Order of St John: High Honour

26 August 2005

Order of St John: High Honour

Her Excellency Dame Silvia Cartwright, the Governor-General and Prior of the Order of St John in New Zealand, has announced that The Queen, Sovereign Head of the Order, has been pleased to approve the promotion of Neville Byron Darrow, of Auckland to Bailiff Grand Cross of the Order.

The honour of Bailiff (and Dame) Grand Cross of the Order of St John is the highest honour within the Order and limited to twenty-one persons worldwide at any one time. Mr Darrow is the sixth New Zealander to be appointed to this Grade. Previous holders are - Sir Heaton Rhodes (1947), Sir James Elliott (1955), Sir Alan Gandell (1982), Sir Randal Elliott (1987), and Mr John Strachan (1997). June, Lady Blundell (2004) is New Zealand's only Dame Grand Cross.

Mr Darrow has been committed to the Order of St John at a senior level since 1993 when he joined the Northern Region Trust Board. Mr Darrow was Chancellor of the Order of St John in New Zealand from 1999 until his recent retirement in June 2005. During this time he was a member of the International Board of St John.

Mr Darrow has held appointments on the boards of a number of New Zealand public and private companies and is currently Chairman of Ports of Auckland.

He has been succeeded in the role of Chancellor by Mr Rob Fenwick of Auckland.

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