The annual Chapter of the Provincial Priory of Surrey was opened by the Provincial Prior, R.E.Kt. Michael Banbury, assisted by the Provincial Sub-Prior, V.E.Kt. Pat Crossan, and the Officers of Provincial Priory at the Croydon & District Masonic Hall, on Saturday, 9th July 2011. Of the 140 members of the Order present, 109 were members of the Province and 31 were guests.

Six Knights of the Province, who had passed to the Holy City during the past year, were remembered in a Requiem conducted by the Provincial Prelate, V.E.Kt. David Allonby.

The Provincial Prior then welcomed visiting delegations of Knights from Hampshire & IOW, Sussex, Hertfordshire, London, Kent, Essex, Leicestershire & Rutland and Middlesex. Also the Past Provincial Prior of Surrey, R.E.Kt. Bryan Page and representatives of the Executives of other Masonic Orders in Surrey.

The roll of Surrey Preceptories was called, their Banners paraded and saluted.

The business part of the meeting followed during which the minutes of the previous meeting were approved, the Vice-Chancellor’s report presented, the accounts for the preceding year presented and approved, the Provincial Treasurer, E.Kt. Graham Best, re-elected, the dues for the forth-coming year announced (unchanged from last year) and the Provincial Committee and the accounts examiners nominated and elected.

Brother Knights all, it is a great pleasure to see so many of you here and to have your support both today and throughout the year. Surrey never seems to have what I might call a great year. Despite all our joint efforts to recruit new members to our Order, numbers have remained remarkably constant since I first had anything to do with the Province as Vice-Chancellor back in 1993. As I prepare this address, I don’t have the old figures in front of me but comparing the current figures with those of five years ago, we have gained 9 new Knights which amounts to an increase of five in the total memberships in the Province.

There has always been a lot of interest in the Order but one problem has always been the cost of regalia. Whilst not wishing to cast any aspersions at our last Warden of Regalia, who did a magnificent job for the members of the Province for so many years, we have a new very keen one now who is doing everything in his power to keep prices as low as possible. We have located a source of supply for a very acceptable swords which some of you will have seen outside at the signing in desk. These are only £40. The Provincial Prior then said that no one could fail to have been affected by the appalling pictures and stories shown on our TV screens in the past days of the famine affecting large areas of Kenya, Somalia, Ethiopia and South Sudan. He felt that, at the moment, these people were most deserving of our charity. He therefore proposed that the collection be divided equally between the DEC (Disasters’ Emergency Committee) East Africa Crisis appeal and the Eye Hospital in Jerusalem. The proposition was approved and the sum subsequently raised between the charity collection and the raffle at the festive board was just over £1,100.

The Provincial Prior reappointed his Sub-Prior, V.E.Kt. Pat Crossan, saying how much he had appreciated the help, support and counsel he had received from his Sub-Prior during the past year. He then proceeded to invest the rest of the Provincial Officers for the year, details of which can be found elsewhere on the site. The Provincial Prior then addressed the meeting as follows:

"Brother Knights all, it is a great pleasure to see so many of you here and to have your support both today and throughout the year. Surrey never seems to have what I might call a great year. Despite all our joint efforts to recruit new members to our Order, numbers have remained remarkably constant since I first had anything to do with the Province as Vice-Chancellor back in 1993. As I prepare this address, I don’t have the old figures in front of me but comparing the current figures with those of five years ago, we have gained 9 new Knights which amounts to an increase of five in the total memberships in the Province.

There has always been a lot of interest in the Order but one problem has always been the cost of regalia. Whilst not wishing to cast any aspersions at our last Warden of Regalia, who did a magnificent job for the members of the Province for so many years, we have a new very keen one now who is doing everything in his power to keep prices as low as possible. We have located a source of supply for a very acceptable swords which some of you will have seen outside at the signing in desk as compared with the cheapest sold by the usual regalia suppliers who charge well in excess of £100. In addition, the Warden of Regalia almost invariably has a supply of good quality second hand regalia at very competitive prices and can nearly always obtain new regalia and make changes to old and alter ranks on mantle badges far cheaper than you would be able to obtain them from the usual suppliers.

Over the years I have had many Craft Masons come up and ask me if it is correct that you have to join Chapter before you can become a Knight Templar. As we all know, the answer is of course yes. What a shame though that they feel it necessary to ask. Whilst not being the greatest supporter of the Royal Arch in terms of Chapter memberships, I have always thought, from the day I joined, that it is one of the best Masonic Orders, with a wonderful Exaltation ceremony. Brother Knights, remember that our memberships come from the Craft and Royal Arch and we should support these two Orders as much as we do our own. If they don’t thrive, then, in the long term, neither do we. Attend and actively support your Lodge and Chapter. Always be on the look out for young, keen, quality recruits for your Lodge and look to move them on at the appropriate moment into Chapter and thence to KT.

