London, November 2006. A number of Irish Knights and Dames attended the 2006 Royal Gala Dinner of the British and Irish Delegation in London. The Grand Prefect of the Sacred Military Constantinian Order of Saint George, His Royal Highness The Duke of Calabria, attended the event at the Gladstone Library in London’s Whitehall.
The Guest Speaker was General The Rt Hon Lord Ramsbotham, formerly Her Majesty’s Chief Inspector of Prisons who delivered a very thought provoking speech on the important issue of prison reform and prisoner rehabilitation.
A vote of thanks was offered by Constantinian Dame, The Rt Hon Baroness Scotland of Asthal, QC, Home Office Minister with responsibility for the criminal justice system and offender management. Baroness Scotland who is also Minister of Prisons paid tribute to the work of the Constantinian Order in bringing together all faiths under one roof and congratulated the Order on its charitable and inter-religious work.
A Toast was proposed in honour of The President of Ireland, Mrs Mary McAleese, a Dame Grand Cross of Merit of the Constantinian Order, by the newly appointed Vice Delegate of the Order’s British and Irish Delegation, Judge Patrick Clyne. Dublin-based Judge Clyne succeeded Senator Donal Lydon to the position of Vice-Delegate in April 2006.
The Chancellor of the Irish Association of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta, Mr John Igoe, himself a Constantinian Knight attended, together with fellow knights, Lord Alderdice of Knock – former Speaker of the Northern Ireland Assembly, Cllr John Turley, Prof Richard Conroy and Mr Gerard Lawlor.
The Regimental Band of Coldstream Guards performed a trumpet fanfare on the arrival of the principal guests which was followed by the playing of the British and Irish National Anthems.