Governor-General Professor Kenneth Hall (right) presents the insignia of Commander Brother to Clembert Powell at Christ Church Anglican in Vineyard Town in Kingston, yesterday. - photos by Rudolph Brown/Chief Photographer

Two officers of the Council of St. John Ambulance Association were yesterday recognised and promoted for faithful service to this paramedical organisation.

The recipients, Marie Clemetson and Clembert Powell, who served the association for 40 and 51 years, respectively, were promoted to the ranks of Commander Sister and Commander Brother at a commemoration service held at the Christ Church in Vineyard Town, Kingston.

Powell reminisced, "There is never a dull moment ... I would live it all over again. There is nothing so satisfying than to know you are helping the underprivileged. I feel real good about it."

Powell, who does first aid training locally and regionally, said service was at his heart.

Grateful for honour

Clemetson

"I really feel privileged to have been honoured and being elevated in the order," said Clemetson. "Like anything else, it is a wonderful thing to be recognised in the efforts that you make."

Clemetson, a retired nurse, contributes in this area to the organisation. She said one of the most difficult tragedies during which the association rendered service was the Kendal train crash of 1957.

Close to 200 persons lost their lives, and 700 sustained injuries in the worst rail disaster in Jamaica's history. While not directly involved in the disaster, she attested that this was a challenging time for the organisation.

"They had to spend days rescuing people and treating the severely injured. I think that time for St. John, it was very challenging because we did not have the equipment that we now have," she said.

She, however, remembers her first major assignment was at the 1966 Commonwealth Games which was held in Kingston.

"That was very challenging and that's when I got really motivated," she said smiling.