Chris Hartley-Sharpe, 51, was invested into the Order of St John as a result of his outstanding service to St John Ambulance.
A Wandsworth ambulance service manager was recognised at a prestigious ceremony last week.
Chris Hartley-Sharpe, 51, was invested into the Order of St John as a result of his outstanding service to one of its key foundations – St John Ambulance, the nation’s leading first aid charity.
He was nominated for his collaborative work with St John Ambulance, particularly the setting up of the Community First Responders Scheme (CFR), which was launched in 2007.
“I am extremely proud to be invested into the Order of St John,” he said.
“I’m honoured to be recognised in this way and to know that the work we are doing has helped saved lives.
“London Ambulance Service has an excellent partnership with St John Ambulance which means people in the capital are getting a lifesaving response as quickly as possible.”
As part of the CFR Scheme, volunteers attend emergency calls alongside a traditional ambulance response. The First Responders are often first on the scene of emergencies, providing care until the ambulance arrives. They are dispatched by the London Ambulance Service emergency operations centre at the same time as an ambulance and respond from their homes in their own cars.
There are now 55 CFR teams in place, consisting of 750 trained volunteers.
The ceremony took place in the Order’s historic 12th century Priory Church in Clerkenwell, where he was presented with his honour by Rodney Green, the Prior (Chairman) of the Priory of England and the Islands.
“Chris has been invested into the Order of St John in recognition of the contribution he has made to his community. He has shown true commitment to being the difference between a life lost and a life saved,” he said.
The Order of St John is a Royal Order of Chivalry and each recipient is approved by Her Majesty the Queen, its Sovereign Head. Around a hundred people from communities across the country are invested on each occasion, the majority of whom volunteer for St John Ambulance.
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