PRECIS OF HATFIELD PRECEPTORY
THE FIRST TWENTY FIVE YEARS
BY E.KT DAVID J LOGAN PProvStdB(V.B.)
COMPILED BY KT. G.R. COXWELL.

In 1969 E Kt William B.Thompson suggested that he should form a Preceptory where no Preceptories existed.

It was unanimously agreed to name the new Preceptory Hatfield Preceptory and that the venue for the meetings would be at the Cranbourne Rooms, Hatfield. I should mention here that the Provincial. Prior wanted the name of Macleod Preceptory, because of the Scottish connection. Also at the same time a Preceptory made up of Welsh Knights was trying to be formed, but it failed to get off the ground. As a result three of these Welsh Knights became Founders of this Preceptory, and it was therefore felt impractical to use the Macleod name. It was decided to have the Consecration Ceremony at the Cloisters Masonic Centre, Barrrington Road, Letchworth, Herts.

Hatfield Preceptory No.424 was Consecrated on 24th June, 1970 by the Provincial Prior, V.E. Kt T.W. Norman K.C.T. There were 14 Founders. Nationality wise this was made up of 5 Scotsmen, 5 English, 3 Welsh and 1 German, hence the Preceptory Banner was designed by E. Kt W.B. Thompson with the emblems of three of the Countries, Thistle of Scotland, Rose of England, Daffodil of Wales and the Forget-me-knot (as this was the emblem used when Hitler outlawed Freemasonary in Germany to identify Masons to one another). The first Officers of the Preceptory were as follows:-

E Preceptor E. Kt J.H. Gordon
1st Constable Kt R. Waldsax
2nd Constable Kt G. Mulling
Chaplain E Kt W.V. Alcock
Treasurer Kt C. J. Saunders
Registrar Kt W.B. Thompson
Marshal E Kt J.S. Ferguson
Dep.Marshall E Kt W.P. Lawson
Almoner E Kt T.S. Borland
1st Herald Kt J. Masterson
2nd Herald Kt G.W Scott
1st Std.B (B) Kt B.G. Juniper
2nd Std.B (VB) Kt S.C. Clift
Capt of Guards E Kt J.K. Walker
Guard Frater E.E. Futter

From the attendance Register it would appear that there was an attendance of 54 Knights, being 14 Founders, 18 Consecrating Officers, 1 Frater and 21 Guests.

The wine for the meal was provided by Kt R Waldsax, who continued this practice during the time the Preceptory met at Hatfield, a total of nearly eight years, this was a truly magnificent gesture.

The Founders all helped to provide the furniture and the following items of interest were donated prior to or immediately after the Consecration.

A picture of H.M. Queen which hangs in the dining room at Radlett. A Cross made in John Browns Shipyard, Clydebank. The Preceptors Baton came from a Perceptory in India that had disbanded and its furnishings returned to England for disposal.

At the meeting of 20th July, 1971, it was announced that the proposed design of the Preceptory Banner had been approved by Great Priory. This banner was then made by the sister-in-law of one of the Founders, Kt G.W. Scott and this banner was then Consecrated at the Provincial Priory Meeting on 28th June, 1972, appropriately held at the Cranbourne Rooms, Hatfield and made its first appearance on 18th July, 1972.

In July 1977, the Management of the Cranbourne Rooms, Hatfield, gave notice to all Masonic Bodies to quit the premises. The Provincial Prior at that time, V.E. Kt S. Perry asked that the Preceptory move to Radlett as there was no Preceptory at that Centre. This move was made under duress as it was outside the original catchment area, and was reluctantly agreed to, only for the Provincial Prior, a few weeks later, to allow a Preceptory to move to Radlett from Luton.

Later that same week, on the 26th July to be exact, E Kt R. Waldsax received from the German President the highest civilian decoration of the Federal German Republic namely, "The Cross of Honour, first class of the Order of Merit" for outstanding work in the field of Dental Medicine. The same year he was also invested as Provincial 1st Herald.