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 2023

Eminent Preceptor

E.Kt. Jonathan C Mansell - Installed September 2023

Principal Contacts

Registrar: E.Kt. Iain Disdel
Almoner: E.Kt. Gary Baird

Officers

Chaplain E.Kt. Barry L T McCormack
1st Constable E.Kt. Christopher R Fox
2nd Constable Kt. Terry W Gunner
Treasurer E.Kt. Richard J Ellis
Registrar E.Kt. Iain W Disdel
Marshal E.Kt. Darrell J Hinder
Deputy Marshal E.Kt. Colin G J Wilson
Almoner E.Kt. Gary J Baird
1st Herald Kt. Brian C Lazenby
2nd Herald Kt. Davide Pinar
Standard Bearer (B) Kt. Ben M Grimes
Standard Bearer (VB) Kt. Timothy M G O’Neill
Captain of Guards Kt. Stephen P Harris
Guard E.Kt. John M O’Neill

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.