BLDSA/YeAABA Life Member Awarded Commander Order of St John
Written by Joyce McIntosh, Life President of YeAABA
“On Wednesday 29th September Janet was invested as a Commander of the Order of St John for her outstanding service which has spanned from 1964 to present day 57 years.
The ceremony took place in London, and was presented by Surgeon Rear Admiral Lionel Jarvis CBE KStJ DL.
Her Majesty the Queen, as Sovereign Head of the Order, honours individuals with admission to, or promotion within, the Order in recognition of their outstanding achievement, the successful discharge of responsibility or their notable and selfless service in furthering the objects of the Order, and to encourage endeavours in that behalf. The overriding principle is that a person is admitted to or promoted in the Order because of his or her merit.
The name of each Postulate has been submitted to and personally approved by Her Majesty, and it is in Her name that this Investiture takes place.
The purpose of today’s Investiture is to enable the Priory to present each Postulate with the insignia of their Grade and to publicly affirm their grateful thanks for each individual’s contribution which so greatly enriches the Order and communities we serve.
From time-to-time other awards are presented at Investitures, such as The Life Saving Medal of the Order, The Sovereign’s Medal of Merit.
Janet Wilson has been Life member YeAABA for over twenty years. She lives in Yorkshire and has swum in every championship YeAABA has. Janet has been coming to Scotland to swim with us since 1984. Many of you will know Janet as she kindly travels from Yorkshire to oversee all the first aid training needs.
Janet has many strings to her bow having swum Loch Earn, Loch Rannoch and Loch Lomond. In England she has swum Windermere, two-way Windermere, Coniston Water and numerous other lakes. Janet is a true Amphibian (which means land and sea) conquering mountains at home and abroad Ben Nevis, Kilimanjaro, Monte Blanc, Snowdon and base camp on Everest.
In addition to that award Janet has received from her local hospital Volunteer of the Year for all her hard work she has done over this dreadful Covid year.
Janet has been a friend to me for over 35 years and I hope you will join me in congratulating her on her awards. We are so proud that she is part of us here in Ye Amphibious Ancient Bathing Association.”
Joyce has written a lovely article about Janet and her Investiture and we at the British Long Distance Swimming Association cannot add any more to that. Of course, we are also so proud that she is part of our Association and travels many miles up and down the country to assist with our swims. In addition, Janet also delivers our First Aid Training Courses, for which we are very grateful.
