The Hospitaller Vol 4 Issue 1: July 2018

VOLUME 4 | ISSUE 1 | JULY 2018

THE HOSPITALLER The official Newsletter of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem — Knights Hospitaller HM King Peter II Constitution — Grand Master HRH Prince Karl Vladimir Karadjordjevic of Yugoslavia GCSJ

Dear Brothers and Sisters in St John, As Father Andrew has written so beautifully about our holy patron saint, St John the Baptist, I thought I would take up a few lines, hopefully in which to complement Father Andrew's piece, with a short piece on my late uncle, King Peter II of Yugoslavia, the one and same founder of our most glorious Order! Perhaps some of you already know a varying amount of what I am about to write but I hope for most of you it is something new.

The young heir to the throne, Peter II, was never truly a child in any true sense of the word, as circumstances beyond his control did not allow him this luxury. Any remnants of a child's spirit dwelling within my uncle were taken from him on the 9th of October 1934 when he was confronted by the news of his father having been assassinated during a vital visit to France.

Peter was a mere eleven years of age, and as you can imagine, his life went from very serious to extremely serious, as he was to learn of the unpleasant political situation around the globe at that fragile time.

Because of his minority Peter could not of course be proclaimed king and therefore a regency was secured with another of our uncles, Prince Paul, being made the first regent (of three).

From 1934 until the events of March 1941, Peter underwent an extremely rigorous amount of tutoring and military training in order to become a true officer and not just an uneducated lad with all the honorary titles pinned upon him. He became a fully competent pilot at a very young age and loved flying very much. He was also turned into a fully qualified steam engineer, gunner, naval officer and obtained many other useful qualifications, even before obtaining his degree a few years later in Cambridge.

It was on the 27th of March 1941 that the elegant young Peter Karadjordjevic was pronounced and blessed by the Partiarch as King of Yugoslavia. This came about as a result of a revolt against Regent Paul for having been persuaded to sign an agreement with Adolf Hitler. Although the reasons for this were entirely pro-Yugoslavia and had absolutely nothing to do with any love of Nazi Germany, as you can imagine the proud Yugoslavs would not agree to any pact with the devil.

Yugoslavia was, however, to pay the price for defying Hitler. Within days, German planes began to bomb Belgrade, and many other cities; and, so began the end of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. A very interesting, and for us a very vital, historical event, however, took place at this dark time. For, shortly before King Peter II had to leave Yugoslavia with his government, he personally packed the Holy Relics of our glorious Order in a special crate, bound for the monastery in Montenegro, where they are today!

After reaching London, King Peter II first found a true friend and ally in Sir Winston Churchill, but this relationship was to suffer greatly over the next few years. By 1943 Churchill had been seduced by the communists amongst his very own SOE in Cairo and because of this he was to stop all support for the Royalist fighters in Yugoslavia and turn toward the brutal communist leader, Tito. The story is long and painful and involves politics played out in dark corners around the world, but the end effect of it all was the betrayal of King Peter II and, through this, the loss of the Kingdom of Yugoslavia: effectively in late 1944, but politically on the 29th of November 1945.

Although it made no difference to the rest of his life as a king, Peter II never abdicated, which is an important fact when it comes to his legal rights with which he founded our Order through his Charter of 1963 and Constitution of 1964!

Too many people are innocently ignorant of the fact that King Peter II fought relentlessly for the Yugoslav Kingdom, the betterment of the lives of the Yugoslav peoples, and for the truth to be made known, right up until the day he died. Sadly, he failed to achieve what he had hoped for as regards all of these issues but - as it is in many cases - now, long after his death, the full story is becoming more and more known by the masses and we in the Order can be ever so proud to have had this man, this king, this Christian, as the giver of our Charter and Constitution!

Yours ever in the service of St John,

THE HOSPITALLER VOLUME 4 | ISSUE 1

In this edition:

4

The Sovereign Council and the Petit Conseil

8

Priory of Norway

9

Priory of Dacia

10 Commandery of Monaco-Italy 12 Priory of France 14 A Tribute to Fred Maestrelli 16 Priory of NSW and The ACT Commandery 18 Priory of Victoria and the Northern Commandery 20 Priory of England 22 Priory of Scotland 26 Priory of Queensland 27 An introduction to two new Members 28 The Forerunner and Baptist John

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A MESSAG HE CONVE REDPATH Your Excellencies and Dear Brothers and Sisters in St John, The thoughtful obituary for the late Conv. Bailiff Fred Maestrelli GCSJ CMSJ MSSJ, written by his dear friend and colleague HE Conv. Bailiff Peter Shilton GCSJ OMSJ, immediately brings to mind those times I spent, often in the early hours (indeed I wondered whether Fred ever had time to sleep), discussing with him knotty issues affecting the Order, and of course things of much greater import, such as the merits of the various vintages of Grange and Moss Wood.

There is no doubt that Fred made a huge contribution to the Order, and part of that was his resolve to fulfil the Grand Master's wish to see The Hospitaller established as the Order's publication, together with his willingness to accept the position as its first editor: a job at which he truly excelled.

His passing has had a profound impact: on his family and all those who knew him, especially the knights and dames within his beloved Independent Priory of New South Wales; and, on members of the Order generally.

I was therefore gratified when the Prior of Scotland, Chev. Jim Wylie GCSJ, agreed to continue Fred's work by taking on the Herculean task of editing The Hospitaller and I am sure you will all join me in thanking him for producing this the first issue under his editorship, which is dedicated to Fred with great fondness.

Much like our own glorious Order, however, The Hospitaller (which is a powerful testimony to all that is good in the Order) will only continue to flourish if we, as members, actively contribute to its success.

The Order - like The Hospitaller - is much more than the sum of its constituent parts. We, as members, are merely the current custodians of its ancient tradition of dedication to the Faith and to Humanity. As such, we all have a profound moral duty, and

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GE FROM ENTUAL BAILIFF ALASTAIR H-STEVENS GCSJ CMSJ must be willing and indeed should tirelessly and selflessly work together, to ensure the Order's continued relevance and value in modern society.

Our adherence to tradition (insofar as it genuinely expresses the essence of what we are, or indeed ought to be, as an Order), provides a firm foundation but we should not be hidebound or deceived by those who may, however inadvertently, seek to advance their own agenda by swathing it in a cloak of dubious historicity.

The chairman of the Ecclesiastical Council, Chev. the Revd Canon Andrew Stevens GCSJ, has contributed a thoughtful article about our patron, St John the Baptist known as the Forerunner, to which the Grand Master has provided a counterpoint with a history of His late Majesty King Peter II of Yugoslavia.

For many years the Order has been seeking to reconsolidate those original and verifiable elements of the King Peter II Order as well as to extend the privilege of membership to others who are truly deserving and who wish to conform to the Charter and Constitution of our beloved founder.

Recently, many new members have been welcomed into the Order from what is often referred to as the SOSJ, an organisation purporting to adhere to the Constitution of his late Majesty King Peter II of Yugoslavia and based in Vancouver.

I am also looking forward to welcoming many other new members into the Order, including at the Investiture in Glasgow, Scotland on 18 August, in Oslo, Norway on 22 September and in London, England on 20 October.

By the next issue of The Hospitaller, to be published before the Feast of John, Apostle and Evangelist, there will be some ten months to go until the meeting of the Sovereign Council in Australia which will take place from 16 to 20 October 2019 in Sydney, hosted by the Priory of New South Wales.

Arrangements are well advanced, and I know that Chev.

Schon Condon GCSJ, Prior of New South Wales, and his team are looking forward to welcoming members of the Order to what promises to be a most enjoyable and productive meeting.

I trust you will enjoy reading this issue of The Hospitaller and may I, on behalf of the Petit Conseil, wish you continuing success in your work for the Order.

Yours ever in the service of St John, Alastair HE Conv. Bailiff Alastair Redpath-Stevens GCSJ CMSJ Grand Commander

We have been able to provide a Christian and chivalric refuge to significant members of the former SOSJ Priory of Scotland, the entire Commandery of Italy-Monaco, and of the former Grand Priories of Central Europe and of Dacia. I wholeheartedly welcome all these new Knights and Dames and wish them much joy and happiness within the Order.

