Wednesday 23rd and

Thursday 24th June 2010.

The following were invested

in Inverness:

Commander

Adam Stevenson

Calderwood

Hywel William Davies

Angus Durie Miller

Farquharson OBE

Archibald McAllister McGown

Thomas Scott

Samuel Connor Warden

Officer

Violet Patricia Diana Davies

Robert Fullerton

Simon John Furness

Samuel Edgar Hortin

Lesley Marian MacDonald

Margaret McAdam

William McAdam

Thomas Ross Mennie

Donald James Riddell

William David Hamilton Sellar

Peter James Stephen

Aileen Beatrice Thomson

Member

Peter Johnston Hay

Stuart McVittie

Stuart James Mathewson

Andrew Mushet

Ian Woolley

As winter takes hold there is

plenty of cheer in this issue of

In Focus which is slightly later

than usual but was delayed

in order to include two

noteworthy events.

The fi rst is signifi cant for the Priory of

Scotland as a whole: a change at the

head of the Priory with the retirement

of Sir James Stirling of Garden and

the installation of a new Prior, Sir

Malcolm Ross. The occasion was both

a ceremony and a celebration of

the work of the Order and proved a

memorable day for all the 330 guests

who attended.

The second event is special because

it marks the exceptional fundraising

achievement of one of St John’s Area

Committees: Perth and Kinross. The

target amount of £75,000 was handed

over to Macmillan Cancer Support

when the St John Day Room in the

new palliative care unit at Perth Royal

Infi rmary was offi cially opened in

October.

There is no shortage of other

achievements to report from across

Scotland – from the successful festival

organised by the Highland Committee

to the excellent new base for the Arran

Mountain Rescue Team.

All this positive news is, however,

overshadowed by the unexpected

death of Dr John Calvert which

came as a shock to us all. Our sincere

condolences go to his widow, Pat, and

their family.

Wishing you a healthy and restful

festive season, I will look forward to

hearing about your activities in 2010.

Carolyne Nurse

Communications Manager

Editorial

PAGE 3

Area Round Up

The patient transport service is developing well takingpeople from Tayside and Angus to Ninewells Hospital inDundee for treatment. The service has been helped by the purchase of a new vehicle so volunteer drivers no longerhave to use their own cars.

Angus and Dundee

St John Service Medals were presented to members at the annual Open Meeting with two fruther presentations at a dinner in Ellersly House Hotel in Edinburgh (pictured).

Out of the proceeds raised by St JohnEdinburgh & SE atits Spring Draw &Coff ee Morningin April, the sum of £1000 was donated to the St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital.

Edinburgh and South-East

Dunbartonshire

St John Dunbartonshire treasurer John Brown (left),

Claire Murphy and Douglas Dow.

Douglas Pover kindly invited members of St John Perth & Kinross to his Outreach Garden Party at the Old Smiddy,Burnfoot, Kinfauns on Saturday 29th August.

Another garden event was kindly hosted by St John PrioryMembers Sandy and Charmian Paterson at Gartlochbank,Coupar Angus (pictured below). St John was the main charity (input and benefi t) but it also gave other local charities thechance to participate. St John raised over £700 and the other charities together about £400.

The main achieved objective was to raise the profi le of St John in that part of Perth & Kinross.

Perth and Kinross

A large donation to Hazelwood School in Glasgow inthe Autumn augmented PTA funds for the purchase of aminibus. The school is for sensory impaired children and the bus will be used mainly for after school outings andexcursions.

Glasgow

Volunteer Tom Scott with the new People Carrier

tonshire

Christina MGregor and Elizabeth Gow with their St John Service Medals

A cheque for £800 was presented to Claire Murphy from St Margaret’s Hospice atthe St John Dunbartonshire annual open meeting in the Royal Northern and Clydee Yacht Club, Rhu, by vice-chairman Douglas Dow.

St John Dunbartonshire, which has a Clydebank and Dumbarton committee chaired by Wing Commander George Campbell, has been a long time fi nancialsupporter of the highly regarded East Barns Street Hospice.

St Margaret of Scotland is a recognised charity which for 58 years has off eredcompassion, dedicated commitment and excellent care to patients with advancedlife-limiting illness and also to the older person with complex medical and nursingneeds. It has a wide range of facilities for the local and wider community, includingga day centre.

