‘Very special honour’ for ambulance chief

Mr Mapp, 47, joined St John Ambulance Guernsey as a cadet when he was 15, and now sits on the executive committee and volunteers as a community first responder.

He has been admitted to the Order of St John, an international historic charity providing healthcare and support in more than 40 countries in recognition of his work.

‘I was absolutely delighted to receive the letter informing me I had been appointed as an Officer of the Order of St John,’ Mr Mapp said.

‘It is a very special honour.’

He volunteered with the ambulance division and ambulance reserves for many years before qualifying as a paramedic and later a trainer.

During his professional career, Mr Mapp has worked on the patient transfer service, as an emergency medical technician, and with the cliff rescue and inshore rescue boat team.

‘St John has been a big part of my life since I was a teenager and the organisation has given me so many great opportunities and experiences,’ he said.

In addition to working full-time with the Emergency Ambulance Service, Mr Mapp has held roles including senior volunteer officer and deputy commissioner of the voluntary section.

After work with the NHS, then nine years with Health & Social Care locally, Mr Mapp returned to the Emergency Ambulance Service in 2019.

In April 2019, he was appointed chief ambulance officer, and he led the service through the pandemic.

Andrew Henton, St John Ambulance Guernsey Knight Commander, congratulated Mr Mapp on his admission to the Order of St John.

He said: ‘Mark has a long association with St John and had made a huge contribution to the charity over many years, as a volunteer and a previous deputy commissioner.

‘This appointment recognises his commitment to the voluntary and community section as well as his ongoing work at chief ambulance officer.’

n The Order of St John has five grades of membership: Member, Officer, Commander, Knight or Dame, and Bailiff or Dame Grand Cross.