Centenary Sunday Lunch

9th August 2026 saw the Province of Northampton, Huntingdon and Bedford continue its Centenary celebrations with a special Sunday Lunch at the Masonic Hall, Griggs Centre, Sheaf Close, Northampton.

At midday, eighty-four Knights, wives, friends and guests arrived to enjoy an afternoon of good food, friendship and celebration. With the bar open for refreshments, there was plenty of opportunity for everyone to mingle, renew old acquaintances and catch up with friends not seen since the beginning of the summer break.

The Provincial Prior, R.Em.Kt. Stephen John Churchill, was on hand to greet guests as they arrived, taking the opportunity to mingle with the various groups and ensure that everything was running smoothly. He also made sure that the regalia stand was fully stocked and ready for Knights and potential candidates to browse.

Temporary Warden of Regalia, Kt. David Murray, had created an impressive display, with a wide selection of regalia available to purchase, together with a rather unusual fundraising challenge. A model Black Knight was up for grabs for anyone able to drop a £1 coin into a tiny jar positioned at the bottom of a water tank. The first successful contestant was Em.Kt. Rob Taylor, who promptly donated the prize back so that others could have another opportunity to win it!

A Celebration Lunch

The guests were then ushered into the dining hall, where beautifully prepared tables awaited them. Name places, table names and menus had all been produced to an exceptionally high standard, creating an impressive setting for the Centenary celebration. The catering team had done a superb job with both the presentation and organisation.

The Provincial Prior welcomed everyone to the Centre and wished them an enjoyable meal.

Grace was said by the Provincial Prelate, V.Em.Kt. Tony Avery, before everyone settled down to enjoy a wonderful three-course lunch. The catering staff provided an excellent service, delivering each course with precision and impeccable timing.

Following coffee and the return of Grace, the Provincial Prior welcomed everyone formally to the Centenary Lunch and shared a little of the Province’s history.

There was then a special surprise for Kt. David Murray. In recognition of all his hard work and dedication in taking on the role of Warden of Regalia, the Provincial Prior announced a field promotion, appointing David as Provincial Warden of Regalia. David was visibly shocked by the announcement, but the appointment is thoroughly deserved in recognition of the tremendous effort he has already put into the role.

An Inspirational Guest

The afternoon’s special guest was medal-winning Paralympic athlete Dan Greaves, who gave a fascinating and inspirational talk about his career and the drivers behind his success.

Dan is one of Britain’s most accomplished para-athletes and a celebrated discus thrower. Having represented Great Britain at multiple Paralympic Games, he has built an exceptional record of international success, demonstrating remarkable resilience, dedication and sporting excellence throughout his career.

Our Knights and guests were privileged to hear Dan speak about his journey, his experiences competing at the highest level of both able bodied and Paralympic sport and the challenges and achievements that have shaped his career.

His presentation was followed by a lively question-and-answer session, after which Dan received a well-deserved standing ovation from the assembled guests.

A Fantastic Fundraising Effort

The fundraising continued with a raffle featuring a number of fabulous prizes, raising a magnificent £750.

   

But the generosity didn’t stop there. Dan had kindly donated two national sporting shirts, which raised a further £250.

And then came the Centenary cake! Nikki, the better half of Kt. Andy Moore, had created a wonderful cake celebrating the Province’s Centenary, complete with the Provincial logo and a selection of Templar shields, Preceptory Banners and memorabilia. The Centenary cake was then auctioned and E.Kt. Simon Barter won and promised to take it to the next Three Pillars visit in Dunstable which raised another £100.

Together with a further donation of £100, the day’s fundraising reached a magnificent £1,200, which will be donated to St John Eye Hospital in Jerusalem.

A Birthday Surprise

To cap off an already memorable day, there was one more reason to celebrate – it was the Provincial Prior’s birthday!

The Provincial Bodyguard marked the occasion in their own special style, presenting the Provincial Prior with a magnificent three-tier cinnamon cake. The Bodyguard then rose to their feet and, with great enthusiasm, led the assembled guests in a rousing rendition of “Happy Birthday”.

A Day Made Possible by Many

The Provincial Prior thanked everyone who had contributed to making the day such a success, with particular thanks going to Kt. Reece Pitts for all his hard work organising the event, and Kt. Stuart Carlaw for persuading Dan Greaves to give up his valuable time to be part of this very special Centenary celebration.

Thanks were also extended to the catering team, the Provincial Bodyguard for simply being the Bodyguard – together with everyone who had given their time, effort and money to support the event.

Dan generously continued to give his time after his presentation, answering further questions, signing menus and table cards, and posing for photographs with three of his incredible Paralympic medals – Bronze, Silver and Gold – providing a wonderful opportunity for guests to see these symbols of his outstanding sporting achievements.

We wish Dan every success for the future and know that he will continue to work tirelessly towards his next competitions.

“What a Great Event!”

As guests began to depart, one comment from our own Shepp perhaps summed up the day perfectly: “What a great event, well organised, great speaker, marvellous Centenary cake, excellent fundraising, and the Bodyguard were entertaining – and amazingly well behaved!”

A fitting description of what was a wonderful Centenary celebration, bringing together Knights, families and friends for an afternoon of friendship, fellowship, inspiration and, most importantly, a tremendous contribution to charity.