AN OKEHAMPTON man who has served as a St John volunteer for two decades received a prestigious honour last week. Anthony Brooks, Sergeant with the Okehampton Division, has been with St John for 20 years and was among six Devon volunteers invested as members of the Order of St John. He was admitted as a Serving Brother, at a special ceremony in the historic Grand Priory Church, Clerkenwell, London, last Wednesday. Around 100 people of all nationalities and walks of life were invested at the ceremony, having adopted the St John motto, ?In the Service of Mankind?. Many St John Ambulance volunteers were honoured, along with members of the emergency services who have made an outstanding contribution to the organisation, sometimes for many years. The investiture ceremony takes place four times a year, with each award approved by the Queen, Sovereign Head of the Order. The Order of St John was founded in the 11th Century. The British Order of St John comprises two foundations, St John Ambulance and the St John Eye Hospital in Jerusalem.
