Province to form a Preceptory of Improvement click here for details

Autumn Lunch at Eagle House Hotel, Launceston, PL15 8BA on Sunday 4th November

 

 

Report on Great Priory, Wednesday 16th May 2012.

 A number of Knights from the Province attended the Annual Muster of Great Priory at The Clarendon Suites, Edgbaston on Wednesday 16th May to support the four Knights from Devonshire & Cornwall who were appointed or promoted.

 

Our Sub-Prior, Gerald Watson, received a very well earned promotion to Past Great Registrar, Allan Seager was appointed to Past Great Aide.de Camp and David Lee to Past Great Warden of Regalia. Alan McArthur was appointed to the active rank of Great Chamberlain.   

After the ceremonial, a very pleasant meal was enjoyed by all before setting off on the long journey home.

 

Congratulations to Very Eminent Knight Gerry and Eminent Knights Allan, David and Alan.

 

 

Appointments and Promotions to be made at the Provincial Meetiing at Tintagel on 13th October

Appointments and Promotions 2012/13
     

Appointments 2012/13

Provincial Rank

Malta Provincial Rank

 

 

 

P. Davies 90

Prior

Prior

M. Jones 561

Sub-Prior

Sub-Prior

G.D. Hindle 480

Prelate

Chaplain

R.O. Osborn 10

Chancellor

 

A. St.J. Turner 561

1st Constable

Captain General

D. Pascoe 90

2nd Constable

Lieutenant General

A.R. Moyle 90

Treasurer

Treasurer

J. Croft 19

Registrar

1st Lieutenant

J.A. Olzewski 90

Vice-Chancellor

Chancellor

E.F.J. Purkis 90

Marshal

Mareschal

J.A. Wonnacott 480

Deputy Marshal

Deputy Mareschal

R.G. Copp 19

Almoner

Hospitaller

P. Bennett

Herald

2nd Lieutenant

Terry Hayes F

 

Baillie

R. Thomas 10

Standard Bearer ‘B’

Admiral

R. Guest 19

Standard Bearer ‘VB’

Conservator

T. Downe 25

Prior’s Banner Bearer

Banner Bearer

B. Baker F

Sword Bearer

Sword Bearer

M. Cheshire 654

Aide de Camp

Turcopolier

E.F.J. Purkis 90

Warden of Regalia

 

E. Wareham 90

Chamberlain

Captain of Outposts

R. Stacey 480

Captain of Guards

Past Guard

N. Wilkinson 561

Captain of Guards

Past Guard

P. Whittaker 561

Guard

Guard

 

 

  

P. Keaty 628

Proms to Past 1st Const

Past Captain General

J. Blewett 90

Proms to Past Reg

Past 1st Lieutenant

T. Lambell F

Proms to Past Reg

Past 1st Lieutenant

 

 

 

Spring Lunch at Kingsteignton
Well over 100 Knights and their friends and families attended the Spring Lunch at the Passage House Hotel in Kingsteignton on Sunday 1st April.  The magnificent weather not only afforded us a pleasant trip to the dinner but also enabled us to take in the splendid view of the River Teign which can be had from the bar of the hotel.  A convivial pre-lunch drink was followed by a superb luncheon which had been organised  in a most professional manner by our Provincial Vice Chancellor Em.Kt. Mike Jones.  The meal was followed by the Loyal Toast and three brief though excellent toasts which included a “Thank You” to our Ladies by our Provincial Prior Rt.Em.Kt. Peter Davies who also commented that it was nice to see all the Knights “out of the nighties!!”

 

Great weather, great company, great food, great atmosphere, what else can you hope for on a Sunday lunchtime?  We all look forward to the Autumn Lunch at Launceston.

Click here for photos

 

The Mandylion Preceptory No 628 Installation.
At the Installation at The Mandylion Preceptory No. 628 held on Friday 30th March ay Ivybridge the Eminent Preceptor, Em.Kt. John Bate installed his successor Kt. Roy Wakeling in a most competent manner.  Em.Kt. John then invested his officers and completed the summons in a most excellent style.

 

All present then retired to partake of the festive board, and one Knight in particular (who shall be nameless) was in such a hurry to get to the refreshments that he decided not to make use of the last four steps of the stairs with drastic results.  Relieved that his pride was more damaged than his body we then partook of a most enjoyable meal with wonderful company.

 

The worst nightmare of a Past Preceptor?      St. John of Jerusalem  Preceptory No 611 Installation.

The worst nightmare of any Past Preceptor happened at St. John of Jerusalem Preceptory No 611, Newquay on Tuesday 28th February 2012  -  the acting Eminent Preceptor was unable to attend the Installation because of personal unforeseen and unavoidable circumstances.