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THE HOSPITALLER VOLUME 4 | ISSUE 1

THE SOVEREIGN COUNCIL AND THE PETIT CONSEIL The Order of St John of Jerusalem Knights Hospitaller is governed by a legislative group comprising all Bailiffs/Grand Dames, Priors and Independent Commanders, known as the Sovereign Council of the Order.

The Sovereign Council can perhaps be compared to Parliament in the UK, with the House of Commons and the House of Lords put together. It comprises permanent members (all of those with the rank of Bailiffs/Grand Dames, Grand Cross of Justice of the Order - “The Lords”) and the temporary members (the Priors etc. “the MPs”) as they will only be members of the Sovereign Council for the period of their particular office.

The Sovereign Council meets every three years, unless otherwise convened by the Grand Master, the Petit Conseil or a third of all the Bailiffs.

Out of the Sovereign Council, and elected by its members at every Sovereign Council Meeting, a small group is chosen to form the Petit Conseil, which is in effect the equivalent of the Cabinet (Prime Minister and Ministers). Membership of the Petit Conseil is composed (in descending order of precedence) of the Grand Commander (the Prime Minister: Interior and Finance), Grand Marshal (Herald, Ceremonies), Grand Hospitaller (Social and Charitable Works), Grand Conservator (the Protector’s Delegate – currently in abeyance), Grand Councillor (Information and Foreign Affairs), Grand Bailiff (without portfolio) and Grand Chancellor (originally the representative of the Grand Priory of America).

Once elected, members of the Petit Conseil remain in office until the

following Sovereign Council Meeting.

Each of the members of the Petit Conseil has a Lieutenant.

Chairmanship of the Petit Conseil rotates between the members in descending order of precedence on a three year cycle between meetings of the Sovereign Council with each member presiding for six months at a time.

Members of the Order should be aware who the current members of the Petit Conseil are, and this edition of The Hospitaller includes a brief introductory article, with some background information about and a photograph of, three of the Conventual Bailiffs - the Grand Commander, the Grand Bailiff and the Grand Chancellor. The next edition will include an introduction to the Grand Councillor, the Grand Marshal and the Grand Hospitaller.

The current members of the Petit Conseil and their lieutenants are: Grand Commander:

HE Conv. Bailiff Alastair Redpath-Stevens GCSJ CMSJ

Lieutenant:

HE Conv. Bailiff Tony Sheill GCSJ CMSJ MSSJ

Grand Marshal:

HE Conv. Bailiff Poul Heile Pedersen GCSJ

Lieutenant (Grand Herald):

Chev. Per Østergaard KSJ

Grand Hospitaller:

HE Conv. Bailiff Peter Shilton GCSJ OMSJ

Lieutenant:

Chev. Derek J Robson AM KCSJ

Grand Councillor:

HE Conv. Bailiff Harald Løvheim GCSJ CMSJ MSSJ

Lieutenant:

Chev. Georges Zazzeri GCSJ

Grand Bailiff:

HE Grand Dame Elizabeth Carey-Sheill GDSJ MMSJ

Lieutenant:

Dame Angela Reid DCSJ MMSJ

Grand Chancellor:

HE Conv. Bailiff Shane Hough GCSJ CMSJ

Lieutenant:

HE Bailiff Martin Marschner von Helmreich GCSJ

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THE HOSPITALLER July 2018

HE CONVENTUAL BAILIFF ALASTAIR REDPATH-STEVENS GCSJ CMSJ GRAND COMMANDER moving to Hardwicke in 2005 where he specialises in all aspects of property law. Alastair is listed in the Legal 500 for his work in housing law. He was visiting lecturer in Housing Law at Southbank University, and an author and editor of Arden & Partington’s Housing Law (Sweet & Maxwell), and a contributor to Housing Law: Pleadings in Practice 2nd. ed (Sweet & Maxwell).

Alastair was born and raised in the quiet seaside resort of Southsea, Portsea Island in the County of Hampshire, England. He obtained his Degree of Batchelor of Sciences from the University of Bristol before working for the City Council within the Directorate of Housing. He received his Diploma in Housing Studies from the University of West of England ("UWE") as well as his Master of Arts and became a Member of the Chartered Institute of Housing in 1993. During his time in Bristol he was a founder and Chairman of the Brigstowe Project, a charity providing for those living with HIV and AIDS, and a Director of the Aled Richards Trust.

Alastair went on to study part-time for his Postgraduate Diploma in Law at UWE before leaving the City Council and working for an IT company whilst completing his studies. He then read for the Degree of the Utter Bar and was called by the Honourable Society of the Middle Temple on 8 October 1998. He obtained Pupillage and a tenancy in the Chambers of Andrew Arden QC before

Alastair was introduced to the Order through a friend who was a member and whose father was the Chamberlain of the Priory of England. He was invested by the Grand Master, HRH Prince Karl Vladimir Karadjordjevic GCSJ, on the 21st of September 2005.

Shortly afterwards he became Assistant to the Chamberlain and then Treasurer of the Priory of England. In 2007 he was promoted to Knight of Grace and elected as an Auxiliary Judge of the Supreme Court by the Sovereign Council meeting in that year and, as a consequence, resigned his other posts.

A promotion to Knight Commander of Grace followed in 2008 when he was appointed Secretary General by the Grand Master and resigned his judgeship.

In 2010 Alastair was promoted to Knight Grand Cross of Honour and proposed and appointed as Grand Prior of the Grand Priory of the United Kingdom, France and Eire when he also became Grand Treasurer following the resignation of his predecessor. He became a Bailiff later in the year.

in 2017 in the form HE Bailiff Ken McLachlan GCSJ. The Grand Master had been pleased to award Alastair with the Medal of Merit and in 2013 (the year that he Chaired the meeting of the Sovereign Council in Glasgow), the Cross of Merit for his services to the Order and to the community.

By that time Alastair had resigned as Grand Prior, and was succeeded by HE Bailiff Alex Dalgleish GCSJ MMSJ. The then Grand Priory of the United Kingdom, France and Ireland was abolished, along with all other Grand Priories, by a decision of the Sovereign Council held in London in 2015, and its assets were donated to Erskine, a wonderful charity caring for veterans.

At the Sovereign Council in Nice in 2016 Alastair was elected unanimously as Grand Commander and the post of Secretary General fell into abeyance until the Grand Master appointed Chev.

John Hammond KSJ in 2017. In that same year, the Grand Master awarded Alastair the Cross of Merit with Crown.

Alastair is committed to the guiding principle that the OSJ-KH is an ecumenical Christian Order of Chivalry, which is mandated to protect the faith of those who believe in Christ’s love and through that faith to do good in the World.

Alastair was appointed as Treasurer to the Priory of England again, a post he finally managed to pass on to the Lt. Grand Commander HE Conventual Bailiff Tony Sheill GCSJ CMSJ MSSJ earlier this year: he had finally managed to find a successor as Grand Treasurer

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THE HOSPITALLER VOLUME 4 | ISSUE 1

HE GRAND DAME ELIZABETH (LIZ) CAREY-SHEILL GDSJ MMSJ GRAND BAILIFF HE Grand Dame Liz Carey-Sheill and her husband HE Conv. Bailiff Anthony (Tony) Sheill.

In addition to holding Office as Grand Bailiff Liz is also Prior of England. She was first introduced to the Order of St John of Jerusalem, Knights Hospitaller in 1994, when she was taken to an Investiture by her husband, Anthony Sheill, who, at that time, was Registrar General of the Order. Liz was attracted to the Order because it was a Christian organisation and she particularly liked its ecumenical ethos. After she and Tony married in October 1994, she learned much more about the Order from attending other events. At that time, Liz also became well acquainted with Lt. Grand Commander Anthony Zammit and his wife Grand Dame Walli Zammit, who encouraged her to join the Order and who, to her great delight, became her sponsors.

