Selwood Preceptory of St. John No. 244

Provincial Priory of Somerset 

& Selwood Preceptory of St John No.244

host

The KEVII PoI Demonstration Team

At the request of the R.E.Kt. Paul Jeffery Davis the Provincial Prior for Somerset, the Selwood Preceptory of St John No.244 welcomed the KEVII Preceptory of Improvement (PoI) Workshop to their regular Preceptory meeting on Monday 2nd June, held in the Masonic Hall, Frome, Somerset.

The Masonic Hall in Frome is a venue with a splendid Temple and spacious dining area. It can accommodate nigh on 100 people for all types of Masonic meetings and social activities.

Following an early start to the evening the Preceptory was opened in due form by the Eminent Preceptor (EP) E.Kt. Derek J. Tadman P.Gt.Her. and the Provincial Vice Chancellor of Somerset, in order to conduct essential business. 

But earlier than expected, the meeting was enhanced by the arrival of R.E.Kt. Paul Jeffery Davis the Provincial Prior for Somerset together with an entourage of Somerset Knights on an Official Team Visit, accompanied by the Provincial Sub-Prior Alan J. McMurray P.Gt.A.-de-C. and other Great Officers including the Provincial Prior for Dorset & Wiltshire R.E.Kt. Richard F. Mickelfield, a personal guest of R.E.Kt. Paul Davis.

All were warmly welcomed, and during the exchange the Provincial Prior declined to accept the baton acknowledging that the Preceptory was in good hands. 

With the business out of the way the Eminent Preceptor consented to temporarily relinquish the chair to the Preceptory to the Knights of the KEVII PoI team; which comprised of V.E.Kt. Harry Randell P.Gt.Reg. who acted as Chaplain, V.E.Kt. Dennis Fountain P.Gt.Reg. as Marshal, V.E.Kt. Antony F. Legge P.Gt.Reg. as the Orator and E.Kt. Peter Doust P.Gt.A.-de-C. as Eminent Preceptor.

An exemplary ceremony of the Installation of a Knight Templar was then enacted with the acting EP word-perfectly conducting the ceremony, accompanied by skilful narration by the Orator, proficiency of the floorwork by the Marshal and adept support from the Chaplain. To complete the line up for the demonstration Kt. Clive Lambert and E.Kt. Tony Guthrie remained as the 1st and 2nd Constables respectively, E.Kt. Colin Ayton and Kt. Tim O’Neill were the Heralds, Kts. Harding and Park the Standard Bearers and E.Kt. Richard Thurston the Captain of Guards. And of course, not forgetting the volunteer candidate Kt. Derek Porter from the Worlebury Preceptory of St Dunstan in Weston-super-Mare.

There was also fulsome praise for the Provincial Prior’s Bodyguard, for the excellence of their sword skill during the processions and more particular in guarding the Sepulchre using the full quota of Knights needed.

On completion of the demonstration a question-and-answer session followed before the Preceptory’s EP resumed his Chair and acclamation given to the KEVII PoI Team for attending Somerset and for the splendid performance they had delivered. 

In conclusion, the Templars Hymn was sung during which Alms were received and with no other business to attend to the Provincial Prior and his entourage departed before the Preceptory was formally closed by the Officers of the Preceptory.

Being a warm evening in June and with 59 Knights in the Temple there was as expected a rush to the bar for refreshment before the Festive Board could start with 52 sitting down for fayre fitting for this time of year. Whilst dining the taking of wine was observed and afterwards the appropriate Toasts we given. 

Finally, and before their departure the Provincial Prior for Somerset presented the Knights from KEVII with a token of his appreciation. Something called Somerset Cyder(?)  This being a bottle of bespoke 'fine' Cyder (not be confused with the industrial Cider) from a local Somerset 'Crafting Cider' distillery - presented as an acknowledgement of the 'fine' KEVII presentation.