Northumberland’s Templar Meet In Historic Medieval Town
Hexham played host to Northumberland’s annual meeting of the Province’s Knights Templar’s on Saturday 21st September, boasting an Abbey built in 674, with many of its stones quarried and salvaged from Roman times.
looked on by VE Kt Bill Bewick, Provincial Sub Prior
The location of the meeting, at the convergence of the North and South Tyne rivers, had a very authentic rural aroma and reminiscent of a Templar castle garrisoned by our illustrious predecessors with their horses. However, once inside, the joys of the country were fast forgotten as one and all got into the mindset for what was going to be a superb meeting.
86 Knights assembled from within the Province, with all 16 Preceptory Banners being formally paraded and presented in turn. Of note, Brinkburn No.284 was given the honour of hosting the meeting in support of the Provincial Prior, RE Kt Kevin Stannard. The latter standard being processed to the East to sit alongside the Provincial banner in a privileged and honoured position.
In excellent form, guests from many Provinces, including our brothers from the SE District of Scotland processed in being honoured with an Arch of Steel expertly executed by the Provincial Prior’s Body Guard under the watchful eye of Kt Scot Hunter, Commander of the Body Guard. In total there were 41 visitors from 10 Provinces with Essex being the furthest South.
Notably, there were several Knights Commander from the visiting Provinces in attendance adding to the pageantry of the meeting. It is with pride yet humility the Province was honoured with presence of 5 visiting Provincial Priors, 2 Past Provincial Priors, 6 Sub Priors and 6 Vice Chancellors.
It was a delight to welcome senior distinguished Knights from the South East District of Scotland who were returning the compliment from our recent visit to their annual muster. In attendance were the current and immediate Past Provincial Priors and the Provincial Seneschal.
Once seated, RE Kt Kevin Stannard, in time honoured fashion warmly announced and thanked each guest individually. This was quickly followed by an enthusiastic vote to donate a cheque to the St John’s Eye Hospital in Jerusalem, noting the significant challenges it was facing due to the current level of hostilities on the West Bank whilst trying to maintain clinical services to the needy.
A small number of Provincial Knights had the great honour of receiving honours and promotions of which the re-appointing of VE Kt Bill Bewick as the Provincial Sub Prior being the highest accolade.
During the meeting RE Kt Kevin congratulated all by saying,
“It is a source of great satisfaction and pleasure to have been able to reward the hard work and dedication of so many Knights with appointment to, or promotion in, Provincial Priory, and I congratulate each and every recipient today. Your new ranks are richly deserved and, I trust, will give you added impetus to dedicating your endeavours to the benefit of your individual Preceptories and Priories, to our Province, and to the Order in general”.
The choreography of quickly moving Knights from their seats to be invested and congratulated by the Provincial Prior was almost an art form with the Body Guard excelling themselves.
All too soon, the meeting was concluded and seats taken for a festive board for which, the dining room felt very full, but not crowed. The staff were very attentive and professional and food sumptuous, much to everyone’s delight. With toasts complete, the festivities concluded, all departed having had a wonderful day mustered under the banner of the Cross in ancient town of Hexham. To our next merry meeting.
