Surrounded by members, staff and friends, the Grand Master, Fra’ Andrew Bertie, opened Coombe End Court, Marlborough, the 60-bed residential home which is the latest in an impressive list of homes now run by the Orders of St John Care Trust.

In expressing his gratitude to all involved in this splendid work, the Grand Master said: ‘I know what an important part in the life of the community these houses play, and I am also very aware of how much love and dedication you all give.’ Fra’ Andrew Bertie told his audience of his conversation with Pope Benedict XVI at a private audience last June and that His Holiness was both pleased and glad to hear of the wonderful work being done here in England and of the close cooperation with the Venerable Order.’

In his reply, the Chairman of the Trust, Nigel Stourton, said that those whom we serve deserve, in the tradition of our two sponsoring Orders, pre-eminence. He thanked all who had worked so hard for this day, in particular Diane Bowden, Country Director for Wiltshire, Carol Rickman, and the members of the Wiltshire team.

The Trust now has 76 Homes, 3,300 day care facilities for over 1,000 patients, a devoted staff nearly matching the resident population in numbers and an annual turnover now anticipated to top well over £70,000,000.