Other benefi ciaries to receive cheques for £800 were the Acorn Centre, the Trust at Mugdock Country Park, Milngavie, the Arrochar Mountain Rescue Team, and theLuss-based Loch Lomond Rescue Boat.

The wet summer did not deter garden party

hosts and hostesses

PAGE 4

www.sttjohnscottland.orrg.ukk

Celebrating the work of the Order of St John

His Royal Highness The Duke of

Gloucester and The Grand Prior

of the Order of St John, led the

proceedings for the celebration of

the charitable work of the Order

worldwide and in Scotland on

Friday 30 October in Edinburgh.

The occasion marked the retirement of the

Prior of the Priory of Scotland, Sir James

Stirling of Garden and the investiture and

installation of his successor, Sir Malcolm

Ross. Sir James had been Prior for 14 years.

The distinctive ceremonial black robes

worn by members of the Order were on

show as they processed from St John’s

House down t

Mile via St

John’s Cross to

the Canongate

Kirk (pictured

far right).

Addresses

were given

by the Lord

Prior, Professor

Anthony

Mellows, and the retiring

Prior of Scotland, Sir James.

This was followed by HRH The

Duke of Gloucester investing Si

Malcolm Ross (pictured right),

the Reverend Thomas Crichton

and Brigadier Iain Taylor as

Knights of the Most Venerable

Order of the Hospital of St John

of Jerusalem, on behalf of Her

Majesty our Sovereign Head.

Sir Malcolm Ross

was then installed

as the new Prior

of Scotland.

e g ead.

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New Era for ArranOver 200 past andnd present members and gd guests celebrated the opening of ththe new Arran Mountain Rescue basease at Cladach, nearBrodick, o 1 A, on Saturday 1 August.

The base tep foe signifi es a major step forward

for the A ue TeamArran Mountain Rescue Team

provid only spaceding the team with not only space

for we ch neededweekly training but also much neededd

facilit quipment ities for storing and drying eq

and clothing.

The nded by St Johne £212k base was funded

with t from Highlands andh a £30k grant from Highlands and

Islannds Enterprise. At the opening, Stning, St

Johnn representatives included the Prior e Prior

and LLady Stirling, the CEO and Hywel andandywel anwe

Tricia a Davies, present and past chairmen enairm

of St JoJohn Ayrshire and Arran.

The opepening was led by The Isle of

Arran Pip ause,pe Band to rapturous applau

d followed by a welcome speech

e mfrom the master of ceremonies,

aderteam leader Alan McNicol.

tion wRecognition was given to past

aders, Stewart Lambieteam leaders, Stewart Lambie

nr MBE and Alistair Hume, Snr MBE and Alistair HumS

who worked tirelessly overwho worked tirelewwhho

many years to make the bamany years to make the base aman semany ye

did overallreality as reality as

ator Alistair Bco-ordinator Alistair Bilsland. sland. Bil-ordinco-o

In 2005 St John Sn 2005 St John Scotland supplied Arransupp edotland supp05 S

with a fully equ a fully equipped mountain rescueuipped mountain fu mou

Land Rover. More recently, the teamand Rover. More recently, the teamore recently the tet

ased another Land Rover and had purchased another Land Rover and had d anpurch

anded with St John Scotland’s logoit branded with St John Scotland’s logo d with Swithit

n recognition of the charity’s coin recognition of the charity’s continuingtion of theon of th

generosityg y.

Past team leader, Alistair Hume saidaid, “The leader, Alistair Huader, ea

new Cladach base with its location nnext toch base with its locawithwwh base

the start of the main tourist path to f the main tourist path tothe the main to

tastic asset with all the Goatfell is a fant

ed to provide a more facilities we nee

vice. Everyone has profprofessional serv

rd over the last few years worked very har

e culmination of that. Thisand today is the

casion will be the start of memorable occ

ng for the Arran Mountain a new beginnin

Rescue Team.”

p

he Royal

o

e

r

The Duke of Gloucester thanking retiring Prior, Sir James

Stirling of Garden

www.sttjohnscottland.orrg.ukk

PAGE 5

Christmas cards are great for publicity and

can be good fundraisers.

The view of Loch Lomond was donated by

local photographer, Graham Kinder. Also kindly

donated by Cameron Houston was his own

snowy painting for Dumfries and Galloway’s

card. Perth and Kinross’s colourful card includes

individual panels painted by members of the St

John art group at a retirement home.

