News

Celebrating 50 Years of Service

Ill.Kt. Dries Van der Burgh, Dep.G.Mar., R.Ill.Kt. David Fox, KCC, P.Int-Gen., V.Ill.Kt. Michael Osgathorp, P.G.J.Gen., V.Ill.Kt. Peter Shuker, P.G.J.Gen., R.Ill & Em.Kt. Peter Hawken, GCC, Dep.G.Sov., and R.Ill.Kt. David John Roach, Int-Gen.

Completing half a century of committed service to any organisation is worthy of great celebration, and on Saturday 5 October that was very much the case for V.Ill.Kt. Michael J H Osgathorp, Past Grand Junior General.

Eboracum Conclave, No. 137 in the North and East Yorkshire Division of the Red Cross of Constantine, welcomed R.Ill & Em.Kt. Peter Hawken, MBE, GCC, Deputy Grand Sovereign and R.Ill.Kt. David John Roach, Intendant General to present Michael with his 50 year Certificate and Jewel.

On top of this fantastic celebration, Michael was then also honoured with a Field Promotion as the Most Illustrious Grand Sovereign had been pleased to have Promoted him to the rank of Past Grand Junior General.

Congratulations V.Ill.Kt. Osgathorp, and thank you for your 50 years of commitment to the Order.

Donation to the Barnsley Youth Choir

Ill.Kt. Frank Johnston, P.G.Pref. (West Yorkshire), was delighted to be able to have been able to present a cheque for £2,500 to the Barnsley Youth Choir at the Horizon Community College, Barnsley on Saturday, 10 August 2019. The Choir were busy performing a final pre-tour rehearsal and fund raising concert in preparation for the senior senior section of the choir going to South Africa for a very intense working tour this month, taking some 80 young people for a life changing experience.

Mat Wright, a founder and the Artistic Director of this very successful choir, received the donation with most grateful thanks and a prolonged applause by the young singers.

The photograph above show Ill.Kt. Johnston presenting the cheque to Mat Wright, on his right, with the I.G. on his left.

Barnsley Youth Choir, is a charity entirely run by volunteers. It seeks to provide outstanding opportunities for young people who live in Barnsley and to inspire and change lives through music and to provide life changing opportunities for those involved. Further information about the charity and what they do can be found at: https://www.barnsleyyouthchoir.org.uk/about-us

Sepulchri Custodes Conclave No. 528 Consecrated in Burton-on-Trent

Burton-on-Trent is perhaps best known for its Brewing industry but it was the Consecration of a new Red Cross of Constantine Conclave that attracted a large number of Knights of the Order to the town on Thursday 30 May. Sepulchri Custodes Conclave No. 528 has been formed as a working Conclave for members of the Derbyshire Division’s Sepulchre Guard. The Grand Sovereign, M.Ill.Kt. Graham Leslie Flight was in attendance as the Constituting Sovereign, ably assisted by the Grand Eusebius, R.Ill. & Ven.Kt. The Rev. Timothy L’Estrange. On this occasion not only were they joined by the Deputy Grand Sovereign, R.Ill. & Em.Kt. Peter Hawken, MBE, who acted as Grand Senior General, but also the Past Grand Sovereign, M.Ill.Kt. Richard Wallis.

The Consecration ceremony in this Order has several aspects that are unique to the Order and is very colourful. The Knights were treated to a very interesting Oration by Ill.Kt. The Rev. Justin Parker who was acting as Grand High Prelate. At the after proceedings the Grand Sovereign was presented with a gift to remind him of this visit to the Division, a pair of cufflinks set with “Blue John”, a mineral found only in Derbyshire.

RCC Transvaal Division makes a Donation to Nazareth House Orphanage

The Divisional Treasurer for the Red Cross of Constantine Division of Transvaal, Orange Free State and Northern Cape, P.Kt. Nic Benson, was pleased to visit Nazareth House which hosts an orphanage and a frailty care centre to present a cheque for 10,000 Rand (c. £550). This donation was warmly received as recently they were obliged to close the Hospice section due to a halt in subsidies.

Receiving the cheque is Sister Veronica.