Georgina Holloway honoured for work with St John Ambulance

Georgina Holloway has been honoured for her work with first aid charity St John Ambulance with a promotion to Commander of the Order of St John (CStJ).  

The promotion recognises her outstanding service to the Order's key foundations – one of which is St John Ambulance. 

She said: “It was such an honour. 

“I will do my utmost to continue supporting the amazing Norfolk volunteers of whom I am so proud.   

“They do so much, training many people in life saving skills, covering more than 250 events both small and large, as well as national events. 

“They also do fundraising, support our young people and provide a library service to some community hospitals." 

Ms Holloway has volunteered for St John for many years and is the county president and chair of the St John Priory Group in Norfolk.   

For the last 14 years she has run the annual Norfolk Open Gardens programme, with proceeds going towards equipment such as defibrillators and vehicles, as well as training for volunteers.   

She is also a dedicated supporter of the volunteer team in Norfolk, who gave 42,000 hours of their time in 2023. 

Her dedication was marked at a prestigious ceremony in the Order’s historic 12th-century Priory Church in London’s Clerkenwell. 

The Order of St John is a Royal Order of Chivalry and each recipient is approved by the Sovereign. 

It is also one of the world’s longest established charities and traces its origins back over 900 years to the Knights Hospitaller and the first hospital of St John in Jerusalem in 1078.    

Stuart Shilson, prior of the Priory of England and the Islands of the Order of St John, presented her award. 

He said: “Georgina has been promoted in recognition of her extraordinary service to our charity and dedication in furthering its life saving mission.  

“This award is greatly deserved.”