The director of operations for St John Ambulance in the Isle of Man has been promoted in the charity’s associated order of chivalry.
Martin Blackburn is now an officer with the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem.
The promotion, bestowed by the Queen, was announced in the London Gazette and he will be invested at a ceremony in London.
‘I was delighted to receive news of this honour because it recognises the wonderful work members of St John Ambulance here in the Isle of Man do to uphold the fine traditions of the Order,’ he said.
‘Our members are selfless in their dedication to St John Ambulance and this honour is as much theirs as it is mine.
‘St John Ambulance contributes so much to the special way of life we enjoy on the Isle of Man.
‘Whether providing trackside first aid cover at the iconic national motorsport events or treating wasp stings at a village fair, in training members of the public how to save a life, teaching young people the necessary skills for life, or by providing Community First Responders to attend 999 calls in their local village and provide immediate care while the ambulance is on its way, St John Ambulance members in the island give many thousands of hours of unpaid help.’
Martin, 48, joined St John Ambulance’s Cadets in Onchan at the age of 11 and transferred into its adult division on his 16th birthday.
He has served ever since, both as an operational first aider and a member of the training team.
Martin became county director of training in 2004 and took up his current post as county commissioner/director of operations in 2011.
He recently qualified as an emergency transport attendant, St John’s highest level of lay first aider. He was first appointed as a member in the Order of St John in 2007 and his promotion has been sanctioned by the Queen as its sovereign head.
The Order of St John is an order of chivalry of the British Crown that was incorporated by a Royal charter granted by Queen Victoria in 1888.
It has six grades: esquire, member, officer, commander, knight and bailiff.
The Order is a major international charity, accredited to the United Nations, whose organisations provide first aid, health care and support services in more than 40 countries.