Ex-mayor’s‘tremendous’ knighthood

Former mayor and Littlehampton town, Adur district and West Sussex county councillor, Dr James Walsh is preparing to have a knighthood conferred upon him.

The London Gazette, on Friday, announced: “Her Majesty The Queen has been graciously pleased to sanction the promotion to be a Knight in the Most Venerable Order of the Hospital of St John of Jerusalem of Dr James Walsh, of Rustington.”

Dr Walsh said the honour, commonly known as the Order of St John, and presented following his 38 years of service with St John Ambulance had come as a “complete surprise”.

“Of course, is a tremendous honour, both for me and for St John in Sussex,” he said.

“To have one’s voluntary work for such a worthwhile organisation recognised in this way is very humbling, but also has brought great joy to my many colleagues and, of course, to my family.”

Retired GP Dr Walsh, who has been a West Sussex councillor for 27 years, and Arun and Littlehampton councillor for 37 years, started as a medical officer to the Littlehampton St John Cadets, later becoming West Sussex area medical officer, then deputy county medical officer.

In 2001 he became commander of St John Ambulance, Sussex, in charge of some 800 volunteers who provide first aid cover at events across the county, from village fairs, to Brighton Pride.

He left the post this year, though he remains county medical officer for the charity.

“I have been very fortunate to have not only worked across Sussex with St John Ambulance, but have also visited the eye hospital in Jerusalem, as well as most of the holy sites of the New Testament, and all the Crusader Castles in Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Cyprus, Turkey,Rhodes and Malta,” said Dr Walsh.

“There is a tremendous blending of 900 years of history, with the very modern and professional delivery of first aid training and service by St John Ambulance, and I am proud to be part of both.”

Dr Walsh has served as the chairman of Arun council, and has twice been Littlehampton mayor.

He has also been chairman of the Sussex Police Authority and of the West Sussex medical committee, as well as chairman of governors at the Littlehampton Community School, now Littlehampton Academy, and of Littlehampton Harbour Board.

He will be dubbed a knight next year, either by the Queen, Sovereign Head of the Order, or by the Duke of Gloucester, the Grand Prior of the Order.