In a day full of symbolism and enjoyment, a large party of Malta Knights from Monmouth and South Wales travelled to Somerset on Thursday 25th June to present “The Travelling Spur”.
The concept of the travelling spur was conceived in the Knight Templar Province of Worcestershire and, last year, this spur was formally presented by their Provincial Prior, R E Kt Michael Hadden, to the Provincial Prior of Gloucester and Hereford, R E Kt Peter Burrows.
Subsequently it came to Monmouth and South Wales, whose Provincial Prior, R E Kt Dr Paul Calderwood, took great pleasure in handing the travelling spur to R E Kt Paul Davis - for him to transmit in due course to another province.
The accompanying certificate declares, “it is undertaken in a spirit of friendship, fraternal duty and chivalric honour” and with kindest good wishes.
As R E Kt Paul Davis observed at last week’s presentation: “It is good to welcome our Templar relatives from Monmouth and South Wales here in Somerset today and to see the friendship of the two provinces symbolised by the Travelling Spur. It calls to mind the days when our two provinces were one - and reminds us of the strong friendship which exists today and that was sown in those distant days.
“In those days, brother Knights would travel from Haverfordwest and other parts of West Wales to attend meetings in Taunton on a regular basis and Brother Knights from Somerset would journey up to meetings in Wales just as enthusiastically – even during wartime conditions.”
R E Kt Dr Paul Calderwood said “Now, almost 75 years later, those links have not been weakened and we both share a strong sense of belonging. One of the best examples of this is the way in which the bodyguard preceptories of Somerset and of Monmouth and South Wales have established a wonderful tradition a inter visiting and so Our Lady of Walsingham Preceptory is the perfect setting for today's presentation.
“Today it's my great pleasure to present the Province of Somerset with a tangible expression of that family feeling which I have already described - but one which has even wider connotations.
“This travelling spur - as the accompanying certificate testifies - is recognition of today's visit by a large number a bodyguard knights from Monmouth and South Wales (and I thank those who have travelled here from Wales for this meeting most heartily for doing this).”
The Knights of Somerset treated royally all those who travelled to visit the Bodyguard Preceptory of Our Lady of Walsingham Preceptory in Yatton – especially those from Temple Slebech Preceptory of Provincial Bodyguards - and all had a tremendously enjoyable day.
It was an especially memorable day which saw three new Knights admitted to the Order in an outstanding manner. They were Kevin Hannam, Alan Woodbridge and Steve Reece.