St John Ambulance and Rescue welcomed the Lord Prior of the Order of St John, Professor Mark Compton AM GCStJ, for a historic and inspiring official visit to Malta.
The visit reaffirmed the long-standing ties between Malta and the Order of St John and celebrated the enduring commitment to service, heritage, and community shared by the global St John family. Over the four-day programme, Lord Prior Compton engaged in a series of cultural visits, operational briefings, and personal meetings with volunteers, leadership, and national authorities.
Lord Prior Compton was warmly received upon arrival at Malta International Airport by Speaker Emeritus and former Foreign Minister Michael Frendo, Chair of St John Malta, alongside Deputy Commander Andrew Grech. During his stay, he explored key historical and cultural landmarks including Fort St Elmo and St John’s Co-Cathedral.
Throughout the weekend, Lord Prior Compton engaged with volunteers and leadership at St John Malta’s headquarters, visited the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, and toured the Grandmaster’s Palace. One of the most anticipated moments was his operational visit to the Corradino site, set to become an operations centre for the NGO and to Fort Madalena, where he met with volunteers from various units and observed hands-on demonstrations in ambulance services, water rescue, rope rescue, and firefighting.
His visit also included an evening reception at Verdala Castle under the patronage of H.E. Myriam Spiteri Debono, President of Malta and Patron of St John Malta. Organised in collaboration with the University of Malta’s Research, Innovation and Development Trust (RIDT), the event also spotlighted Malta’s evolving archaeological discoveries, particularly in ancient maritime heritage.
Since becoming Lord Prior in 2019, Professor Compton has championed global volunteerism with empathy and vision. His time in Malta was both uplifting and energising, leaving a meaningful impression on all who had the opportunity to meet him.
The visit strengthened Malta’s place within the worldwide St John family and reaffirmed a shared dedication to service, compassion, and community resilience.
