At a special service in the King’s Chapel in February, eight Gibraltarians who have served with or supported the Rock’s St John Ambulance Brigade were inducted as confreres at various levels in the Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem.

As officio patron of the Brigade in Gibraltar and the Queen’s representative, the Governor Sir Francis Richards officiated at the ceremony along with two senior members of the Order – John Strachan, a Deputy Lord Prior, and Rear Admiral Andrew Gough CB – who flew to Gibraltar for the occasion, described as “the most significant event of its type ever staged by St John in Gibraltar”.

Of the eight “postulants” two were knighted, one was admitted as a Commander of the Order, two as Officers (or “Brothers) and three as serving brothers. The eight are Leslie Edmonds, Joseph Chiara (knights), Nigel Pardo (Commander) Albert Mena, Lt Col. Dennis Duarte (officers) and Guy Stagnetto Jnr, Ernest Lima and Richard Buttigieg who will become Serving Brothers of the Order.