Designed and printed by HB Rutherford 01382 737703

ChristmasCardSuccesses

Far left, Dumfries and

Galloway’s card; centre

Glasgow and right, Perth

and Kinross.

A special placeSir Andrew Murray H e ty House in Strathyre is available to

let to other charit earities and groups of people who are

disadvantaged nd ised in some way. It sleeps 12 people and is in

an ideal loca ng Location for walking, relaxing and exploring Loch

Lomond an chand the Trossachs National Park.

A new lea duced for 2010 to send to charities d toeafl et is being produced for 2010 to send to cho sen

and gro ple wit ar needsoups supporting people with particular needs. ednneeula

Alzheim ular users and their feedback is eir feedimers Scotland are regular users and their feedbar fefd their feed

alwayys very positive.

If you itable groups or organisationsou know of any suitable charitable groups or organiorganor o

whic he house for a break, please ch could make the most of the house for a break, peak,

con Arthur Leask ntact St John Central – Arthu on 01877 330713.7 33071307 Ideal for groups of people who might not otherwise have a holiday

Ben Lomond from the Loch Lomond Rescue Boat Slipway at LussFrom a photograph by Graham Kinder © 2008

retirement home.

3

PAGE 6

Designed and printed by HB Rutherford 01382 737703

“Membership has given me a wonderful opportunity to help a variety of local causes and overseas projects. At the same time, it is a real pleasure to meet and work together with like-minded people.”

St John Scotland operates through 12 Area Committees:

• Aberdeen and the North-East • Edinburgh and the South - East

• Angus and Dundee • Fife

• Ayrshire and Arran • Glasgow

• Central • Highland

• Dumfries and Galloway • Perth and Kinross

• Dunbartonshire • West Lothian

These committees help achieve the mission of St John Scotland: to improve the safety, health and quality of life of people in need. The committees are involved in all kinds of charitable projects ranging from providing transport for people in need to supporting other local charities with similar aims. They raise funds by holding events in their areas and for larger projects can apply for additional support.

There are many ways you can support the work of St John Scotland in your area. The fi rst step is to complete and send in the form below. Your details will be passed to your area secretary who will then contact you. Alternatively, you can contact your area secretary directly by going to www.stjohnscotland.org.uk where you will fi nd the contact details.

Members receive the newsletter two or three times a year and are invited to attend meetings and fundraising events such as garden parties, raffl es, art shows and race nights. For people with more time to off er, there is the opportunity to volunteer, either occasionally or on a regular basis.

How to get involved

Please return this form or a photocopy to:

Audrey Leighton, Priory Administrator, Order of St John,

St John’s House, 21 St John Street, Edinburgh EH8 8DG

Thank you!

ST JOHN SCOTLAND MEMBERSHIP FORM

Title ..............................................................................................................................

Surname .....................................................................................................................

Forename ...................................................................................................................

Address .......................................................................................................................

.......................................................................................................................................

Town ........................................................... Postcode .............................................

Telephone ..................................................................................................................

Email ............................................................................................................................

Date .............................................................................................................................

With its origins in

an 11th century

hospital for pilgrims in

Jerusalem, the Order

of St John has evolved

into a charity caring

for people in need in

over 40 countries.

The Order is supported by

thousands of volunteers

worldwide who share

its commitment to help

people in sickness, distress, suff ering or danger.

Today it is organised from centres, known as Priories, in eight

countries: Australia, Canada, England and the Islands, New

Zealand, Scotland, South Africa, the United States and Wales.

St John Scotland’s mission is to improve the safety, health and

quality of life of people in need. Membership is open to all and

through the 12 Area Committees, St John Scotland supports a

variety of projects across the country. These include:

Supporting mountain rescue teams

Providing transport for people needing hospital

treatment

Supporting palliative care

Unlike its fellow Priories around the world, St John Scotland does

not operate the ambulance service or provide fi rst aid training. It

does, however, contribute to two signifi cant international projects:

the St John Eye Hospital in Jerusalem and St John Malawi’s Primary

Health Care Project.

The Order is a royal order of chivalry with Queen Elizabeth II as

its sovereign head who confers membership in recognition of an

individual’s service and commitment to caring for others.

If you would like to fi nd out more, please contact the Edinburgh

Offi ce for details of your local area secretary:

The Chancery of the Priory of Scotland, St John’s House, 21 St John

Street, Edinburgh EH8 8DG

Telephone 0131 556 8711

Email info@stjohnscotland.org.uk

Scottish Charity SC000262