Our Lady of Walsingham Preceptory No. 672

On Wednesday, 2nd October the Provincial Prior for Somerset, R.E.Kt. Paul Davis, accompanied by five of his Somerset Knights from Our Lady of Walsingham Preceptory, three of whom were accompanied by their wives, embarked on a visit to the Island of Malta. This visit of the Somerset Bodyguard Preceptory had been planned in order to visit two Preceptories meeting on the Island.

The La Valette Preceptory No.649 met on Friday, 4th October at 10:00am in the Masonic Hall in Valletta and was very well attended. E.Kt, Darrell Hinder and E.Kt. Graham Chipperfield, together with Kt. Ralph Howard, the Provincial Prior’s Bodyguard Commander and Kt. Tim O’Neil the Deputy Commander were asked to form an Arch of Steel and also to guard the Sepulchre during the ceremony which saw the installation of three Knights into the Order of the Temple. Our Provincial Prior was invited to present Patents to two Knights installed at their previous meeting.

The Festive Board that followed was a most enjoyable event and many new friends were made during the day.

On Saturday, 5th October the Waller Rodwell Wright Preceptory No.640 met at 6:00pm. Once again, this meeting was very well attended and the Somerset Knights provided the Arch of Steel and guarded the Sepulchre for the Installation of two Knights, one a resident of Malta and the other living in Italy. At this meeting our Provincial Prior was honoured to give the Accolade and to present two Temple patents and one Malta patent.

( See photographs of the Somerset Team with the Preceptory Marshall E Kt Les Sinclair and also the REPP with the two candidates.)

The festive board was again packed to capacity and a very warm welcome was extended to us all.

On this occasion E.Kt. Darrell Hinder responded on behalf of the visitors for the warmth of the welcome given to all the visitors present and extended an invitation for a reciprocal visit to OLoW on some future occasion, at the June Meeting.

The remainder of the week in Malta was focused on visiting as many sites of interest associated with the history of Knights Templar in Malta plus, sampling the fine food and wines on offer. Visits were made to Valletta where it was possible to wander the narrow streets the ancient Knights once roamed; visits to the St. John’s CoCathredral with its magnificent mosaic floor covering and final resting place of ancient Bro Knights, together with the ornate ceiling paintings which were a breathtaking sight.

The Battery Salute, situated on the ramparts overlooking the Grand Harbour was also visited, (see Photo below) plus the Grand Masters Palace with its Armory. (See Photos below) With the temperatures during the week never dropping below 25oC day or night the evenings were a pleasure and outdoor dining overlooking the harbour at St Julian’s bay was the order of the day.

Lastly our thanks and gratitude go to E.Kt. Ray Sheppard, the Past Provincial Sub-Prior (who had to withdraw from the visit at the last minute), and E.Kt. Les Sinclair, Marshall of Waller Rodwell Wright Preceptory for initiating the visit, which proved to be a very successful event.