 

With just minutes to go before the start of the ceremony, and with R.E.Kt Peter Davies the Provincial Prior in attendance together with visiting  Knights from all around the Province, E.KT.Steve Wilkinson, Prov. Std. Br. (B) bravely volunteered to become the Installing Preceptor.

 

And what a superb job he made of installing Kt. John Penpraze as Eminent Preceptor!!

 

E.Kt. John then installed his officers in a most professional manner, and it was nice to see that many of the officers were ‘Young Knights’ boding well for the future of the Preceptory.

 

The evening culminated with a most convivial and enjoyable festive board held at the Griffin Hotel, Newquay.

 

Ron shines at Restormel Preceptory No 90 Installation.

The Installation at Restormel Preceptory and St. Andrew Priory No90 (which were both held on the Morning of Saturday 18th February at Hayle) held a secret for the assembled Knights until the very end.

 

E.Kt. Ron Gould who, at 92 must be one of the most senior Preceptors in the Country, installed his successor, E.Kt. Nick Martin in Knights Templar and, after a short recess, in Knights Malta in a most exemplary manner in front of R.E.Kt. Peter Davies, The Provincial Prior and a full Preceptory of Knights many of whom had travelled from the far reaches of the Province.

 

One of the distinguished visitors was Rt.E.Kt. John Brackley K.C.T. , Great Vice Chancellor who it was thought was holidaying in the area until, under Any Other Business in Knights Malta, the Provincial Prior surprised the meeting by announcing that following a conversation he had had with Malcolm Slater, Very High & Rt.E.Gt. Seneschal, at the Tintagel meeting, about the amazing manner in which E.Kt. Ron had carried out several ceremonies in his year despite his age, and following 4 months of clandestine organisation, Rt.R.Kt. Brackley was in fact attending the meeting in order to carry out a very special “Field Appointment” by appointing E.Kt. Ron Gould to the rank of PGtA-de-C.

 

Following the presentation E.Kt. Ron addressed the Knights and stated that this appointment was the unexpected culmination of a wonderful year for him in which he had been recognised for his fifty years in Freemasonry, then he had been selected as a Cushion Bearer at the Investiture of our Provincial Prior at Tintagel in October of last year, and now he has been given this honour!

 

The knights then retired to partake of an excellent Lunch in the refectory which displayed Cornish Hospitality at its best.

-

 

Banner Dedication at Vera Cruz Preceptory No 654

At the meeting of Vera Cruz Preceptory No 654 on the 14th February 2012 the knights of the Preceptory and their guests were treated to the Preceptory Banner Dedication Ceremony, when the Provincial Prior R.E.Kt. Peter Davies assisted by the Provincial Team carried out the ceremony in a most sincere and professional way.

Em.Kt. Graham Hindle, Provincial Prelate, then gave a superb oration of the history of the Order and in particular of Vera Crux Preceptory in which he explained that the central feature of the banner was the Cross of Calvary set in a landscape indicative of Golgotha where Our Lord was crucified and overlooking the Judean Hills. The Cross is empty suggestive of the Risen Christ and emphasising his victory over death.  Below the Cross are two scallop shells, these simple objects were worn by pilgrims, sometimes on their hats and sometimes on their clothes to show that they had embarked on and completed a pilgrimage to a holy place. Pilgrims undertook this religious duty in a spirit of humility, as such the scallop shells could also be used as spoon, cup and dish as the pilgrim took little with him in the way of luxuries.

The full oration can be viewed by clicking here.

 

200 Year Old Warrant seen for the first time in many years at Trinity in Unity No 19 Barnstaple

The Warrant for Trinity In Unity Preceptory No:19 in Barnstaple has for many years lived in a box and has been passed from Eminent Precepto to Eminent Preceptor without anyone actually seeing the Warrant.  At their Installation Meeting in January the incoming Preceptor, Alan Cockman, surprised the assembled company by demanding that the Installing Preceptor, E.Kt. Ian Harper open the box and display the Warrant which was hand written 200 years ago (the Bi-Centenary of the Preceptory could not be celebraated as the Preceptory did not operatate for 43 of the last 200 years).

The Warrant turned out to be in very good condition and was viewed by all those who attended before being returned to its box, there to remain for some considerable years to come.

The Installation was followed by a very convivial festive board in which everyone was given a history of Trinity in Unity Preceptory and which finished in plenty of time for the Right Eminent Provincial Prior, Right Eminent Peter Davies, and other distinguished visitors from affar to return home before the bewitching hour of midnight.

 

Provincial Prior’s Address – Tintagel, Saturday 8th October 2011

Well Bro. Knights, this is a new experience for all of us!  I’m more used to standing up in front of 150 students in an examination hall, but of course, they are always much more apprehensive than I am.

