THREE distinquished VIPs from the county are among 70 people from around the world who have ben honoured for their work on behalf of St John Ambulance.

At a ceremony at St James's Palace on Tuesday, Allan Willett, Kent's Lord Lieutenant, Admiral Lord Michael Boyce,

shortly to be installed as the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports, and Baroness Emerton, from West Peckham, shared their investiture as Knights and a Dame of the Order of St John with Nelson Mandela.

The recipients whose influence has helped St John (better known as St John Ambulance), knelt before the Duke of Gloucester, The Order's Grand Prior. He, on behalf of the Queen, touched them with the Priory's sword in a ceremony which dates back to the 15th century.

Nelson Mandela was given the highest accolade possible by St John as a Bailiff Grand Cross. St John is mounting an appeal to support work in Africa, including South Africa, to help some of the 10 million families suffering from AIDS.

Mr Willett CMG, the Queen’s representative in the county,who is also president of the Order of St John in Kent, said after the ceremony: “It is a great honour that my support for the Order in our county has been recognised in this way.

“The Order’s many dedicated volunteers do vital, caring, humanitarian work in Kent – and in particular for youth who represent our future. They deserve the Lieutenancy’s full support and recognition, and we are delighted to give it.”

Among other recipients were Sir John Stevens, London's police chief, Air Chief Marshal Sir John Cheshire, the Very Reverend Raymond Furnell, recently retired Dean of York, Michael Brinton, Lord-Lieutenant of Wiltshire, and his wife Angela who has served St John Ambulance for more than 20 years.

Among the clerics supporting the occasion, which is held every three years, was the Rt Reverend Robert Willis, Dean of Canterbury.