On Wednesday 5 February 2025, members of the Guild of Young Freemen had the privilege of attending the Saving Sight Banquet at Mansion House, held in the presence of HRH The Duke of Gloucester KG GCVO GCStJ. The evening, presented by The Rt Hon. the Lord Mayor, Alderman Alastair King KStJ DL, alongside Sir Andrew Cash OBE KStJ, Chair of St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital Group, raised over £500,000 to support the hospital’s vital, sight-saving work in the Holy Land.
Prior to the banquet, HRH Princess Raiyah bint Al Hussein DStJ joined a special Freedom of the City of London ceremony for Dr Ahmad Ma’ali KStJ, Chief Executive Officer of St John of Jerusalem Eye Hospital.
Representing the Guild were Middle Warden Rafael Steinmetz Leffa, Renter Warden Dr Fraser Peck, Court Assistants Jacqueline Chan, Michael Polak, and Dmitry Lysenko, Treasurer George Godfrey, and fellow Young Freemen Lewis Hooper.
It was a truly inspiring evening, with speeches from HRH The Duke of Gloucester, Dr Ahmad Ma’ali KStJ, Sir Andrew Cash OBE KStJ, and Mr David H. Verity KStJ MD MA FRCOphth, who shared the life-changing impact of the hospital’s work. HRH Princess Raiyah bint Al Hussein also reflected on the rich history of the institution, while the Lord Mayor of London highlighted the deep ties between the Most Venerable Order of St John and the City of London.
The Guild is grateful for the kind invitation extended by the Executive Head of the UK Office and the Board of Trustees of the St John Eye Hospital Group. We are proud of the strategic affiliation between the Guild and the charity. We hope that our own charitable endeavours will serve as a platform to bring together the many groups that champion the same mission of supporting the humanitarian work of the Most Venerable Order of St John of Jerusalem, including St John Gateway, St John iYouth, and Guild St John.
A remarkable occasion supporting an incredible humanitarian mission!