 I want to begin by paying tribute to my immediate predecessor, Rt E Kt John Warner Vaughan.  John served the Province as Sub Prior for 11 years before he was installed as Provincial Prior at the Riviera Centre, Torquay in January 2007. Since then, he has led the Province with his own brand of calm dignity and charm. Under his stewardship the Province has continued to flourish. Approx. 80 Knghts have been installed, and we have had Official Visits from both Prior & Sub Prior and Provincial workings with the Prior and his team of officers. His regular attendance at our meetings has been a welcome benefit to our Preceptories.

I have particular reason to be grateful to Rt E Kt John. He appointed me his Provincial Deputy Marshal in 2007, & last year he appointed me his Marshal. So, I’ve just got used to standing at that end of the Hall and looking in this direction…. But, hey, I’m not complaining! I do feel very humble to follow in the footsteps of such distinguished Kts as Rt E Kt John and his predecessors, Rt E Kts Keith Jackson, Douglas Penny and Cyril Barnes, sadly none of whom are able to be with us this afternoon.

I feel sure you will all want to join me in wishing John and his lovely wife Anne a happy retirement from this office and I know we all look forward to seeing them around the Province in the years to come. I expect he will get on with his hunting, shooting and fishing - the only sports he recognises. According to John, all the others are just games!

Earlier I welcomed our distinguished visitors; I now welcome you all to this Provincial meeting in what must be one of the most atmospheric of venues for a meeting of Knights Templar. It is wonderful to see so many of you here and I thank you for your support today. To all those Knights who have sent me messages of congratulation, encouragement & support – thank you. Your messages were very much appreciated.

In particular, I want to thank our Provincial Sub Prior, E Kt Gerry Watson, who, having served as Sub Prior for 4 ½ years has agreed to continue in office for one more year. It will be very reassuring to have his support and experience beside me.

E Kt Gerry, on behalf of our ladies, will you also please convey our sincere thanks to your wife, Evelyn, for all her hard work over the last 4-5 years in arranging the Ladies’ outings. I know my wife has enjoyed every one & I think today’s trip to the Eden Project is well supported & will be one of the most popular & successful outings.

Then we must thank our Provincial Bodyguard, under the direction of their Commander, Deputy Commander & Registrar. They have been beavering away since very early this morning to set up the Hall for these meetings while most of us were still having breakfast. Thank you Bro. Kts for all your hard work. Thanks to our host Preceptory, Launceston Castle No. 480 and all those who have contributed towards the setting up for this meeting.  A word also for our new Provincial Marshal and Deputy Marshal. Having occupied both those offices in recent years I am well aware of the need for a full rehearsal for this meeting. E Kt Ed & E Kt James have not had the benefit of a rehearsal today & in the circumstances they have done a sterling job. Thank you both.

And last, but, (& those of you who know him well will understand what I mean when I say “by no means least”), our Provincial Vice Chancellor, E Kt Mike Jones. E Kt Mike is a man with a very big heart, and an even bigger sword! Should one feel the need to disagree with him, I recommend you do it from a distance! E Kt Mike, thank you for all that you do for the Province, but especially for today. Br Kts, preparations for today do not happen over just days or weeks. The arrangements for the two meetings with a lunch for 120+ in between,  have been in the planning for over 5 months. It’s not so much hard work as particularly time consuming & requiring meticulous attention to detail. E Kt Mike, thank you.

Congratulations are in order for those Kts who have been appointed or promoted today. This is recognition for your efforts on behalf of, and your commitment to your Preceptories.  I trust you will continue to serve & support your Preceptories and encourage new members.

I believe I have invested a strong team of officers today & I look forward very much to working with you all during the coming year. A senior executive officer of an American advertising company described ‘teamwork’ as “a lot of people doing what I say”. Well Bro Kts, I do not subscribe to that definition. In my dictionary, there is no ‘I’ in teamwork. There is however a ‘w’ & an ‘e’ and WE shall work together for the good of the Province. Remember Bro Kts that YOU are the Province – not the executive or administrative officers, but you, individually and collectively are the Province of Devonshire & Cornwall and  I look forward to coming around & meeting each of you during this next year. Be proud of your Province, Bro Kts, go back to your Royal Arch Chapters and encourage the next generation of Knights Templar to join you in this wonderful Order. To those retiring from office this year, we thank you for your commitment and your service to the Province over the last year. We hope you will continue to enjoy your Templar masonry in and beyond the Province.

