Page 31 - QARANC Vol 20 No 1 2022

My journey with St John Ambulance
In 1999, I was in Gosport lecturing on a Battlefields Advanced Trauma Life Support (BATLS) course, when I was asked by a military colleague if I was free on the August bank holiday to help St John Ambulance at the Agricultural showground at Stoneleigh in Warwickshire as they were short of nurses.
I agreed and on the Monday morning I was met by several volunteers, the senior of whom was the then county commander. And thus, my journey began.
At the end of this duty, I was asked if I would like to join the organisation to boost the small pool of nurses. I said yes and so following an interview was appointed as the deputy county nursing officer.
I started to get to know the organisation and its members and about a year after joining I became the county nursing officer, due to the then nursing officer moving on. The team developed and we were able to make a full contribution when covering events such as the Royal Agricultural Show and golfing tournaments at the Belfry, to name but a few.
During this time, I got involved in teaching and assessing volunteer first aiders and was made a member of the Order of St John of Jerusalem. I was also asked by the chairman of the county management and council forum if I would join them and over this time I worked closely with the then commander.
Time moved on quickly and I must have been in my post as Nursing Officer for about five years when the Commander became ill and was hospitalised and was unable to continue in his role.
A meeting was called by the chairman of council and senior volunteers, and I was asked if I would act up as commander. This I did with the help of the CEO who always had a grip on matters. I was interviewed by the chief volunteer who came up from London and the chairman of council and was offered the post of commander, a position I held until all counties were dissolved when the
Lt Col (Retd) William Phillip Saunders CStJ TD JP
The Gazette QARANC Association 31
organisation became regionalised.
It was during this period that I was promoted in the order as an officer. Throughout, I continued attending events delivering first aid, training and
assessing and attending unit nights. After stepping down as commander and not wanting to leave the organisation I became the clinical lead
for a cadet unit in the county.
One day I received a call from a
military colleague who had become the chairman of the county priory group. He asked me if I had seen an advertisement regarding a president for the county. He asked if I was interested and as a result following an interview was appointed.
Following discussions within ourselves and headquarters in London the county became known for St John purposes as the County
of Warwickshire and Coventry as Coventry was once within the county’s boundaries.
A few years ago, I relinquished my nurse registration and so along with my presidential duties I continued as an advanced first aider for some time and I am now a support member thus assisting first aid members on duties.
In November 2019, I was honoured by St John Ambulance by being promoted as a commander of the most venerable Order of St John of Jerusalem and was installed during October 2021 in the church of St John in Clerkenwell, London with my insignia.
I still take an active part in St John, attending unit meetings when possible and enjoy my work as county president.
Lt Col (Retd) William Phillip Saunders CStJ TD JP