Grand Priory Holds Parliamentary Dinner

Dated: 31/10/2011 

 

The UK Grand Priory of the Knightly Order Valiant of St. George held a very successful charity evening at the Houses of Parliament on Saturday October 29th.

 

Treated to private tours of both the House of Commons and House of Lords, members also toured The Royal Gallery, which is used for important occasions including state receptions, dinners and parliamentary ceremonies, often with Members of both Houses present and the Queen’s Robing Room. 

 

The Robing room is principally used by the Sovereign for the State Opening of Parliament. Today, it is in this room where the Queen puts on the Imperial State Crown and her ceremonial robes before making her way to the House of Lords.

 

Members and guests then attended a private drinks reception on the House of Commons terrace. We dined 31, hosted by the Andrew Rosindell MP (Member of Parliament for Romford).

 

Toasts were proposed by Grand Prior of The United Kingdom H.E. the Chevalier Simon McIlwaine MKN GCStG KL CLJ MMLJ, Deputy Grand Prior and Grand Chancellor of the Grand Priory of the United Kingdom H.E. The Chevalier Mark D. Haley MKN GCStG CLJ MMLJ and by Grand Herald of the Grand Priory of the United Kingdom H.E. Eur Ing Steve Nimmons GCStG OLJ. A toast to the President of Hungary followed the Loyal Toast. The Grand Prior gave the toast to our esteemed host Andrew Rosindell MP and Chev. Steve Nimmons GCStG OLJ proposed the toast to the Grand Priory of the United Kingdom.

 

Andrew Rosindell MP provided a most entertaining, thought provoking and erudite reply including a précis of his work as chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Flags & Heraldry Committee.

 

Chev. Steve Nimmons reminded attendees of the exemplary work of our Spiritual Protector Canon Andrew White GCStG and his mission in Baghdad, the work we do with the Mongolian Red Cross Society and of course the work we do with Armed Forces charities, the Army Benevolent Fund in Particular as well as our affiliated regiment (Third Princess of Wales’s Royal Regiment).

 

Grand Prior Chevalier Simon McIlwaine also reminded the attendees of the excellent work the Order does with the Children of Watamu and Fairbridge and greeted fellow members of the Order of the Eagle of Georgia, the Military and Hospitaller Order of St. Lazarus of Jerusalem and Commissioned Kentucky Colonels. We were in very august company and delighted to welcome several dignitaries including Col. Stuart Notholt KStG who commands the United Kingdom Brigade of Kentucky Colonels. 

 

A raffle at the end of the evening raised £240, added to the profit for the dinner representing a significant success and contribution to our charitable work.

 

Andrew Rosindell MP very kindly presented the Order with a portrait of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, which was received with thanks by Grand Prior Simon McIlwaine GCStG and senior officers of the UK Grand Priory.