In August 2002, a group from the Priory of England travelled to the town of Grossetto in Italy, where Liz was invested, together with a number of

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Italian Aspirants, during an Investiture Ceremony presided over by Grand Master HRH Prince Karl Vladimir Karadjordjevic.

When Bailiff Eddie Power was elected as Prior of England, he invited Liz to join his Council as Vice-Chancellor and, subsequently, following Tony Sheill’s election to the office of Grand Commander in 2007, Liz was invited to take on the office that he had previously held as Registrar General. Thereafter, in November 2013, she was elevated to the rank of Grand Dame.

In 2015, for a variety of reasons such as illness and changes in the lives of the officers of the Priory of England, the Priory found itself without a Prior and Liz volunteered to take on the office.

She was elected, and subsequently formally invested as Prior at an Investiture in Copenhagen. With the support of a small but effective Council,

a new chapter in the life of the Priory of England began. At the Investiture of the Priory of England in July 2017, Liz was greatly honoured to be presented with the Medal of Merit by Grand Master HRH Prince Karl Vladimir Karadjordjevic.

Liz’s situation is rather unique because neither her original Investiture as a Dame of Honour nor the Investiture at which she took the Oath as Prior of England took place in her country of domicile: both happened abroad. She is also one of only a very few female members of Sovereign Council and is the first woman to serve as a member of the Petit Conseil.

THE HOSPITALLER July 2018

HE CONV. BAILIFF SHANE JOHN HOUGH GCSJ CMSJ GRAND CHANCELLOR HE Conv. Bailiff Shane John Hough GCSJ CMSJ was raised and educated in the town of Warwick in southeast Queensland, some 130 kilometres south-west of Brisbane, Australia.

Shane studied law at the University of Queensland and was called to the Bar in 1992. He was subsequently admitted as a Barrister in several Australian States and Territories. He soon developed an interest in International Law and has wide experience in a number of overseas jurisdictions, an area in which he now specialises.

Having appeared as a Barrister in all levels of the Court system, Shane has developed keen advocacy and analytical skills which enable rapid assessment and strategic solutions to diverse and difficult situations.

These are skills Shane believes he is often called on to use in his role as Advocate General of the Order.

Shane’s legal background has involved more than just "black letter" interpretation of the law. He believes firmly in social equality, justice and fairness and he has pursued various community justice

programs including a pilot legal aid scheme for the homeless in the early 1990's. He is an enthusiastic advocate for those with mental health issues and the difficulties they face in the legal system. A large portion of Shane’s professional and private time is centred around community projects to assist the disadvantaged, and those he describes in the Aussie vernacular as “battlers”.

Shane was invested in to the Order of St John of Jerusalem Knights Hospitaller as a Knight of Honour in June 2004. “The Order is a logical extension of my life values,” Shane says. “I have always found the principles of social justice, equality and caring for the interests of the sick and the poor to be core values in my life.”

His personal interests include choral singing, collecting militaria and helping his wife Dame Sallyanne with their small acreage outside Toowoomba in rural Queensland.

“Mucking out stables at 4am is very therapeutic and helps keep everything in perspective,” Shane says with a wry smile.

About Toowoomba Toowoomba (nicknamed 'The Garden City') is a city in the Darling Downs region in the Australian state of Queensland. It is 125 km (78 mi) west of Queensland's capital city Brisbane by road. The estimated urban population of Toowoomba as of June 2017 was 135,631.

A university and cathedral city, it hosts the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers each September and national championship events for the sports of mountain biking and motocross.

There are more than 150 public parks and gardens in Toowoomba, which has developed into a regional centre for business and government services,

often referred to as the capital of the Darling Downs. It is the 16th-largest city in Australia and the sixth largest in Queensland after Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast, Townsville and Cairns. In the last five years, Toowoomba has also become one of the fastest growing towns in the country.

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THE HOSPITALLER VOLUME 4 | ISSUE 1

PRIORY OF NORWAY Due to the increase in our membership resulting from the Knights and Dames of the former SOSJ Grand Priory of Dacia joining our Order, the Petit Conseil decided that the former Priory of Scandinavia should split to form two new Priories, the Priory of Norway and the Priory of Dacia.

On 11th June 2018, following due process in accordance with the Constitution, when members were asked to propose candidates for election as Prior, the Priory of Norway held a Chapter Meeting in the Norwegian City of Sandefjord. Chev. Øivind Olsen, who had served as Prior of Scandinavia for many years, had

L-R: Former Prior of Scandinavia, Chev. Øivind Olsen, newlyelected Prior of Norway, Chev. John Harald Sundseth and HE Bailiff Emeritus Dan Vegard Hansen.

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indicated to the members that he did not wish to stand as a candidate in the current election. Chev. John Harald Sundseth, a Knight of Justice who was therefore eligible to stand, was proposed for election as Prior by several of the Priory members.

The Chapter Meeting was chaired by Bailiff Emeritus Dan Vegard Hansen and, following a vote, Chev. John Harald Sundseth was unanimously elected, all 115 votes being cast in his favour, with none against.

The Meeting thereafter approved the election of a Priory Council, which included HE Bailiff Emeritus Dan

Vegard Hansen as chairman and Dame Evy Pettersen and Chev. Øivind Olsen as members.

The appointment of Chev. John Harald Sundseth as Prior of the Priory of Norway was subsequently confirmed by the Petit Conseil.

The meeting was held in an atmosphere of great enthusiasm and optimism and all members agreed to work to ensure an excellent future for the Order and the Priory of Norway.

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PRIORY OF DACIA The Commandery Absalon stand at Frederiksberg Flea Market.

On Saturday 2nd June 2018, volunteers from the Commandery Absalon of the Priory of Dacia spent the day manning a stand at the very popular Frederiksberg Loppemarked (Flea Market) in Copenhagen. The Commandery usually has a stand at the market three times each year and this was the second time this year the Commandery had been allocated and operated a stand. In Denmark, whilst flea markets are great places for finding goods at very low prices, they are not only about finding the best deals, but also about the great atmosphere. The flea market takes place every Saturday during the summer months and is set up in front of the Frederiksberg Town Hall in Copenhagen. There is such great demand for stands that spaces are ballotted.

To even have the opportunity of being in the draw at all, you must be a Citizen of Frederiksberg, and there is such great demand that you must be available at your computer when the draw is made.

This is one of the most visited and popular flea markets in Copenhagen, with hustle and bustle from 8.00am to 3.00pm. Over many years HE Conv.

Bailiff Harald Løvheim has heard numerous positive comments about this flea market so that when, this year, he had the opportunity to be in attendance, he very quickly accepted the invitation.

Grand Dame Gunn S. Hagen, Dame of Justice Kathrine Kjergaard and Dame of Grace Karina Andersen Ottesen took care setting out the stall and selling the various items. They also dealt wonderfully well with the added tasks of serving breakfast and lunch to the four persons present from our Order. HE Conv. Bailiff Harald Løvheim thoroughly enjoyed his time at the flea market, even although it was an extremely warm day which unfortunately meant there were fewer customers than normal. He reckoned that a lot of people gave the beach first priority on that Saturday!

This year the profits earned at the flea market were donated to assist the charity work of the Church of the Holy Spirit in Copenhagen.

The third and last day of the Commandery manning a stand at Frederiksberg Flea Market this season will take place on Saturday 1st September, and it is hoped that all members of the Commandery Absalon will note this date and let Kathrine know if they will be able to participate. More members being involved will help strengthen the solidarity within the Commandery.

HE Conv. Bailiff Harald Løvheim GCSJ CMSJ MSSJ Grand Councillor

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THE HOSPITALLER VOLUME 4 | ISSUE 1

COMMANDERY OF MONACO-ITALY The members of the Commandery have been delighted with the very warm welcome we have received from all Knights and Dames in the OSJ-KH and we are most pleased that, within the OSJ-KH we have found a peace and transparency which genuinely respects the Constitution of his late Majesty King Peter II of Yugoslavia.

HE Bailiff Alain Colorado, Prior of France; HRH Princess Brigitta Karadjordjevic; Grand Master HRH Prince Karl Vladimir Karadjordjevic; and Dame Jacqueline Marschner von Helmreich, Commander of Monaco – Italy.

