The Meeting of Stroud Preceptory of St Michael No 406 on 25th March hosted a fraternal visit of Knights from the Province of Worcestershire. Due to the Eminent Preceptor being unavoidably unable to be present for the opening of the preceptory E.Kt. Ivor Pope conducted the opening and subsequent ceremony with E.Kt. Roly Rogers assuming the role of Marshall for the evening. Both produced an excellent performance resulting in Comp. Wieslaw Jan Kobylarz experiencing an outstanding initiation into Knights Templar.
What made this meeting into such a special occasion was the high number of Knights present. There were just under 60 in attendance, filling the Temple and giving a most heartwarming sight. This was due to the large party of visiting Knights from Worcestershire, matched by visitors from our Province which conjointly vastly outnumbered the members of Stroud Preceptory of St Michael.
The Bro. Knights enjoyed conversation and harmony over an excellent meal which has become the expected standard at a Stroud refectory. Our very own R.E.Kt. Peter Burrows, Provincial Prior responded to his toast. After the usual ‘Parish Notices’ he cordially thanked the Worcestershire Knights for their attendance and crossing the border into Gloucestershire & Herefordshire in such grand numbers.
R.E.Kt. Michael Hadden, the newly appointed Prior for Worcestershire, has proved to be a most popular choice clearly evident by the number of Knights who supported him on this Provincial visit responded on behalf of the visitors. Michael concluded by presenting our R.E. Prov. Prior with a Riding Spur. A peculiar gift you may think but this equine accessory has an individual significance having a Worcestershire KT Crest label pin attached to it. The intention is to add a Gloucestershire & Herefordshire pin to the Spur and then present it when we visit another Province. Eventually, who knows when, it is envisaged this Spur will reconnect with its partner and become a pair of Spurs again, both resplendent in a host of Provincial Crest Pins.