London, November 2015. The Delegate for Great Britain and Ireland and for the Caribbean, HE Anthony Bailey, OBE, hosted the 2015 Autumn Delegation Dinner at the historic Armourers’ Hall in London. The Guests of Honour were Her Majesty’s Governor General of Grenada, HE Dame Cécile La Grenade, GCMG, OBE, GCCO, the Prior of the British & Irish Delegation of the Constantinian Order, His Eminence Cormac Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor, GCJCO, STL, PhL, and The Rt Hon Lord Patten of Barnes, CH, GCMCO.
Almost one hundred guests took their places in the historic and candlelit Dining Hall. An opening prayer of the Order was delivered by the Prior of the British and Irish Delegation, His Eminence Cormac, Cardinal Murphy-O’Connor, Archbishop Emeritus of Westminster. The roll of deceased knights and dames of the delegation was read out by the Very Rev Canon Peter Newby. Special mention was made of the passing of former Polish Delegate HE Count Andrzej Stanislaw Ciechanowiecki and also to the members of the Armed Forces from the UK, Commonwealth and Ireland.
The Loyal Toast was proposed by the Delegate. The Loyal Toast to The Queen in right of Grenada was proposed by HE Dame Cécile La Grenade. The Toast to The President of Ireland was proposed by Council member Mr Andrew Rogers. The Rt Hon Lord Murphy of Torfaen, Vice-Delegate for Wales, proposed the Toast to the Supreme Pontiff.
The Delegate delivered a welcome address, speaking of the successful and first ever Official Visit to the Holy See of Grenada. Anthony gave an overview of the charitable and international activities of the Delegation and wider Order. This included reports on the recent Official Visit made by the Cardinal Grand Prior to the Grenada in June 2015 and the launch of a multi million dollars programme of charitable engagement now underway in the country including the restoration and rehabilitation of the Grenada Public Library and National Archives in St George’s, the New Life Organisation Project (NEWLO), St Patrick’s Roman Catholic School, the Dorothy Hopkin Home for the Disabled, Top Hill Home in Carriacou, Grand Anse Home for the Aged and the Grand Anse Girls Centre.
To download the speech of the Delegate Anthony Bailey, click here.
During her speech, the Governor General spoke warmly of the positive and prominent role that the Constantinian Order now has in Grenada and also of the significant contribution made to charitable projects in the areas of education, national patrimony, social welfare and community outreach. The Governor General remarked on her recent Official Visit to Pope Francis and also her meeting with the Grand Chancellor HRH Princess Beatrice of Bourbon Two Sicilies. She also spoke of the recent Official Visit paid by the Cardinal Grand Prior to Grenada and paid tribute to the Delegate Anthony Bailey for championing the cause of the Caribbean among the Order’s members and other groups. Her Excellency also formally launched the appeal for the restoration of Government House in Grenada.
The Vote of Thanks was proposed by The Hon Sir Peter Caruana, QC newly appointed Vice-Delegate of Gibraltar.
Among Council members and Delegation Chaplains present were The Rev Canon Christopher Tuckwell, Administrator of Westminster Cathedral, The Rev Msgr Vincent Brady, Private Secretary to HE The Apostolic Nuncio to the Court of St James’s, The Rev Fr Michael Seed, SA, Mr John Kennedy, CBE, Mr Andrew Rogers, Mr Richard Model, Mr John McIntosh, CBE and Mr Kevin Grant.
The Company of Pikemen & Musketeers were in attendance and offered the ceremonial guard throughout the evening.
The evening came to an end with a concluding prayer offered by His Excellency Archbishop Antonio Mennini, Apostolic Nuncio to the Court of St James’s.
Among the other dignitaries who attended the ceremony were Their Excellencies The High Commissioners of Grenada and Trinidad & Tobago, Their Excellencies The Ambassadors to the Court of St James’s of the Holy See, the Slovak Republic, Kosovo and Venezuela, Her Serene Highness Princess Marie-Therese von Hohenberg Mrs Bailey, The Baroness Howells of St David’s, OBE, Major General Jonathan Hall, HE Mr Guy Stair Sainty, Commander Andrew Wallis, Mr and Mrs Steven Wilkinson, Mr and Mrs Christian Sweeting, Assistant Superintendent of Police Mr Leroy Langaigne, Aide-de-Camp to HE The Governor General of Grenada, CPL Detective Mr Lindon McIntyre, Mrs Dana Reháková, Alderman and Mrs John Garbutt, Monsignor Roger Reader, Professor Dr Peter Loew, Ms Clara Loidl, Mr Jörg Rieker, Ms Mara Zarges, Colonel Enno Bernzen, Mrs Claudia Bernzen, Judge Patrick Durcan, Mrs Patrick Durcan, Mr Patrick D S Durcan, Mr & Mrs Joseph Byllam Barnes, Mrs Ann Willis, Mr Michael Harrington, Dr Nicola Pedroni, Mr Stephen Hart, Professor Sarah Rogers, Mr Paul Herriott, Dr Jordan Lancaster, Mr Yosvani Ortega Faure, Mr James Drabble, Mrs Elizabeth Thornborough, Mr and Mrs Colm Flood, Mr & Mrs Paul Foster, Mr Robert Luck, Father Hugh Logan, Mr Patrick Newman, Mr & Mrs Renard Sylvester, Mr & Mrs Desmond Sylvester, Mr & Mrs Dexter Charles, Mr & Mrs Wayne Hector, Mrs Herle Vector, Dr Xhoana Papakostandini, Ms Alexandra Graff and Mr Talat Gokdemir.
The photographs from the Autumn Delegation Dinner are now available through our Flickr photo library. The photo albums and can be accessed by clicking here.
The order form can be accessed by clicking here.