It is with great pride and pleasure that the Monaco-Italy Commandery of the Order of St John of Jerusalem Knights Hospitaller is able to announce that Grand Master HRH Prince Karl Vladimir Karadjordjevic of Yugoslavia, GCSJ has accepted the members of our Commandery as members of the OSJ-

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KH. On Tuesday 20 February 2018, Commander of the Monaco-Italy Commandery, Dame Jacqueline Marschner von Helmreich DSJ, representing the Knights and Dames of the Monaco-Italy Commandery, was officially welcomed into the Order by the Grand Master.

We are a relatively young Commandery, set up in August 2015, but have been very active over the past two years with the Iraqi and Syrian families of refugees who, as a result of persecution because of their Christian faith, fled their country and are now based in the Principality of Monaco and the nearby French city of Nice. We provide the refugees with a great deal of support, including weekly French language courses and provide assistance to help them to find employment (particularly permanent placements for younger people). The Commandery also provides valuable support to Iraqi and Syrian Christian refugees in the parish of Bargemon (Var - France) and, on behalf of the Order of St John, we provided a vehicle to the Priest in charge of the Bargemon parish which hosts these refugees.

The Commandery raised funds to support a pilgrimage to Lourdes for a group of the refugees and we also organised an excursion to Île Saint Honorat (Cannes - France) for a group, accompanied by a few of our members.

During the summer of 2016 the Commandery of Monaco-Italy was deeply involved with our Italian Brothers in giving assistance to the victims of the terrible earthquake, which affected Umbria in Italy. We provided three tons of food and clothes,

THE HOSPITALLER July 2018

which had been collected by our volunteers to send to the devastated area.

A group of Refugees receiving lessons in the French language from Commandery volunteers.

Each Christmas, together with our Brothers and Sisters in the Priory of France, our Commandery participates in a day of festivities for the sick children in the hospital of San Salvador in Hyères (Var – France) during which we distribute more than 400 toys to the children.

Each year, in April, the Commandery gets involved in the fair of the “Oeuvre de Soeur Marie”, an event which aims to help elderly people in need, in and around Monaco.

Together with our Brothers and Sisters in the Priory of France, we are involved in providing medical equipment to the Monegasque Red Cross that will go to equip a hospital in Madagascar. A large container of this equipment will soon leave the warehouses of the Red Cross to be loaded on to a cargo ship bound for that island.

The group of refugees and members of the Commandery during the trip to Île Saint Honorat.

The members of the Commandery will continue to help the poor and unfortunate, and we will seek to develop further the joint charitable projects we have with our fellow Knights and Dames in the Priory of France.

Dame Jacqueline Marschner von Helmeich DSJ Commander of the Commandery of Monaco-Italy

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THE HOSPITALLER VOLUME 4 | ISSUE 1

PRIORY OF FRANCE MADAGASCAR In July 2017, during the celebration of the 57th anniversary of Malagasy Independence, the Priory of France, together with White Cross International, the charity under the auspices of HRH Princess Brigitta, wife of our Grand Master HRH Prince Karl Vladimir Karadjordjevic of Yugoslavia GCSJ, donated several hundred much needed pairs of spectacles to the most deprived people of the island of Madagascar.

The presentation was made by Prior HE Bailiff Alain Colorado GCSJ in the presence of the new Consul General of Madagascar in Marseille, HE Mr Pascal J. Rajaonarison, Vice-Consul HE Honoré Randriakoto Mrs Maty Diouf, Deputy Mayor of Nice Delegate for women's rights, and Mr Robert Verdoia, President of the Association Nice - Madagascar.

CHARITY DANCE EVENING On 22 July 2017 – the Priory held a Charity Dance Evening at the restaurant La Verrière at Villeneuve-Loubet. The purpose of the evening was to raise funds for underprivileged children

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and the event was a great social and financial success. We sincerely thank our hosts, the owners of the restaurant and we must praise their wonderful culinary talents.

THE HOSPITALLER July 2018

A Group Photograph taken at the conclusion of the Investiture in Nice.

INVESTITURE IN NICE On Saturday 25 November 2017 the Priory of France held an Investiture Ceremony in the beautiful Church located at Hôtel Le Saint Paul (ex Seminar House), 29 Boulevard Franck Pilatte, Nice, presided over by Grand Master HRH Prince Karl Vladimir Karadjordjevic of Yugoslavia GCSJ. The Priory hosted a welcome reception on the evening of Friday 24 November

2017 which was not only attended by Members of the Priory but also by HRH Prince Karl Vladimir and his wife HRH Princess Brigitta and Grand Commander HE Conv. Bailiff Alastair Redpath-Stevens. We were delighted to welcome several Knights and Dames from the Priory of Scotland, and a number of senior members of the SOSJ, including HE Conv. Bailiff Dag von Schantz, HE Bailiff Martin Marschner von Helmreich and his wife

Dame Jacqueline, Commander of the Commandery of Monaco – Italy, and Prior Kurt Schaller of Germany.

HE Bailiff Alain Colorado GCSJ Prior of France Chev. Georges Zazzeri GCSJ

A few of our guests at the Investiture Ceremony.

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THE HOSPITALLER VOLUME 4 | ISSUE 1

A TRIBUTE TO HE CONVENTUAL BAILIFF FERNANDO (FRED) MAESTRELLI GCSJ OMSJ MSSJ PAGE 14

THE HOSPITALLER July 2018

I write of Fred as a dear friend and a long-standing member of the Order of Saint John of Jerusalem Knights Hospitaller I still find it hard to accept that Fred is no longer with us; we used to talk on the phone at least every day for the past 10 years. We would, of course, speak of Priory matters but we would, on many occasions, also discuss how we believed we could right the wrongs of the world.

Often, when composing a speech or drafting an important letter, I would email them to Fred first to allow him to cast his eye over them, in case I had omitted anything important or any changes were required. However, unfortunately, this time - I could not.

Fred, if I have left anything out - please forgive me!

Fred was a member of the Order for over 16 years, initially as a Serving Brother for a year, before being invested in to the Order as a Knight of Honour in 2001.

Immediately after becoming a Knight, he assumed the role of Vice-Chancellor of the Priory of New South Wales and thereafter Treasurer of the Priory, holding both positions simultaneously.

Following the Sovereign Council Meeting held in Sydney in 2007, which he assisted in organising, Fred was enthusiastically and unanimously elected as Prior of NSW, a position he held until stepping aside in December 2011. At that time Fred was granted the title of Prior Emeritus. Very soon thereafter however, he was elevated to Bailiff and then, subsequently elected to membership of The Petit Conseil, the Governing body of the Order Worldwide, as a Conventual Bailiff with the title of Grand Hospitaller.

Fred was an integral part of the team that raised A$500,000 for a Human Genome Machine, a highly sophisticated and rapid means of studying genotypes. This area of medical research is making a huge breakthrough in diagnosis and insights into causes and potential cures for diseases. He was also closely associated with fundraising for the Diabetes Centre at St Vincent’s Hospital, for which some A$100,000 was raised over 8 Years. He brought new ideas into the administration of the Priory and was in no small measure the catalyst for increased fundraising by the Priory.

to Fred that The Hospitaller is now recognised as the Order’s official newsletter and is distributed to members worldwide.

Fred was a man of great intellect, talent, compassion and generosity and he freely gave of his time and energy to all those in need. He was deeply involved in developing the Priory of NSW over the years and, although no longer Prior, both he and Dame Carmen were still very active in the background, providing considerable assistance and guidance which was greatly appreciated by all members of the Priory, but particularly by succeeding Priors.

HE Conventual Bailiff Fernando (Fred) Maestrelli GCSJ OMSJ MSSJ left the world a better place and he will be fondly remembered by all those who knew him through his many interests and endeavours.

HE Conv. Bailiff Peter J Shilton GCSJ OMSJ Grand Hospitaller

Fred initiated the Priory newsletter The Hospitaller which he edited and produced for 15 years and it is a tribute

Fred and his wife Carmen.

