Grand Imperial Conclave 12th October 2021
   
 
The previous meeting of Grand Imperial Conclave had been held on 2nd July 2019 and due to the ongoing situation with the Covid-19 pandemic the resumption of meetings was always going to be a cautious affair.
Malcolm Bell, Graham Williams, IG & Edwin Schofield
On Tuesday 12th October 2021 the Grand Sovereign, M. Ill. Kt Graham. L. Flight, G.C.C. assembled the Worthy Knights in the Grand Temple in Great Queen Street, to break the impasse and get the Order back into ‘running order.’ Whilst the numbers of knights attending, wasn’t the norm! those present were most certainly there because they wanted to be and were enjoying the occasion and catching up with their acquaintances that we hadn’t seen for the last two years.
Peter Hegarty and Stephen Gregory, DIG
There are several reasons for Sovereign Orders holding their Grand meetings each year, the Red Cross is no different, these occasion provide the ability for the proper regulation of the Order and the election and appointment of both the executive and officers of Grand Conclave.
The business of Grand Imperial Conclave had been well-planned and achieved all that had been set out in the calling notice with alacrity.
Mike Beesley & Malcolm Bell
Whilst, all the appointments and promotions had been effective from July this year, it was the Grand Sovereigns wish that he should be able to formally invest those ranks, and it was just that became the focus of the meeting once the admin was out of the way.
The Grand Connaught Rooms
Our Division had been honoured by the promotion of V.Ill Kt. Malcom I Bell to P.G.H.Chanc., Ill.Kt. Mike Beesley and Ill.Kt Brian W Sharples both promoted to P.G.Chamb.
First appointments were awarded to Ill.Kt’s  Andrew S. Whittle, P.G.W.of Reg. and Anthony J. Wood as P.G.Vice-Chan.
Our friends from North and East Lancashire
Following the closing of the meeting, the Grand Sovereign along with the officers of the year retired in procession.
Ryan William, G.Rec., Derek Mersh - Manager (M.S.S.) & Julie Deo,Yearbook Editor
The banquet was held in the Grand Connaught rooms and the photographs show the Knights were clearly enjoying the event immensely. Here’s looking forward to a more ‘normal’ Grand Conclave meeting in 2022, which is scheduled to take place on the 5th July, put it in your diary now!
Chris Griggs - Asst. Manager (MSS)
Julie Deo,Yearbook Editor & Darren Coleman-Heald - Charities Manager
It was nice to see a small number of the staff from No 86, who make it all happen behind the scenes joining us at the banquet and I’ve included a few photographs of them in this article.
 
Mike Beesley - webmaster