Socially and charitably we’ve had a good year, considering that five years ago we had no such events within Surrey KT. Immediately after last year’s annual meeting, my wife Frances and I had the pleasure of entertaining about 100 knights and their wives and partners to a BBQ and cream tea on a beautiful summer’s day in our garden in Outwood. We certainly enjoyed having you there and were most grateful for all the help we received in putting on the event. In the end, this raised around £1,200 for the Eye Hospital. We are repeating the event next Sunday when we hope to raise even more money. I know I will get told off for this but, if you would still like to come along, it’s not too late. There were forms out on the signing-in table or just see me or Vice-Chancellor Chris before you go home. The more the merrier. I must also thank all those who cannot attend for the most generous donations they have sent.

At the end of April this year we had a coach outing to Greenwich, again on a lovely day if not quite so warm as for the BBQ. Between 40 and 50 Knights together with friends and families joined in – not a vast number but, thanks to the enormous generosity of Eddie Urtan of Nutfield Preceptory, who entertained us all at his own expense in his new restaurant, a really excellent day was enjoyed by all. The event raised about £600. We have already booked with Eddie to repeat the event on the second Sunday in May next year, which is 10th May.

Brother Knights of Surrey, there are many things I have to thank specific members of the Province and you all in general for. Amongst the foremost of these is the support you have given to the Grand Master's Anabta appeal. When it was first announced some 15 months ago, I suggested that each Preceptory should try to raise ?500, which would give Surrey a total of ?7500, discounting the Past Preceptors’ and Bodyguard Preceptories. We have easily exceeded that figure and much of the thanks for that must go to E.Kt. Hugh Saville who visited every Preceptory, bar one, during the appeal, explaining what it was all about and collecting gift aided contributions. Not content with that, he was the only participant in the London Marathon this year to nominate the Eye Hospital as their charity. He succeeded in raising a further ?2160. Hugh doesn't run or even jog but rather power walks and did the course in a fraction over 6 hours, a very commendable time for a sexagenarian, as the Eye Hospital call him in their paper, Jerusalem Scene. All this was entirely at his suggestion. I made no approach to him whatsoever, so, a magnificent effort Hugh.

You will doubtless remember that V.E.Kt. Michael Mullally who gave up as Provincial Treasurer a couple of years ago. He had served this Province well for over twenty years in that capacity but was suffering from Leukaemia and undergoing very debilitating bouts of chemotherapy. In the event this didn't stop him from being very heavily involved in this Order. He got to know a Slovenian knight, Frank Zupanic, who was installed into Michael’s London Preceptory. Michael found out that the Slovenians wanted to have a Preceptory in their own country, so it was arranged that members of the Royal Arch Chapter of Slovenia would be Installed into the Order at the regular meetings of Michael’s Croydon Preceptory, Gascoigne Preceptory. This reached its natural conclusion early in April this year when, after a special meeting to Install around a dozen more Slovenian Companions, the Carantania Preceptory was Consecrated by the Grand Master at Mark Masons' Hall. All the arrangements and the success of the whole Consecration were largely down to the many hours of perseverance Michael, acting as the go- between for the Slovenians with Mark Masons’ Hall, not just by phone and e-mail but repeated visits to St James’s Street. Well done Michael. You deserve a medal as well as the very grateful thanks of the Slovenians.

Someone else within the Province who deserves a special mention is E.Kt. David de Ville, the Provincial Almoner. I've always contended, not being that way inclined myself, that Almoners are born and not created. Too often it is an office in any Masonic unit which is filled by someone who doesn't want it anyway. It's a case of 'ole George needs an office and we haven't got an Almoner so George becomes Almoner and does little or nothing to fulfil the duties of that very important office. The true Almoner is in contact with all the members of his Preceptory between meetings and reports to the meeting on any problems he may have encountered and what he is doing to help the Brother Knights out. Whenever I go to David’s Preceptory this is exactly what we get. Not that I'm saying that, within the Province, David is exceptional. We have many good Almoners. David just happens to be the Provincial Almoner as well as his Preceptory Almoner. Over the past year he has been heavily involved with our Past Provincial Prior, R.E.Kt. Gordon Jones, in getting him into the RMBI home at Peacehaven. I don't want to go into too many details because some of them are of an intensely personal nature but I do know that both Gordon and his wife will forever be grateful to David for his knowledge as to how to go about things and his perseverance in achieving the end result. Brother Knights, we may all need an Almoner some day. Let's try to ensure that the Knight we appoint to that office is the most suitable one available and then let's support him to the hilt.

