Once again it is our pleasant duty, to welcome all our Guests, Visitors and Brother Knights, to this our Annual Chapter of Provincial Priory of East Anglia, held today in this Bedouin tent, and for those of you who have never been to one of our meetings, we bid you a ‘special’ welcome.

I am sure that many of you already know, that I am also Deputy Grand Superintendent for the Royal Arch, in the Province of Norfolk, a position that helps me no end as your Provincial Prior, as I get first hand knowledge of all Exaltees, who have become complete Masons,’ by joining the Royal Arch, and are therefore eligible to become Knights Templar.

I also must pay tribute to the support that we all receive from the Heads, Deputies and Assistants from all the other Orders, many of whom are represented here today, and if you can recall the Robes and Sceptres address to the Second Principal, Hagaii, which states, ”you are studiously to avoid all occasions of giving offence or of entertaining dissension or division in the Chapter, and by every means in your power, to establish permanent union and good understanding in the different Orders of Freemasonry.” I feel that this is amply proven here today.

We have had a most happy and successful year within the Province, starting with a 25th. Anniversary celebration at Dunwich Preceptory No. 538 at Southwold, where a good number of knights were there to see two knights Installed into the Order. Later in the year we had two wonderful K.T. team visits to Walsingham Preceptory No 497, and Holy Rood Preceptory No. 179, where over 50 knights attended each meeting, and our Malta visit will be at Tancred No. 102 on 6th November 2012, thus completing my pledge, to move visits round the three Counties, that make up our superb Province.

A wonderful Family Church Service held at St. Marys Parish Church, Woodbridge, conducted by the Reverend Canon Kevan S. McCormack, who gave an amusing and thought provoking address, and afterwards we enjoyed a delightful tea at Woodbridge School. In fact we received through the Church a delightful card that had been sent by two people who had just popped in for the Service (read card.) This year the Service will be at St. Nicholas Chapel at Kings Lynn, with afternoon tea at the Dukes Head Hotel, and this will be on Sunday September 23rd. 2012, so please put the date in your diaries.

Our first Provincial Banquet was held at the Birkbeck Hall in Norwich on 3rd. September 2011, and was supported by a sell out, and once again on behalf of myself, Sally, and the Executive, we would like to say a very big thank you, which leads me neatly on to this years extravaganza, which is on 24th. November 2012 (please note R.E. Kt. Trevor, I have changed the date, so as not to clash with your Provincial Meeting.) and this will be at the Bull Hotel at Long Melford, and will be launched on 2nd. April 2012, where tables of ten will be sold to Preceptories, who send their names and the money, to the organising committee, of E. Kt’s. David Mostyn, Richard Strutt and Kt. Robin Senter, who have all worked tirelessly for us, and believe it or believe it not they are already talking about 2013 and 2014.

On the 9th. May 2012, the Grand Master will be coming down to Cabbell Preceptory No.69, to help us to celebrate our sesqui-centennial anniversary, where numbers are limited, so please do not be disappointed if you do not get an invite, as each member can only invite two guests, including myself, but having been involved in the discussions regarding this event, it promises to be a truly magnificent Masonic Party.

And one for the future is Royal Plantagenet Precptory No.80 who will be celebrating their sesqui-centennial anniversary on the second Thursday, in November 2014, and are waiting to see how Cabbell will be conducting their celebrations, before announcing what they will be doing.

I am certain that you would wish me, to pass on all our congratulations. to the following Knights who will be promoted this year in the Great Priory of the Order of the Temple.

I must now pay tribute to our Executive, to E. Kt. Bill Haggar, who has worked tirelessly as my Sub Prior, indeed in such a fashion that belies his tender age, and I know how much you all enjoy his company, especially at the Malta meetings, as the Sub Prior of Malta, his enthusiasm is a credit to him and a joy for us all.

To my Chancellor V. E. Kt. John How, whose happy, fresh faced approach to everything Masonic, is a joy to behold, and I am certain that you will all make him even more welcome at you meetings, in this his last year as our Chancellor, but please do not fill his glass to full, as I am the one who gets it in the neck from his wife Annie!!!!

To my Vice Chancellor E. Kt. Peter Coles, Great Herald, who has been an inspiration to me and the rest of the Executive, by his boundless energy, knowledge, advice and last but by no means least good humour, is everything that a Provincial Prior could ask for, and a wonderful friend as well.

To our Treasurer E. Kt. Malcolm Fisher, whose patience really does stand up, when I keep talking about next year, and then the year after, but I know he really does work so hard to keep us in the black, and I know, we are continuing to keep going that way.

