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Investiture Pictures May 2010 Dated: 22nd May 2010 A full report of the annual Investiture held on Saturday May 22nd will appear shortly. The event was an enormous success and a slide show of pictures is available below. For press or media enquiries, please contact our Director of Media Information, Chev. Lt. Col. Mark Haley.
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Anne Frank Exhibition in Northern Ireland an Outstanding Success Dated: 20th May 2010 The Grand Priory of the United Kingdom congratulates Chev. Steve Nimmons, who played a pivotal role in taking the "Anne Frank + You" Exhibition to Northern Ireland for the first time. The exhibition was opened on May 10th, and in just over one week has attracted 4,000 visitors. Further information about the project follows: Project Special Advisor, Steve Nimmons (below, left) with Northern Ireland Finance Minister Sammy Wilson at the launch 
The Anne Frank Trust UK opened a stunning month long exhibition “Anne Frank + You” at the Alley Theatre in Strabane on Monday May 10th. In just over one week, the exhibition has attracted over 4,000 visitors. Mrs Inge Radford, one of Ireland’s last Jewish Holocaust survivors assisted in the opening of the exhibition. Mrs Radford lost her widowed mother and 5 brothers to the Nazi concentration camps in 1942. Launched in 2005 to give Anne Frank’s story and message a contemporary profile for today, this major display includes a near life size replica of Anne’s bedroom in hiding. It has a strong focus on the issues of identity and moral choice we face in 21st century society. The opening in Strabane is particularly significant as it is the first time the “Anne Frank + You” exhibition has visited Northern Ireland. Starting from Anne Frank’s writings and experiences, the exhibition is a journey of self exploration for the visitor. Themes that Anne wrote about in her diary, such as racial hatred, war and conflict and the value of democracy and freedom, are presented in an up to date and contemporary fashion, along with filmed interviews with teenagers discussing their own views, concerns and hopes for the future. Anne Frank exhibitions have been visited by over 3 million people from across Britain. They continue to provide a unique experience for visitors to learn more about the story of Anne and the history of the Holocaust. Steve Nimmons (inter faith advocate and special advisor to the project) said “The Anne Frank exhibition provides an exceptional opportunity for young people to discuss and truly understand the value of tolerance and its importance in our society. The beauty of Anne’s writing, the tragedy of her short life, and yet the ultimate truth that hope and understanding triumph over repression and hatred is exceptional, powerful and ultimately life changing." Strabane District Council and the Community Relations Council are funding this project in association with the Cultural, Heritage and Identity programme, which is supported by the Peace III programme and managed for the Special EU programmes Body by the North West Peace III Cluster. The significance of the opening is further amplified, coinciding with the 50th anniversary of the establishment of the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam. The exhibition will be in Strabane until May 29th, from where it will move to the Spectrum Centre on Belfast's Shankill Road (launch event planned for the evening of June 3rd). Further coverage: Ireland examines Anne Frank's Life Coverage on BBC Newsline
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Award from North Carolina Dated: 07/01/2010 Good news and congratulations continue. Chev. Steve Nimmons has become an “Honorary Tar Heel” (Honorary Citizen of North Carolina), awarded by the office of Governor Bev Perdue. Steve has a number of connections with the ‘Carolinas’, (charitable and family) and is very pleased to receive this “novel award”.
The year began in fine style with announcements of the Commissioning of Colonel Simon McIlwaine by the Commonwealth of Kentucky and the receipt of a Humanitarian Service Award from the Mongolian Red Cross.
2010 is surely set to be an exceptional year for the UK Grand Priory!
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UK Grand Priory Awarded Red Cross Medal Dated: 06/01/2010 The UK Grand Priory is delighted to announce that it has received a Humanitarian Service Award from the Red Cross Society of Mongolia (MRCS). Members will no doubt be aware that we have been working with the Red Cross in Mongolia for some time, and we hope to have a fully equipped Ambulance in service with the Mongolian Red Cross and bearing the insignia of our Grand Priory in 2010. Grand Prior Col. Simon McIlwaine and Chev. Steve Nimmons were both recipients of the Humanitarian Silver Medal (from the MRCS) in 2008 recognising their "contribution to the humanitarian activities for the vulnerable people of Mongolia". The Grand Priory thanks all members who have supported our work with the MRCS, and we look forward to making more announcements on this subject in the coming months. |
Deputy Grand Prior AppointmentDated: 04/01/2010 The United Kingdom Grand Priory is delighted to announce the appointment of Chevalier Howard Doe as joint Deputy Grand Prior.
Chevalier Doe is a stalwart member of many Orders of Chivalry in the United Kingdom (and beyond) and will be well known to many through his exceptional work as Grand Master of the Healing, Teaching and Chivalric Order of St. Raphael.