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THE HOSPITALLER VOLUME 4 | ISSUE 1

PRIORY OF NSW Group Photograph on the steps of the Church of St James – NSW Investiture June 2017.

Prior Schon Condon, Chev. Jon Gillingham, HE Conv. Bailiff Peter Shilton and Chev. Joe Kaplan during a presentation at the Banquet following the Investiture.

NSW Investiture Lunch in the Castlereagh Boutique Hotel, Sydney.

The Priory of NSW commenced the 2017 calendar year with an early start to planning, and a specific meeting to outline some significant efforts that were to form the backbone to both the Priory’s efforts locally and some projects aimed to strengthen the efforts of the Order internationally. Alas three days later I became aware of Bailiff Fred Maestrelli’s health issues and the fact that he had been hospitalised as a result. Sadly, notwithstanding almost 24 hours of gruelling surgery and a protracted period in intensive care, our beloved Brother Fred was not to survive.

A tribute to Fred is included earlier in this edition of The Hospitaller.

Unfortunately, within a very short space of time, the Priory received the further sad news that longstanding member of the Order, Chev. Oscar Lonngren, who had last spent time with members of the Order at Fred’s funeral service, had

PAGE 16

passed away. Regrettably, Oscar was to pass without immediate family and, as such, the Priory proudly joined with the Oldboy’s Union of Scott’s College and Lodge Army Navy to ensure that Oscar received a fitting and honourable sendoff.

single out, for special mention, Serving Sister Hayley Hitch and Chev. Shane Burette, both of whom have truly stepped up and well beyond, for their continuing efforts on behalf of the Priory in the areas of Hospitaller, Assistant Vice-Chancellor and communications.

I am delighted that Grand Dame Carmen Maestrelli has remained in office as the Vice-Prior of our Priory. She is one of our most valued leaders in the future progression of the Order both locally and internationally and is a regular attender at our Executive Meetings. Her efforts are an inspiration to all of us.

In March 2017, we were blessed with a visit from Chev. Jim Wylie GCSJ, Prior of the Priory of Scotland who took time out during his visit to Australia to meet with me in Parramatta. Jim and his wife Maureen make an annual trip to Sydney to visit their son, daughter-in-law and two little grandsons, and so in March 2018, Jim managed to meet up, not only with me, but also with HE Conv. Bailiff Peter Shilton. It was good to meet up with a fellow knight from the other side of the world – the bonds of the Order certainly stretch a long way!

Despite the events described above, we managed to conduct a very successful series of events during the first half of 2017, as detailed later in my report and I must thank all members of the Priory Council for their hard work and endeavour over what has been a particularly difficult time. I would like to

Chev. Schon Condon GCSJ Prior of New South Wales

THE HOSPITALLER July 2018

KEY ACTIVITIES Since the last edition of The Hospitaller, the NSW Priory has had a number of successful gatherings: A Chapter Meeting in February 2017 held at the Dental Practice of Chev. Dr Henry Tsang and which included a presentation about some significant innovations in dental surgery and oral reconstruction. A Chapter Meeting held in July 2017, at the Prior’s offices in Parramatta. This meeting also incorporated presentations by Parramatta Mission and Parramatta City Council, which focussed on current activities and future plans to care for those more disadvantaged within our community since it is anticipated that the City of Parramatta will grow significantly in the next few years.

A Social evening, which simply focussed on members getting better acquainted in a social setting, enjoying some very fine food, some wonderful wines and other beverages and having a very convivial time together.

An Investiture in June 2017.

This was again held at our Conventual Church, the Church of St James, Queen’s Square, located in the legal precinct near the centre of the Sydney CBD. It was here that we welcomed Chev. Patrick Tsang, a member of the New South Wales Police Force, into the Order. We were particularly pleased to welcome Chev.

James Ngan from the Priory of Victoria to our Investiture as this helps foster close links and friendships between the Priories within Australia. The Investiture Service was followed by a sumptuous and well-attended banquet at the Castlereagh Boutique Hotel after which everyone felt well satisfied and in good spirits!

THE ACT COMMANDERY The ACT Commandery continues to support the progressive calendar provided by the Priory of NSW, as well as conducting our own series of more local events.

We were pleased to have been able to support the NSW Investiture in June 2017. Fortunately, our ACT members have always been willing to accept the long travel distances that are required to attend these functions, and this sets a wonderful example of selfless spirit, and respect for others. We surely look forward to when we are more united in this country such that we can all enjoy each other’s friendship and fellowship. Similarly, with some of our members attending the recent Victorian Investiture, and being part of the actual ceremony, we hope that this too sends a wonderful signal of unity within the Order. It follows that our attendance at the June NSW Reception, so kindly hosted by our Prior, also sends a clear message of unity between the Priory and the Commandery.

We continue to extend ourselves locally here in the ACT. Regularly, numbers of us meet up for coffee and a casual lunch, and we are regularly noted at obscure venues across the Nation’s Capital: • On 31 March, we enjoyed a semi-formal lunch, with our wives and partners, at the Commonwealth Club.

• In the first week of May, we gave our support to Road Safety Awareness, and the UN Road Safety Week. We openly expressed our support for UN efforts to improve road safety around the world, and we were particularly mindful that in 2016, there were 7,909 reported crashes in the ACT, resulting in 747 casualties, including 11 fatalities and 110 hospital admissions.

• On 26 May, some of us enjoyed a dinner at Gundaroo, in the countryside outside Canberra, and we openly used this as an opportunity to invite a prospective member so that he can begin to understand a bit more about the Order and all that we stand for. We intend to continue to involve prospective members in this way, by inviting them into our friendship circle in the first instance, and thereafter inviting them to join us on more

A group of members gathered around Chev.

Ray and Caroline Newcombe’s Grand Piano.

formal occasions, before they hopefully take the official step to join our ranks.

• We returned to Gundaroo on 19 November 2017 and began the day by enjoying lunch gathered around the Grand Piano at Chev.

Ray and Caroline Newcombe’s lovely house before moving down to Gundaroo Village to be part of a fundraising concert at St Mark’s Historical Church. Afternoon tea followed before we returned to the Newcombe’s house for coffee and desserts and a wonderful piano recital.

• On the first weekend in June, several of us joined members of the Australian Bravery Institute as they conducted their annual commemoration.

We attended the ceremonies at the National Bravery Garden in the grounds of Government House, the National Police Memorial in Kings Park, and the Australian War Memorial. We socialised with them over lunch in the Function Room at the National Arboretum, joined with them in the laying of wreaths throughout the day, and supported them the following day at their AGM (where three of us, already Directors of the Australian Bravery Foundation, also accepted nomination for office).

There is no doubt that our involvement in these activities brings considerable credit to our Order and, importantly, it gives us a further opportunity to chat with others about the merits of what it is we are striving to achieve.

Chev. Derek J Robson AM KCSJ Commander of the ACT Commandery

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THE HOSPITALLER VOLUME 4 | ISSUE 1

PRIORY OF VICTORIA AND THE NORTHERN COMMANDERY

Dame Giuseppina De Marchi DSJ and Chev. Renato Raimondi KSJ sharing a pleasant evening at the Mother and Child Fundraising Dinner.

The Priory of Victoria and Northern Commandery had a very active 2017 that resulted in the members convening on a number of very enjoyable and successful occasions.

On 7 April 2017, the Priory held a Mother and Child Charity Fundraiser at University House, the University of Melbourne. Professor Graham Ryles OAM KSJ battled the inclement Melbourne weather to facilitate the event, but it was well worth the effort because we raised $4,000 for the Grand Master’s cause, the Mother & Child Relief Foundation.

The Northern Commandery held its annual Investiture on 23 June 2017, during which the Priory of Victoria was pleased to elevate 4 serving Brothers and Sisters to the rank of Knights and Dames of Honour. The Priory is very grateful to HE Conv. Bailiff Peter Shilton GCSJ OMSJ who flew down from Sydney to act as Presiding Officer on the day.

