September 2026 saw the Priory of Lancashire hold its annual Provincial Malta meeting at Westhoughton Masonic Hall, near to Bolton, which is located more or less at the centre of the Province.
The meeting was preceded by a short temple meeting of Maples Preceptory No. 428 who were hosting the Provincial Team, Maples being a Preceptory of Great Officers.
Once the business of that initial meeting had been completed the main focus of the evening began with Right Eminent Knight David Harry Gallear KCM Provincial Prior entering the Priory accompanied by the outgoing acting officers of the year under an arch of Steel formed by the Prior’s Bodyguard, and under the direction of E. Kt Gordon McConnell, Bodyguard Commander.
The Right Eminent Provincial Prior welcomed all those in attendance and then instructed E. Kt Christopher Sage P.Gt.Aide-de-Camp, Provincial Sub-Prior, to open a Provincial Priory of Malta. Once this was done and the usual committee business had been completed the Sub-Prior retired, accompanied by E.Kt. Shane Huddart, Provincial Deputy Marshal and E. Kt Barry Tomlinson, Provincial Prelate in order to confer the Order of St. Paul to the nominated candidate for the evening, Kt David Barrett, a member of Hugh de Payens Preceptory No. 56.
Once they were outside the Right Eminent Provincial Prior proceeded to appoint and invest his officers of the year headed by E.Kt Mark Barlow appointed as Provincial Captain General and E.Kt Michael Stubbs as Provincial Lieutenant General. Once the acting officers had been installed the promotions and past ranks were also invested with their respective ranks.
Following a report on the door the Sub-Prior and Chaplain were then readmitted and shortly afterwards the Marshal re-entered alongside the candidate for the Malta degree.
The Provincial Prior’s Bodyguard acted as the Banner Guard and Kt. David Barrett was admitted into the degree of Knight of Malta. Having been made a Knight of Malta the history was delivered in an excellent manner by E.Kt. Joe Galvin P.Pr.Conservator.
The Provincial Prior then addressed the Knights present before calling again on the Sub-Prior to close the Provincial Priory of Malta. This having been done the Prior retired, again under an arch of steel, and this time accompanied by the newly appointed team.
The knights present then retired to the dining room where an excellent three course banquet was enjoyed by the more than 100 knights present before the night’s proceedings were brought to a close and those present went on their ways home, heading towards all four corners of the Province, having enjoyed an excellent evening of Malta ritual and fine company.