The appointment made by Grand Prior Colonel McIlwaine is received with resolute delight by the officers of the UK Grand Priory. This appointment brings an excellent, much beloved and highly capable gentleman into the ‘management team’ of the Priory. Deputy Grand Prior Chev. Mark Haley continues in his role and will be ably supported by Chev. Howard as we look to 2010 and to expansion of our philanthropic activities in the UK, Mongolia and Iraq.
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Grand Prior Receives Kentucky Colonel Award Dated: 04/01/2010 The officers and members of the United Kingdom Grand Priory are delighted to congratulate Grand Prior Colonel Simon McIlwaine on receipt of a Kentucky Colonel Commission from Governor Steven Beshear.
The highest honor awarded by the Commonwealth of Kentucky is that of Kentucky Colonel.
Commissions for Kentucky Colonels are given by the Governor and “in recognition of noteworthy accomplishments and outstanding service to a community, state or the nation.”
"A list of Kentucky Colonels is a Who's Who of outstanding men and women around the world." Colonel McIlwaine receives this accolade in recognition of many years of philanthropic work as well as his contribution to inter faith relations.
He is especially congratulated by Colonel Steve Nimmons (the UK Priory’s Grand Herald) who also received a Commission from Governor Beshear in 2009.
As expressed in his New Year’s message, Colonel McIlwaine is looking forward to supporting the efforts of the Mongolian Red Cross, St. George’s Church in Baghdad as well as Fairbridge and the Army Benevolent Fund in the United Kingdom in 2010.
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STATEMENT OF THE UNITED KINGDOM GRAND PRIORY OF THE ORDER OF ST GEORGE15-Dec-2009 We have conducted a referendum amongst the membership, as a result of which over 75% of those polled resolved not to recognise the purported suspension of the United Kingdom Grand Priory management team by Chevalier Kaczor, for which not a shred of justification has been offered.
Accordingly, the United Kingdom Grand Priory has resolved to continue as a sovereign confraternity of Christian Knights and Dames which alone has the authority of the widow of our late Grand Master, General Janos Karaszy-Kulin, to carry on his work and which alone bears the canon and ethos of the Order that was re-established with the advent of freedom in his native Hungary.
Dame Iris has very kindly agreed to be our Patron, and our important works of charity and Christian fellowship will continue under her oversight.
Although the legal title of our Order in the United Kingdom will remain as “The International Knightly Order Valiant of St George”, we will follow the precedent of the Order of Malta and use a shorter working title, which will, be, simply, “The Order of St. George”, and the Grand Priory will be known, for daily operational purposes, as “The United Kingdom Grand Priory of the Order of St. George”.
There are two kinds of Chivalric orders, those which are emanations of the State or regal dynasties (i.e fons honorum) and those which are, in essence, charitable or commemorative confraternities organised according to a knightly-monastic Rule.
The UK Grand Priory was not, is not and never will be just another dining club for gong-collectors or the vainglorious.
If we are to hold our heads high and to retain the enthusiasm of those who rally to the Banner of St George, we must prove the sincerity of our intentions and our ability, as Christian Knights and Dames, to make a difference in the world. When anyone asks our members about the regalia they wear and what our Order does, let us point with pride to our charitable commitment and let us talk of the projects which we are supporting.
Within the next 12 months, we hope to have a fully equipped Ambulance in service with the Mongolian Red Cross and bearing the insignia of our Grand Priory.
Our work with Fairbridge, the youth charity, which Dame Muriel Taylor has done so much to develop, and the armed forces will be a continuing focus. There are other projects-such as supporting St George’s Church, Baghdad, and the work of its vicar, the admirable Canon Andrew White-that I sincerely hope you will be able to join with us in supporting.
Although we are now a sovereign organisation, we welcome alliances with other Orders which revere our Patron, George, Saint and Martyr and which share our commitment to charity and the virtues of true Chivalry.
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With a little help from my friends Dated: 07/Oct/2009
Dear Chevaliers and Dames,
Following on from my letter in June, I thought it time to bring you up to date with the progress of fundraising work in the North.
At the request of The Grand Prior, my efforts are targeted at raising funds for the Fairbridge Organisation, working with disaffected young people aged 13-25 years in some of the most disadvantaged areas of the U.K. The target amount I committed myself to raise was £3,000, to offer a 3-year rehabilitation course to just 1 young person that would be a life-changing experience.
I am extremely pleased to tell you that so far, I and a small group of friends/volunteers, have raised over £800 and will have cleared well over £1,000 before the end of the year. This has been accomplished by running small, regular events, that needed little organising but yielded steady amounts.
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Communication from the Army Benevolent Fund (ABF)
Dated: 07/Oct/2009
A large number of Tesco stores across the country will be raising funds for the ABF this week-end. Posters will appear in the windows of participating shops and collecting buckets will be by the tills. Tesco as a company will add 20% to all monies received.
Please make yourself known, as a serving soldier or as a supporter, to the staff of any stores you visit, encourage them, and thank them for supporting the Soldiers' Charity. We really do appreciate it.
With best wishes
John (Ross)
Colonel J M A Ross
Regional Director of Fundraising, London |
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