During the Investiture Service we admitted four new Serving Brothers to

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Investiture: Presiding Officer HE Conv. Bailiff Peter Shilton GCSJ OMSJ and Commander of the Northern Commandery Chev. Dino De Marchi RFD KCSJ.

the Priory and, at the Celebratory dinner which followed the Service, members were pleased to welcome six new friends into the Priory and Commandery. Members were pleased that the very enjoyable and successful event raised approximately $1,500 for our charitable purposes.

On 12 July 2017, the Knights and Dames assembled at the statue of Sir Edward “Weary” Dunlop for the annual pilgrimage in the Domain on St Kilda Road, Melbourne. Sir Edward, a Knight Grand Cross of the Order was an inspiration to his Brothers and Sisters in the Order and the members have previously supported the Medical Research Foundation that bears his name. An opportunity presented itself during the ceremony to present the Minister for Veterans Affairs in the Victorian Parliament with a lapel pin denoting him a friend of the Order.

On 8 September 2017, the Priory and Commandery held a combined Great Siege of Malta dinner during which 15 new Friends to the Priory and Northern Commandery were welcomed in to the

Order. The forty attendees were entertained in the spectacular surroundings of the President’s room of the RACV Club, with a vacant chair being reserved to remember our heroic past Grand Master Jean Parison De La Valette. A raffle and generous auction, conducted by friend of the Order, the Honourable Ralph De Marchi KtT, raised $2500 for our charitable purposes. The dinner was the 452nd commemoration of the Great Siege of Malta, in which the Order played a crucial role in defending Malta and Europe from Ottoman invasion in 1565.

As the members of the Priory and Commandery look forward to the further various charitable activities in which we are involved, such as collecting Christmas gifts for underprivileged children, and blankets for the homeless, we very much reflect on the Motto of our Order “Pro Fide, Pro Utilitate Hominum”.

Chev. Dino De Marchi RFD KCSJ Commander of Northern Commandery

THE HOSPITALLER July 2018

The Coleiro Clan at the Mother and Child Fundraising Dinner: Chev. Joseph Coleiro KSJ, his wife Dame Patrizia Coleiro DSJ, and guests Adele Stefanidis and Serving Sister, Antoinette Camilleri SSSJ.

The Revd Anthony Poole administering the vows to Sister Katharina Dimtcheff and Brother John Horan.

Sir Edward Dunlop Commemorative Day 12 July 2017: New friend of the Order, State Minister for Veterans Affairs, The Honourable John Eren MP, centre, flanked by the Vice Chancellor Chev. Dino De Marchi RFD KCSJ right and Chev. Fred Cullen OAM KSJ on the left. Chev. Joseph Coleiro KSJ is in RAAF Uniform and Chevs. Geoffrey Evans and John Horan are on the right. The Statue of Sir Edward Dunlop in the Domain is on the left of the picture.

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THE HOSPITALLER VOLUME 4 | ISSUE 1

PRIORY OF ENGLAND

On a fine sunny summer’s day on Saturday 1st July 2017, the Priory of England held an Investiture Ceremony and Patronal Feast Day Service in the Church of St George’s Bloomsbury in London, a truly magnificent building with a most serene atmosphere and wonderful acoustics.

Chev. Christopher Roulette, the Revd Canon Andrew Stevens, HRH Princess Brigitta and Grand Master HRH Prince Karl Vladimir Karadjordjevic of Yugoslavia GCSJ.

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It was a particular pleasure that the Investiture was presided over by our Grand Master HRH Prince Karl Vladimir Karadjordjevic of Yugoslavia GCSJ who was accompanied by his dear wife, HRH Princess Brigitta. The Grand Master invested four Aspirants into the Order, and we were extremely pleased that fellow Knights and Dames who attended from Sweden, France and Scotland were able to join us in welcoming our new members and to witness the presentation of two Medals of Merit.

THE HOSPITALLER July 2018

Grand Master HRH Prince Karl Vladimir Karadjordjevic of Yugoslavia GCSJ, HRH Princess Brigitta, Grand Commander Alastair Redpath-Stevens, Prior of England Elizabeth Carey-Sheill, the Revd Canon Andrew Stevens and a group of Knights and Dames who attended the Priory of England’s Patronal Feast Day Service and Investiture in London on Saturday 1 July 2017.

Following the Investiture Ceremony, we held a Service commemorating the Feast Day of St John the Baptist which was led by the Revd Canon Andrew Stevens in his capacity as Chaplain of the Priory. We were indeed fortunate to have the musical services of Chev.

David Roberts Jones, who played the organ for both the Investiture and the Patronal Feast Day Service.

On the Saturday evening, following the church services, all those attending the event enjoyed excellent food and hospitality at a banquet held in the Kingsway Hall Hotel. Dr Bragnani, one of the Aspirants who was invested earlier in the day, was accompanied by a large party of guests which included a number of children who were able to enjoy their own entertainment, while

HRH Prince Karl Vladimir, HRH Princess Brigitta, the Revd Canon Andrew Stevens and Chev. Robert Spiteri together with the newly invested Knights and Dame.

the adults shared an evening of great camaraderie The Priory Council had previously agreed that the Charity Collection taken after the meal would be donated to St Luke’s Hospice, Harrow in memory of Grand Dame Walli Zammit GCSJ who had sadly died earlier in the year. Dame Walli had spent her final days being cared for by the Hospice medical staff.

Our thanks must go to our guests who were most generous with their donations thus enabling the Order to donate a very useful sum to the Hospice.

HE Grand Dame Liz Carey-Sheill GDSJ MMSJ Prior of England

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THE HOSPITALLER VOLUME 4 | ISSUE 1

PRIORY OF SCOTLAND Investiture - 9 September 2017 The Priory of Scotland held an Investiture Service in the beautiful and spiritual setting of Sherbrooke St Gilbert’s Church, Glasgow on the afternoon of Saturday 9 September 2017 when members of the Priory were delighted to welcome four new Knights and Dames into the Order. Grand Commander HE Conv. Bailiff Alastair RedpathStevens GCSJ CMSJ acted as Presiding Officer on the day, and Prelate Chev. David Mill KSJ, conducted the very meaningful and moving Service. The wonderful spiritual tone of the occasion was set from the outset when the Knights, Dames and Aspirants processed into the church to the Anthem “Zadok, the Priest” being sung quite amazingly by the Sherbrooke St Gilbert’s Church choir, under the leadership and guidance of John Gormley, organist and choirmaster.

Prior Jim Wylie with the four newly Invested Knights and Dames.

L-R: The Revd Tom Pollock; Sandra Auld; Prior Jim Wylie; Evlyn Mill and Bruce Reidford.

The weekend commenced on the evening of Friday 8 September with a “Meet the Aspirants” informal drinks reception and dinner held in the historic Merchants House of Glasgow to enable members and Aspirants to become better acquainted.

Following the Investiture Service on Saturday we attended a Gala Dinner in the magnificent Trades Hall, home to The Trades House of Glasgow and its 14 Incorporated Crafts and which, apart from the medieval cathedral, is the oldest building in Glasgow still used for its original purpose. During the evening, the assembled gathering enjoyed some wonderful singing by three excellent young tenors and were entertained to the loose barbershop style of singing by Close Shave Chorus.

A group photograph taken inside Sherbrooke St. Gilbert’s Church.

Close Shave Chorus at the Gala Dinner.

“The Three Tenors” at the Gala dinner.

A group photograph taken outside the Church – just to show that the sun really does shine in Scotland!

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THE HOSPITALLER July 2018

Burns Supper On Saturday 10 February 2018 the Priory held its second annual Burns Supper, celebrating the life and works of Scotland’s most famous poet, Rabbie Burns, in the Holiday Inn Theatreland, Glasgow. Members and guests were greatly entertained by some truly excellent speakers and performers in addition to enjoying a magnificent meal prepared by award winning Chef Gerry Sharkey and his team. Chef Sharkey was highly praised for the mouthwatering food he presented to us, although Grand Commander Alastair Redpath-Stevens commented that he would have liked a larger plate of haggis, neeps and tatties (from an Englishman too!!!). [Ed. he gets it from his father who was, of course, Scottish].

