Estune Command Preceptory No. 354
Meetings
Installation Meeting
Fourth Thursday in September
Regular Meetings
Fourth Thursday in March
Fourth Thursday in May
All Meetings start at 6.30 p.m
Officers Appointed 2024
Eminent Preceptor
E.Kt. Jonathan C Mansell - Installed September 2024
Principal Contacts
- Registrar: E.Kt. Iain Disdel
- Almoner: E.Kt. Gary Baird
Officers
- Chaplain E.Kt. Colin G J Wilson
- 1st Constable Kt. Terry W Gunner
- 2nd Constable Kt. Brian C Lazenby
- Treasurer E.Kt. Richard J Ellis
- Registrar E.Kt. Iain W Disdel
- Marshal E.Kt. Darrell J Hinder P.Gt.A.-de-C.
- Deputy Marshal E.Kt. Glynn S Derrick
- Almoner E.Kt. Gary J Baird
- 1st Herald Kt. Ben M Grimes
- 2nd Herald Kt. Timothy M G O’Neill
- Standard Bearer (B) Davide Pinar
- Standard Bearer (VB) Kt. Stephen P Harris
- Captain of Guards Kt. Stewart Galway
- Guard E.Kt. John M O’Neill
Meeting 22nd May 2025
Kt. Michael Hutchings with the Eminent Preceptor of Estune Command E.Kt. Jon Mansell Pr2ndCon and E.Kt. Brian David Horn P.Gt.A.-de-C. the Provincial Marshal representing the Provincial Prior for Somerset.
Meeting 22nd May 2025
Kt. Alan Woodbridge with E.Kt. Stuart M.Burrell P.Gt.A.-de-C. the Provincial Treasure representing the Provincial Prior for Somerset, the Eminent Preceptor of Estune Command E.Kt. Jon Mansell Pr2ndCon. And E.Kt. Derrick Griffin Pr1stCon
28th March 2024 Provincial Team in attendance
With the Provincial Team in attendance and despite the very inclement weather, the meeting of Estune Command Preceptory No 354 held on Thursday 28 March 2024 was an overwhelming success.
Fifty-three Knights were in attendance to witness the arrival of the Somerset Sword of Chivalry being borne by a delegation of Knights from the Antiquity Encampment No.1, the presentation of which was impeccably delivered by E.Kt. Richard Thuston the Eminent Commander.
This was followed by a splendid ceremony conducted by the Estune Commands own Eminent Preceptor E.Kt. Jon Mansell PPrHer, assisted by the Officers of the Preceptory. (further details to follow). The Provincial Prior for Somerset, R.E.Kt. Paul Davis, conferred the Accolade using the Somerset Sword of Chivalry, the occasion of which has been recorded in the Register which accompanies the Sword on its travels around the Province.
The high-end banquet which followed was superb and the Toasts and salutations were given with gusto.
March 2024 Meeting
On 28th March 2024 (Maundy Thursday), Estune Command Preceptory were very proud to welcome the Provincial Team on their first visit of the year, plus received the Sword of Chivalry from Antiquity Encampment.
A good number of Provincial Officers (18) plus other Great Officers were processed into the Preceptory. The Right Eminent Knight Paul Jeffery Davis, the Provincial Prior for Somerset was welcomed by the Eminent Preceptor E Kt Jon Mansell plus the rest of the Provincial team.
A delegation of Knights from Antiquity Encampment No.1 under the leadership of Eminent Commander E Kt Richard Thuston presented the sword into the safe keeping of Estune Command Preceptory.
Main item of the night was to install Companion Stewart Galway as a Knight of the Temple. The ceremony was conducted by the Eminent Preceptor E Kt Jon Mansell, assisted by E Kt Colin Wilson (Charge) and E Kt Iain Disdel (Cup of Memory). The Provincial Prior for Somerset, R E Kt Paul Davis, conferred the Accolade using the Somerset Sword of Chivalry. The symbols were presented by Kts Terry Gunner and Tim O’Neill to a high standard.
53 Knights attended the ceremony and had a very enjoyable festive board afterwards.
History - 1957 to ....
The Preceptory was consecrated at Nailsea on the 15th April 1957, the ceremony being performed by the Very High and Great Seneshal, Sir Eric Studd, assisted by officers of Great Priory and of Provincial Priory.
There were a total of 16 founders and, following the consecration, the Provincial Prior, Very Eminent Knight G.Travers Biggs, installed the first Eminent Preceptor, E.Kt.K.J.Barrah. Another of the founders was E.Kt.H.L.Fuller who had been appointed to serve as Provincial Grand Master in the Mark Degree two years earlier.
The name of the Preceptory is derived, in part, from “Estune” the old Anglo-Saxon name for Long Ashton, as recorded in the Doomsday Book, and which means, “the tree in the Garden”. The name also acknowledges the existance of an ancient camp, Cadbury Camp, which was sited in the area and which, like all other camps, would have included a command post.
The banner, dedicated in the presence of the Right Eminent provincial Prior on the 28th September 1995, includes an illustration of a sword pointing downwards to an oak tree which, in turn, arises from a representation of the Doomsday Book bearing the date 1086.