Dear Consœurs and Confrères

We have, yet again, reached that time of the year when I try to summarise what our Order has achieved since last I wrote to you twelve months ago.

 

Due entirely to your outstanding dedication to the aims of our confraternity, we have, once more, been able to celebrate another exhilarating year of progress and service.

 

As is normal in an organisation like ours, one or two people have asked to be placed on the ‘Inactive’ list due to ill health, business commitments etc., but I am very mindful of all their efforts during their time with the Order and, on behalf of us all, I extend our grateful thanks to them.                   

 

2011 has been another year of carefully crafted expansion, with new members only being admitted after a rigorous examination of their motives for wishing to join. All new Petitions are now examined by the recently formed Petitions, Promotions and Awards Board (PPAB) under the Chairmanship of Frà Werner Sarb KTS GCLJ CMLJ SCLJ.

 

Last year (2010) I was able to report that TEN new members joined our happy Confraternity.

 

This year I can report that, despite our stringent admissions policy, we have increased our total membership by a further FIFTEEN new Consœurs and Confrères. This speaks well for our aims and objectives, and demonstrates the Order’s aspirations to help those in dire need, during their final hours.

 

The new members for 2011 are Consœur Brenda Wye MLJ, who has kindly undertaken the office of Grand Priory treasurer, Confrère David Watts MLJ and Confrère Remo Hide MLJ all of whom have been allocated to the Commandery of Richmond. Consœur Natasha D’Silva MLJ, Consœur Outi Russell MLJ, and Confrère Michael Howarth MLJ, allocated to the Commandery of Colchester; Consœur Mary Brackley MLJ, Commandery of Winchester; and Confrère Ian Marsh MLJ, Commandery of Westminster. All of the above mentioned are members of the Grand Priory of England, Wales, Isle of Man and Channel Islands.

                                                                                                                                                                        

The United Grand Priories are also happy to report that we have extended our membership overseas and, in so doing, we have formed a new Danish commandery known as the Myosotis Commandery, with the following members, Confrère Niels Ole Larsen CLJ (Commander); Confrère Kim Peiter Jørgensen OLJ, Doctor Jette Løvenwald MLJ, Consœur Lisbeth Larsen MLJ, and Confrère Henrik Løvenwald.

Confrère Niels Ole Larsen CLJ was appointed and invested as the first Commander in Denmark, and the banner of the Myosotis Commandery was consecrated with due solemnity during the Investiture service. We wish our Danish Consœurs and Confrères every success for the future.

 

In addition to this we now have two members in Cyprus who have been allocated to the Hereditary Grand Commandery of Saint Sophia, Confrère Andreas Charalambous MLJ and Confrère Constantinos Michaelides MLJ.

Thus we heartily welcome ALL our new members into the Saint Lazarus family and I look forward to watching your progress in years to come.

 

During the year I had the great pleasure of Promoting and Investing our long serving Grand Priory Sword Bearer, Chevalier Donald MacLean, to the rank of Knight Commander of Grace.

 

Other Promotions included Consœur Annette Schickentanz, Custodian of Insignia and Confrère Michael Seed, Commander of Winchester, to the rank of Commander.

 

Consœur Melanie Pimm, Assistant Custodian of Insignia, Consœur Joyce Emms, Secretary of Buckingham, Consœur Mary Jenner MBE, Confrère Ricky Toomey, Ceremonial Team, Confrère Frank Powell, ADC to the Master-General, Confrère Robert Gardner, Ceremonial Team, and Confrère Nicholas Clarke, Deputy Secretary-General, were all Promoted to the rank of Officer.

 

Further to this the Grand Council created a number of new Offices to assist with the governance of the Order. Chevalier Joe Seydel KLJ OMLJ was appointed Visitor-General and Chairman of the Companionate of Friends of the Saint Lazarus Hospice Association. We hope this latter body will grow to become an important part of the Saint Lazarus ‘family’ under the guidance of its Chairman.

 

Confrère Brendan Tansey MLJ was appointed Procurator-General and, as such, will co-ordinate the various charitable and fund-raising events throughout the Order. This is a daunting task and we all wish him well in his new endeavours.

 

There is going to be a number of changes in the Grand Priory offices, which will take effect after the next Investiture in February 2012 so I need not dwell on them here.

 

Let me now deal with the Saint Lazarus Hospice Association. During the year grants were made to the following hospices – Saint Luke’s Hospice £22,726 (Special situation); Leicestershire and Rutland Hospice £3,357; Farleigh Hospice £3,444 and Barnsley Hospice £3,934.50 making a grand total of £33,461.50 which I hope you will agree is a magnificent amount, gathered and donated by a very small group of enthusiastic members.

 

The Saint Lazarus Care Foundation, better known in-house as ‘Lazarus Care’, has started to examine the concept of Spiritual Companionship and to this end we sponsored a meeting with likeminded people, at Saint Joseph’s Hospice, Hackney to explore the possibilities of creating a ‘training module’ for nurses, and others in Spiritual Companionship. This project has been led by our two Assistant Hospitallers, Confrère Michael Seed CLJ OMLJ and Doctor Rosemary Waddy OStJ CLJ SCLJ and I am indeed most grateful for their commitment to this cause. These are early days, but we are hopeful that this work will progress over the coming years, and will show the ‘hospice world’ that we are indeed a serious organisation. I look forward to the opportunity of telling you that we have advanced in this work, when I write to you next December, God willing.

 

Lastly, I wish to express my sincere thanks to the Vice-Chancellor, Captain Richard Sheridan KLJ KMLJ RA and his loyal staff for ensuring that the administration of the Order runs efficiently, especially with regards to all the work attached to holding and organising our two annual Investitures. And with this in mind I would also like to thank the Grand Priory Marshal, Chevalier Derek Wye KLJ OMLJ and his excellent Ceremonial Team for putting on such a ‘good show’.

 

Let all who read this letter know that we don’t just talk about being hospitallers. We actually fulfil that role, as visualised and practiced by our ancient brethren. I thank you from the bottom of my heart for your devotion and determination.

 

Bless you all, and I hope you will enjoy a peaceful and tranquil Christmas and New Year with your family and loved ones.

 

Frà John

MASTER-GENERAL