Guests enjoying some highly amusing jokes and stories.

Ian MacPherson MBE KCT CStJ, our principal speaker, gave a rousing Address to the Haggis after it had been ceremoniously piped in. Later in the evening, Ian entertained us with an excellent, informative and highly amusing Immortal Memory.

Following an introduction by our very own renowned Burns specialist, Chev. Len Murray KCSJ, guests were entertained to a wonderful performance of Holy Willie’s Prayer by Chev. Stuart Watson KCSJ, appropriately dressed in his nightgown, nightly headgear and carrying his candle. The recitation by Stuart was followed by a hilarious Toast to the Lassies delivered by our Chaplain Chev. the Revd Tom Pollock KSJ. Iris Gibson, our second guest speaker, delivered an equally amusing Reply to the Toast on behalf of the Lassies.

L-R; Prior Jim Wylie, HE Bailiff Glenn Wales, Grand Commander HE Conv.

Bailiff Alastair Redpath-Stevens and HE Conv. Bailiff Alex Dalgleish.

Dame Rose Mary Harley OBE DSJ, gave a faultless and highly amusing performance as MC for the evening while also ensuring that the event ran seamlessly and finished bang on time!

Members of the Priory were particularly delighted to welcome Grand Commander HE Conv. Bailiff Alastair Redpath-Stevens GCSJ CMSJ who travelled up from London to support our charity fundraising Burns Supper. The event was a great success, both socially and financially, raising £5,545 for charity, which the Council and Trustees agreed to donate to The Preshal Trust in memory of our late Brother and dear friend, Chev. John Thomson KCSJ.

Chev. Stuart Watson KCSJ and his wife Norma at the 2018 Burns Supper.

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THE HOSPITALLER VOLUME 4 | ISSUE 1

The Preshal Trust The Preshal Trust was born out of a desire

by May Nicholson to reach people in Glasgow who believe they have no hope and no future, just like May's life had been before she became a committed Christian and decided she was going to help others believe in themselves. The Trust was launched in November 2002 and is based in Govan, an area of Glasgow which suffers from deep social problems rooted in poverty, alcohol & drug addiction, resulting in high levels of depression and low self-esteem. The Trust aims to provide a range of social, recreational and educational activities to deal with these issues and adopts a holistic approach to meet individual physical, mental and spiritual needs. The word “Preshal” is Gaelic for “Precious” and the aim of the Trust is to treat everyone who enters the trust centre as a precious individual. Since January 2017, the Priory of Scotland has donated over £7,000 to the Trust.

L-R; The Revd Fergus Buchanan, Chairman of the Preshal Trust, Chev. the Revd Tom Pollock, May Nicholson, Founder and Project Director of the Preshal Trust, HE Bailiff Glenn Wales and Maclain Service, Trustee of the Preshal Trust.

Christmas Concert Thirty-eight members and friends of the Priory enjoyed a wonderful start to Christmas 2017 by attending a Christmas Concert on Thursday 21 December. The evening began with a champagne and canapés reception in the Holiday Inn Theatreland before we crossed over the road to the adjacent

Glasgow Royal Concert Hall. There we were entertained to an uplifting and extremely enjoyable festive concert by the renowned Springfield Cambridge Festival Chorus and Orchestra who, every year, put on a Christmas concert to raise funds for CHAS, the Children’s Hospice Association of Scotland.

At the end of the concert we returned, full of festive cheer, to the Holiday Inn to finish off the evening with coffee and Christmas cake. Although this was primarily a social evening, nevertheless the evening raised the sum of £615 for our charitable causes.

Forthcoming Events • Patronal Feast Day Service in Sherbrooke St Gilbert’s Church followed by Lunch in the Sherbrooke Hotel on Sunday 1 July 2018

• Springfield Cambridge Festival Chorus and Orchestra’s Christmas Concert in the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall in December – date to be confirmed

• Ceremony of Investiture in Sherbrooke St Gilbert’s Church, Pollokshields, Glasgow on Saturday 18th August followed by a Gala Dinner in the Trades House of Glasgow.

• Burns Supper – Holiday Inn Theatreland on Saturday 9 February 2019

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THE HOSPITALLER July 2018

OTHER CHARITABLE DONATIONS DURING 2017 Cahira House Cahira House offers hope, care and support to women who have been rescued from trafficking and enslavement in the sex industry, helping them to regain their dignity and restore their self-worth. The Charity does this by providing safe accommodation and offering opportunities for physical and psychological healing, rehabilitation and protection to the women in their care and the members of the Priory were pleased to donate £3,000 to this very worthy cause.

L-R; Prior Jim Wylie, Dame Elaine Wales and Mrs. Melissa Hill and Pastor Bob Hill both Trustees of Cahira House.

The Simon Community Scotland The Simon Community Scotland provides valuable and much needed services helping the homeless, particularly those sleeping “rough” in all types of weather. The charity seeks to address the many issues associated with homelessness, such as addiction to alcohol and drugs, mental health problems and social exclusion. The charity’s “Street Team”, which operates every day of the year, deals with many of the people sleeping rough on the streets of Glasgow and provides help to an estimated 3,000 men and women every year.

In August 2017 Prior Jim Wylie, HE Conv.

Bailiff Alex Dalgleish and Chev. Jim Shields met with Lorraine McGrath, Chief Executive of the Simon Community Scotland and presented her with a cheque for £3,000.

In October 2017, the Priory donated a further £3,000 to the Simon Community.

Starter Packs Glasgow Founded in March 2000, Starter Packs Glasgow exists to help homeless individuals and families who are moving from homelessness in to a Housing Association tenancy and who have little or no money to purchase essential items such as crockery, cutlery, pots and pans or even toiletries. The “starter pack” provided by the charity enables the individuals and families to have most of the basic essentials needed to move from homelessness in to accommodation.

Many of the items included in the packs are donated, but some items, such as duvets and pillows need to be new and unused. It was to enable the charity to purchase these items that in October 2017, the Priory of Scotland donated £1,750 to Starter Packs Glasgow.

Chev. Alex Hutton presents a cheque for £1,750 to Jackie Flynn, of Starter Packs Glasgow.

L-R; Chev. Jim Shields, Lorraine McGrath Chief Executive Simon Community Scotland and HE Conv. Bailiff Alex Dalgleish.

Chev. Roy Duff presenting a cheque for £3,000 on behalf of the Priory of Scotland to Lorraine McGrath, Chief Executive of the Simon Community Scotland in October 2017.

Chev. Jim Wylie GCSJ Prior of Scotland

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THE HOSPITALLER VOLUME 4 | ISSUE 1

PRIORY OF QUEENSLAND On Saturday 27 May 2017, the Priory of Queensland greeted the Antipodean Winter with an evening of fine Single Malt Whisky tasting and haute cuisine at the Gold Coast.

The Priory enlisted the skills of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society of Australia to host a charitable fundraiser in aid of the Institute for Glycomics. Knights, Dames, family and friends enjoyed sampling the finest non-commercial malt whiskys in Australia, with each spirit being individually selected and teamed with a mouth-watering dish to compliment the overall taste sensation.

Knights, Dames & Guests enjoying the Priory of Queensland Whisky Tasting Fundraiser.

Prior of Queensland, Chev. Andre, the Baron von Zeppelin, GCSJ welcomed guests and members to the unique event planned by Chev.

Peter Lockhart KSJ & Dame Moira Lockhart DSJ to enliven the taste buds and help the Order's charitable endeavours.

Expert Whisky connoisseurs from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society of Australia mingled with guests to explain the nuances of the extraordinary Scotch on offer.

A memorable evening resulted in the raising of substantial funds for the continued pioneering research of the Institute for Glycomics. The Institute (led by our very own Chev. Professor Mark von Itzstein KSJ) is a world leader in disease research and is in the final stages of developing and testing an anti-malaria vaccine.

L-R; HE Conv. Bailiff Shane Hough GCSJ CMSJ, Mr Matt Bailey from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society of Australia, and Chev.