My Vice Chancellor of Malta E. Kt. Colin Birkbeck, whose patience is exceptional when dealing with this particular meeting, as well as organising the Family Church Service, and for that Colin I thank you, on behalf of all of us. I hope to, that you have all noticed our Banner Stands, just ANOTHER thing that Colin has undertaken to do.

To E. Kt. Steve Tamcken our Registrar, who has undertaken the mammoth task of completing our Provincial Records on to a Computer system, so now most of our details are readily available, at the push of a button, and I can assure, you all that is greatly appreciated.

To my Marshal, E. Kt. Roger Gray, how fortunate we all are to have a Bro. Kt. with your experience to assist us in all things ceremonial, within this Province, as well as accompanying me and/or Bill throughout the Province, on our visits to the Preceptories or Priories, your attention to detail is exceptional.

To the Deputy Marshal E. Kt. Richard Hawes, who I am certain that most of you will know by now, lost his wife Maureen last week, after a long illness, and I am certain that you will all appreciate why he is not here today, but you will remember him and Sons, Stuart and Adam in your thoughts and prayers. The Memorial Service to the life Maureen, will be held at Wymondham Abbey at 3.30 p.m. on Wednesday 29th. February 2012, where I am certain that as many of us as possible, will be there, to support Richard and his family.

To my Bodyguard under the guidance of the Commander E. Kt. John Rowell and the new Deputy E. Kt. Tony Brazier, who is no stranger to the Bodyguard, but is unfortunately languishing in Scarborough Hospital, as he has had a stroke, so we wish him a speedy recovery and a safe return to his native land, and to the new Registrar Kt. Iain (Sat Nav)Murray. At this point I must pay tribute to several retiring members, namely David Abbott, who was the Deputy, and has been promoted to Provincial 2nd. Constable, and to E. Kt. ‘Little’ Brian French who has retired as the Registrar of the Bodyguard, after many years in that Office, we have also had some retirements from the Bodyguard E. Kt’s. Ken Bessent, Kevin Body, Charles Brown and Kt. Paul Cammiss, and we thank them all for what they have done, for the benefit of the Province, and their Mess nights are a joy to behold, a more happy mickey taking bunch of guys, could I ask to work with.

Last year I stated that E. Kt. David Abbott was going to the King Edward V11 Preceptory of Improvement, and I am delighted to tell you, that he has been accepted, and I am certain that we will be able to use that expertise, in helping Preceptorys in improving their standard of ritual, by giving members confidence in their ability to deliver ritual. Remember ranks are not given for just turning up, and we do not have a rank for being the best reader, and always keep in the back of your mind, that you are a Preceptor or Prior for twelve months, and a Past Preceptor or Prior for a lifetime, so there is ample opportunity, to prove yourself to the executive.

May I also take this opportunity to remind all those Brother Knights, who are getting near the chairs of their Preceptory or Priory, it is expected that you attend each of the Provincial functions during the year, there are only three, (Provincial Meeting, Family Church Service and the Provincial Banquet,) and this applies to the Constables, as well as the Pentagonal Table, as you hold the Offices comparable to the Master and the Wardens of your Craft Lodge, please take this message back to remind all Brother Knights, to whom this may apply.

I would like to thank my Organist E. Kt. David Adams for the music on my entrance, and knowing that R.E. Kt. Kessick Jones came into his Provincial Meeting to the music of Darth Vada, David selected Lord of the Rings, knowing that one of my nicknames within the Province is, ‘Dark Lord.’

Now in case any of you are taking bets, there were as you well know, two Dark Lords, and was the title of the most powerful of the evil beings in Arda. The first and greater of these was the Vala, known as Melkor, the second was the Maia, Sauron, and both these Dark Lords were overthrown and defeated by Morgoth, who was the more powerful, as he was indeed a Vala, and was far superior to Sauron in both personal power and accomplishments. However after Morgoths defeat and Sauron forging of the one ring, he ascended to the power level of Morgoth. Morgoth was the source of all evil, whilst Sauron in a sense became the greater of the two evils, and where Sauron used his cunningness and seductive nature to fulfil his desires for power and domination of all life on middle earth, making his agenda equally perverse and demented.

I rest my case.

Our Provincial meeting next year will be held on Saturday 23rd. February and will be in North West Norfolk, at another surprise venue, which I know will go down well, and will be held under the Banner of Walter Short Preceptory No. 451.

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I can not change, Courage to change the things that I can, and Wisdom to know the difference.

Thank you all for coming and may the Great Captain be with us all.