Whilst on the subject of helping each other out, David has prevailed on me to say a few words about Preceptory dues. We're living at the moment in very difficult times and he is suggesting that treasurers delay as long as possible increasing the annual dues. I appreciate Brother Treasurers that this is a very difficult matter and the very last thing I want to do is to teach you your job but if you can put off an increase for a year or so by digging into reserves that (perhaps) you don’t really need, and if these are sufficient, then please give this serious consideration.
There are, of course, so many that do so much to help the Province in so many different ways. My thanks go out to them all and I hope they will not be too put out by not being mentioned individually. As a group however I would just finally like to mention the Bodyguard. Their enthusiasm and support of everything going on within the Province is quite exceptional. Thank you lads: I know what you do and really appreciate it.

Brother Knights, Anabta is now over. It ended with the Pilgrimage to the Holy Land when a cheque was presented direct to the Hospital. At the time of writing I don’t know the exact figures but I do know that the monies raised by the Knights of Great Priory was well in excess of the original target. I am told that the excess will go to boost the general fund which is badly in need of additional monies since the EU has withdrawn much of its funding – €500,000 in fact.

With that in mind, my thoughts turned to what Surrey KT could do to help the situation and how we could continue to support the Hospital by building on the impetuous which had been generated by the Anabta appeal. Now Brother Knights, as I said a moment ago, these are difficult times. We are all facing calls for charitable giving from the Craft, Chapter and Mark, to mention just the more major Orders. Following discussions at the Eye Hospital headquarters in London, what I would like to promote within the Province is a regular giving scheme whereby we make regular monthly donations of just a few pounds. I’m thinking in terms of say £2 or £5 per month, either by standing order or by going onto the Eye Hospital web site and signing up there. You will each have, at your place at the dining table, a leaflet explaining the scheme and we will also have, during the meal, an illustrated talk by Nicky Wynne, Head of Fund Raising for the Hospital in London. Also here today we have Lawrence Day, a member of Chertsey Preceptory who is Deputy Chief Officer for the Order of St John in the UK. Both, I am sure would be keen to talk to you about the scheme and answer any questions you may have.

Before closing, I must congratulate first those who the Grand Master appointed or promoted in Great Priory rank at Edgbaston in May:
Our Sub-Prior promoted to be V.E.Kt. Pat Crossan E.Kt. Nigel Harding appointed PGtAdeC - now also Commander of the Bodyguard E.Kt. Chris Eley appointed PGtW.Reg. - now also our Provincial Marshal E.Kt. Doug Martin appointed PGtW.Reg - he’s the Bodyguard Registrar and has been for a long time.

I would urge all of you not to forget the Great Priory Malta meeting in November. And secondly those who have been appointed and promoted in Provincial Priory today, this time, far too many to mention individually at this point. To all of you I would urge you not to forget the Provincial Malta meeting at Emmaus on Friday 16th September. No matter what your new rank, you have received it because you have earned it. Well done and congratulations to you all. May you long continue with the same enthusiasm for the Order that has led to your current appointment.

Brother Knights, thank you for listening so patiently to me. I wish you all a very happy and successful year in Surrey KT Masonry".

Every meeting of Provincial Priory is held under the banner of one of the Preceptories of the Province. This year the honour had fallen to the St John at Stoneleigh Preceptory who were thanked by the Provincial Prior for all the assistance they had given in the supervision of the car parking and other tasks in marshalling the meeting.

A representative of Chertsey Preceptory then stepped forward and offered the services of that Preceptory for next year.

Following the collection of alms the R.E. Provincial Prior closed the Chapter of Provincial Priory following which there was a short period of refreshment preceding the luncheon where those who had attended the meeting were joined by members of the executives of other Orders who were not Knights Templar. In addition Ms Nicky Wynn from the London Office of the Eye Hospital of Jerusalem who, during the course of the meal, gave a very interesting talk on the Hospital and its need for regular giving to support its excellent work in Palestine and the Holy Land. She further urged the support of members of the Province in the scheme, launched that day by the Provincial Prior, for small monthly donations, either via their Internet site or by Bank Standing Order.

The gathering was brought to a close by the Provincial Prior thanking everyone for attending, especially the visitors from other Provinces, attending and wishing them all a safe journey home.


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