A SWINDON-born explorer and businessman has been appointed a Knight of the Order of St John by the Queen for his services to the St John Ambulance.

David Hempleman-Adams lives in Box, he is the Managing Director of Swindon-based chemical engineering firm Robnor Resins and has been Chairman of Wiltshire St John Ambulance for fourteen years.

As well as being the Wiltshire chairman, he also sits on the national Board of Trustees for the St John Ambulance parent charity.

On receiving his latest honour, David said: “I am enormously privileged to be a part of the St John Ambulance family for nearly 20 years.

“Many people have taught me many things in the organisation, but the people I have the utmost respect for, are the volunteers who give hundreds of hours a year, at the front line, in all rains and weathers, to help our local communities.”

The Order of St John dates back to the time of the crusades, it began with a number of individuals who were involved in the founding of a hospital in Jerusalem and these days can be found in five different countries.

Knight is the second highest honour within the organisation and can only be conferred on someone by the sovereign.

Outside of his professional life, David is a world-renowned explorer - he was the first person to achieve the Explorer’s Grand Slam by climbing the highest mountain on each continent and getting to the north and south magnetic and geographical poles.

He has reached the poles a record sixteen times and has climbed to the top of the world twice, reaching the summit of Mount Everest by the north and the south sides.