Peter Lockhart KSJ enjoy a wee dram.

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HE Conv. Bailiff Shane Hough GCSJ CMSJ Grand Chancellor

THE HOSPITALLER July 2018

INTRODUCING...

HE BAILIFF MARTIN MARSCHNER von HELMREICH GCSJ Lieutenant Grand Chancellor Bailiff Martin Marschner von Helmreich GCSJ was born on 4th August 1957 in Hamburg, Germany. He is married to Dame Jacqueline, has four adult children and lives in the Principality of Monaco.

Martin is a successful businessman and is also the inventor of new technology in the field of magnetic electro-motors.

Martin was invested into the Danish Branch of the Order of St John in 2004 and attended the Sovereign Council Meeting in 2006, at which the Danish Branch was united with the French Branch of the Order.

Martin was also present at the Sovereign Council Meeting held in Budapest in 2010 during which several branches of the Order were reunified with the Sovereign Order of St John of Jerusalem Knights Hospitaller.

In 2013 Martin was elected Grand Prior of the German Association of the SOSJ, and took the Oath of Office in Glasgow in August of that year. In 2015, together with his wife Dame Jacqueline, he was actively involved in the creation of

the Commandery in Formation of Monaco, which subsequently linked with the Commandery in Formation of Italy, to form the Commandery of Monaco-Italy and Dame Jacqueline was subsequently elected as Commander of the enlarged Commandery. Martin continues to assist with the administration and has overseen the setting up of a web site.

He has been instrumental in setting up two additional Commanderies in Germany, has participated in almost every SOSJ European Investiture and has visited every SOSJ Commandery in Europe.

Both Martin and his wife Jacqueline are actively involved in carrying out many charitable activities, including tutoring the French language to Iraqi refugees and assisting a number of charities ingather funds to help Christians who suffer great hardship in the Middle East.

Since the move by the Commanderies under the then SOSJ Grand Priory of Central Europe to the Order, Martin has continued to administer those units and has been appointed as the Lieutenant Grand Chancellor.

CHEV. PER MICHAEL ØSTERGAARD KSJ Grand Herald Per Michael Østergaard was born in 1963 in Sæby, Nordjylland, Denmark. He is married to Helle and has two adult children.

He has been employed as a solutions architect in Denmark’s largest IT company for 28 years and has worked with some of the largest Danish companies in addition to the Danish Ministry of Transport, Building and Housing and the Danish Ministry of Justice.

In 2014 he was elected as Commander of the Commandery of St Kjeld in Northern Jutland, Denmark and thereafter, in 2015, he was elected as Prior of the Danish Priory of St Ansgar. Very shortly thereafter, in 2016, he was elected as Grand Prior of what was then the SOSJ Grand Priory of Dacia and took the Oath of Office in London in November of that same year.

For a number of years Per has been involved with local charities, particularly helping abused children and the elderly. In 2013 he was invested into the Sovereign Order of St John of Jerusalem, Knights Hospitaller in Denmark and, as one of his first projects, Per built a professional website for the then Grand Priory of Dacia.

Per is keen to strengthen the Order in Scandinavia and is totally dedicated to the unification of the various parts of the Order of St John of Jerusalem Knights Hospitaller operating under the Royal Charter of King Peter II of Yugoslavia.

Following the move by the members and units of the former Grand Priory of Dacia from the SOSJ to the Order, Per was appointed as Grand Herald.

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THE HOSPITALLER VOLUME 4 | ISSUE 1

THE FORERUNNER AND BAPTIST JOHN – OUR PATRON SAINT

Chev. the Revd Canon Andrew Stevens GCSJ

A Byzantine Icon depicting St John the Baptist. © The Trustees of the British Museum

An illustration by Aubrey Beardsley for Oscar Wilde’s Salomé . © The Trustees of the British Museum

The Forerunner and Baptist John, our Patron, remains even today a controversial, puzzling and inspiring figure. He was born through the intercession of God to Zachariah and Elizabeth, who were otherwise too old to bear children. A relative of Jesus Christ, John was a popular preacher and centre of a circle of followers in the Jordan River valley; significantly, he baptized Jesus in the River Jordan, knowing that in this action his ministry must diminish whilst Jesus' begins. He holds a special place among Christian saints, being the only one, besides the Virgin Mary, whose birthday is celebrated liturgically.

He is the fulfilment of the Old Testament, ushering in the New. John's story ends with a salacious tragedy: an episode much celebrated in art and literature. The Bible's account of the death of John the Baptist, however, is much more concise.

elaborates on the queen's reaction, saying she "had a grudge against" John. Here, Herod refuses to execute his wife's enemy because he recognizes John as "a righteous and holy man," adding that he enjoys listening to John's preaching, although he finds it perplexing. The rest of the episode matches Matthew's account, with additional detail, such as about the disciples' entombment of the body.

The ruler of Galilee during most of Jesus' life was Herod Antipas, the son of Herod the Great. Herod Antipas was a "tetrarch," a client king ruling by permission of the Roman Empire. The synoptic Gospels, Matthew, Mark and Luke, mention Herod, but none names his stepdaughter Salome, referring to her simply as the daughter of Herodias, Herod's wife: St John's Gospel is silent on this episode.

As for Art, the "Dance of the Seven Veils" in Richard Strauss' opera Salome is the fictitious interpretation of the dance that so enraged the emotions of Herod that he swore such oaths that led to John's death. Perhaps, however, the most satisfying ending, in this artistic presentation, is that after the head of St John is presented to Herodias by her daughter, the guards are so outraged that, on the Order of Herod, they rush forward and crush Salome to death with the weight of their shields! Strauss got the idea from Oscar Wilde's play of the same name.

Matthew's Gospel recounts John's death.

According to Matthew, Herod imprisons John because he criticized Herod's marriage to Herodias, who had been his brother's wife. Herod fears to execute John, however, because the public believes he is a prophet. When Herod's stepdaughter dances for his guests, she so pleases the king that he promises her any reward she wants, and her mother urges her to demand "the head of John the Baptist here on a platter." Bound by his promise, Herod complies, and the girl delivers John's head to her mother; Jesus' disciples bury the body.

Mark's Gospel gives a similar but more detailed account. Herod has imprisoned John for the same insults about his marriage to Herodias, but Mark

Luke's Gospel, gives the briefest of the accounts of John's death in the Bible. Neither Herodias nor her daughter appears at all. Hearing that John has returned in the person of Jesus, a rumour that appears early in Matthew's and Mark's version as well, Herod wonders about this enigmatic preacher, Jesus, knowing that "John I beheaded."

Luke does not provide any motivation for Herod's execution of John.

Ed: A magnificent rendering is, of course the painting by Caravaggio (completed in 1608) which hangs in St John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta, Malta the church for which it was painted having been commissioned by the Knights of Malta as an altarpiece. Somewhat dramatically, Caravaggio signed the painting in the rendering of the blood spilling from the Baptist’s slashed throat. The great artist was defrocked in his absence as a “putrid and fetid limb” a mere 6 months after his admission to the Order.

Chev. the Revd Canon Andrew Stevens GCSJ

THE HOSPITALLER Editor: Jim Wylie Contributors: HRH Prince Karl Vladimir Karadjordjevic, Alastair Redpath-Stevens, Peter Shilton, Harald Løvheim, Liz Carey-Sheill, Shane Hough, Jim Wylie, Alain Colorado, Georges Zazzeri, Schon Condon, Dino De Marchi, Andre, the Baron von Zeppelin, Martin Marschner von Helmreich, Jacqueline Marschner von Helmreich, Per Østergaard, Derek Robson, Revd Canon Andrew Stevens Photography: Sallyann Hough, Michael Johnson, Revd Canon Andrew Stevens, David Payne, Jim Wylie, Jacqueline Marschner von Helmreich, Glenn Wales, Barrie Fleming, Ivor Cor Salvesen Layout: Greg Smith

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Acknowledgement: The Illustration and the Icon produced with the Revd Canon Andrew Stevens’ article are both copyright of the Trustees of the British Museum.