On Saturday 28th June the members of the Division and many guests from other Divisions attended the Hampshire and Isle of Wight Annual Divisional Conclave meeting at Botley, Southampton.

Prior to the opening of Divisional Conclave, the Intendants General from other Divisions, of which there were 11, processed into the meeting. The Intendant General and his Divisional Officers then processed into the meeting.

The Intendant General, R.Ill.Kt.Steven Groeger welcomed everyone and then opened the Divisional Conclave meeting.

A wonderful Service of rededication was given by the Divisional High Prelate, P.Kt. Tony Richards with the readings being given by the Deputy Intendant General, V.Ill.Kt. Kevin Todd MBE.

The Intendant General then welcomed all our guests from other Divisions (11 Intendant’s General, 9 Deputy Intendant’s General, 5 Divisional Recorders and 5 other guests) as well as the many Heads of the Companion Orders within the Division/Province (10 companion orders were represented). The Intendant General was pleased to welcome all our guests especially a couple of Knights from the Division of Jamaica who were visiting us for the first time, R.Ill.Kt. Errol Wright, Intendant General and V.Ill.Kt. Sterling Soares, Intendant General designate (who was to be installed in office at the Grand Imperial Conclave meeting in a few days time).

The general items of business were continued with which included a requiem for those knights of the Division that had passed away over the last year.

The Intendant General then appointed and invested his officers for 2025-26.

Before installing his new Deputy Intendant General, the Intendant General thanked his outgoing Deputy Intendant General V.Ill.Kt Kevin Todd MBE for all his support and guidance over the last four year. He also wished him all the best in his future endeavours.

The Intendant General announced that he had appointed Illustrious Knight Mark Ian Denton as his Deputy Intendant General and as he was in attendance requested that the Divisional Marshal to form an escort to conduct the Deputy Intendant General designate into Divisional Conclave.

This was done and the Intendant General then obligated, invested and installed Illustrious Knight Mark as Deputy Intendant General. Illustrious Knight Mark was then proclaimed and salted by members of the Division. Illustrious Knight Mark then suitably responded.

He then appointed P.Kt. Doug Higginson as the Divisional Eusebius.

The Intendant General then invested P.Kt. Doug with his regalia and he was then installed in his chair and saluted by the members of the Division.

The remainder of the Divisional officers including the Divisional Sepulchre guard were then presented and appointed.

The Intendant General then gave his address to Divisional Conclave in which he congratulated all those that had received appointment to Grand rank and to Divisional rank. He looks forward to working with them at the Official visits over the coming year.

He informed everyone of the wonderful Appendant Orders ceremony that were held at St Peter and St Paul Conclave and King Aethelwulf Conclavein which three and then nine candidates received Appendant Orders.

He mentioned the charity donation that were approved earlier in the meeting and requested that the Provincial Grand Master of the Mark, R.W.Bro George Deacon, to be presented to him. The Mark Province is currently in festival and the Intendant General presented him with a cheque of £300 towards the festival, adding to a previous donation of £500 made earlier in the year.

Following his address he introduced those W.Kt’s that had been admitted into the Order over the last year. These W.Kt’s were presented to him and he welcomed them personally and presented each of them with a Red Cross of Constantine lapel pin. He then asked the knights of the Division to welcome them whenever they see them and to give them any help and guidance etc, informing them that these knights were the future of their conclaves and also the Division so they need to be looked after.

Divisional Conclave was then closed and everyone adjourned to drinks at the bar before a wonderful after proceedings.