We must also congratulate those E Kts who were honoured by the Grand Master at Gt Priory in May this year. E Kt Brian Lobb was appointed to PGt Herald, E Kt Michael Cooper to PGt A-de-C, and E KTs Brian Emmerson & John Vooght to PGtWofR. These appointments are well deserved and I hope that as many Kts as can make it will be at Gt Priory of Malta next month in Edgbaston to support these E Kts when they receive the equivalent rank in the Malta degree.

I’ve already promised our distinguished visitors that I will try to reciprocate their visit over the next few years. Within the Province, I will endeavour to attend each of the Preceptories at least once during the coming year.

We shall continue the established practice of 2 Official Visits in the Knights Templar, and I also hope to bring the Provincial team to one of the Preceptories for a Provincial Working, with if course, the agreement of the EP.

Looking forward, we are working on two new initiatives:

At Tamar Preceptory in Torquay in June we were treated to a most interesting presentation by Rt E Kt Barry Burridge, Prov. Prior for Somerset & E Kt David Platten, PPrRegistrar, Somerset, who told us about the King Edward VII & Somerset Preceptories of Improvement. I won’t go into detail now, but in the coming months our new Prov. Marshal, EKt Ed Purkis, will be talking to your Preceptories & explaining how a Kt may be involved & how it will improve his knowledge of the ritual & the rubric, as well as his competence & confidence in sword drill.                                                                        

Our Vice Chancellor, as if he hasn’t enough to do, is also looking into the idea of a Provincial website. If any of you have expertise in that area I’m sure E Kt Mike will be pleased to receive any help and advice you can offer.

On the social side, we enjoyed a very pleasant Spring Lunch at Passage House in Devon in April, and I’ve asked E Kt James Wonnacott, our Prov. Deputy Marshal, to organise an Autumn Lunch in Cornwall next year. I hope Bro Kts that you will support these two happy, social functions with your wives, partners & families.

To bring you up to date with the Grand Master’s Anabta appeal to purchase diagnostic equipment for the Eye Hospital in Jerusalem – The appeal is now closed & the target has been well exceeded. The Kts of this Province contributed a splendid £4,000. This Order is the single largest donor to the Eye Hospital, which, as I’m sure you’re all aware, offers free treatment to Christians, Jews & Arabs alike.   

A reminder, Bro Kts, of the Grand Master’s Council recommendation that on Christmas Day at 5pm, when we’re full of turkey, plum pudding and festive spirit, we remember our Bro Kts around the world with this short prayer:        “Preserve O Lord our Brother Knights, By land and sea and air, And as we hold them in our thoughts, So keep them in thy care”.

And finally: thank you all again for your attendance & support today. I look forward to seeing you all back here, same place, same time next year. Have a safe journey home and I’ll leave you with this thought: Bro Kts, don’t be afraid to go out on a limb – that is where the fruit is!

Thank you for listening.                          Rt E Kt Peter Davies      8th October 2011

 

Provincial Prior’s Thanks to the Escorts – Tintagel, Saturday 8th October 2011

Bro Kts, before I adjourn this Chapter of Provincial Priory, I want to take a moment to thank my four Escorts & Cushion Bearers this morning.

My brother, Kt David Davies of the Preceptory of St George No 318 in Cheshire, has only been a member of this Order for approx. 18 months – after a few years of persistent persuasion from me! He is now in office & I believe enjoying his Templar masonry. Dave, thank you for being here for me again today. I know you’re always there for me but today is very special.

E Kt Bernard Winsor, PDepGt SwdB, has been a member of this Order for … oh, aeons! Like David & me he is a product of Torquay Boys’ Grammar School although a decade or so earlier! Bernard is Capt. of the Sepulchre Guard in the Red Cross of Constantine & I am his Deputy. He may tell you that he’s not much longer for this world. Well, Bernard, we can’t afford to lose you yet – keep taking the tablets!

E Kt Richard Thomas, EP of Royal Veterans No 10 in Plymouth, is our youngest reigning Preceptor at just 46 years of age. Gosh, I remember 46! He’s coming to the end of his year in the Chair where he has demonstrated an excellent command of the ritual. He is also a colleague on the Sepulchre Guard in the Red Cross in which he also distinguishes himself.

E Kt Ron Gould is the EP of my mother Preceptory, Restormel No 90 way down in the far west in Hayle. Ron is our oldest reigning Preceptor at twice Richard’s age – he’s in his 92nd year! He recently performed a full ceremony of Installation of a new Kt, except for the explanation of the symbols, and with barely a prompt. I shall be glad to be drawing breath at 92, let alone work a full ceremony! Incidentally, his predecessor in the Chair is in his 93rd year, but I can reassure you that to be a nonagenarian is not a prerequisite for the Chair of Restormel Preceptory!

Bro Kts, I thank all four of you all for your support & your efforts this morning.