This afternoon HRH The Duke of Gloucester invested the Lord-Lieutenant of County Antrim, Mr David McCorkell, KStJ, as Knight Commander of the Commandery of Ards in St Anne’s Cathedral, Belfast. The Commandery of Ards overseas the work of the Order of St John in Northern Ireland, the Order is best known here through the work of St John Ambulance NI.
The Lord-Lieutenant succeeds The Right Honourable The Viscount Brookeborough, KG, KStJ, as Knight Commander. Lord Brookeborough is Lord-Lieutenant of County Fermanagh.
Following the Installation, HRH undertook a Commandery of Ards Investiture, recognising the contribution of the inspiring St John NI volunteers. Many congratulations to all the postulants, which included the Lord-Lieutenant of Belfast, Fionnuala Jay-O’Boyle, CBE, who was invested as a Dame of the Order of St John.
HRH was received at St Anne’s Cathedral by Vice Lord-Lieutenant of Belfast Sir Nigel Hamilton, KCB, DL and the Dean of Belfast, The Very Reverend Stephen Forde.
Sincere thanks to the Order of St John Chancellor, Dr Gillian Willmore, GCStJ, the Prior of England and The Islands, Surgeon Rear Admiral Lionel Jarvis, CBE, KStJ, DL, and Order Deputy Director of Ceremonies, Andrew Latham, KStJ, for coming over especially to attend and support the event.
Representatives from St John Ireland and the Sovereign Military Order of Malta also attended, along with The Lord Mayor of Belfast, Lady Mary Peters, LG, CH, DBE, DStJ, and former Knight Commander of Ards, Sir William Hall, KCVO, KStJ, amongst many others.
