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SOVEREIGN  GRAND  MASTER

Most Right Worshipful Sir Knight Millar Farr Q.P.M.

The teachings of our Institution are based entirely on Holy Scripture & our Objectives are clearly set out within the  Mission Statement of The Royal Black Institution.

I urge all Sir Knights to endorse these teachings & adhere to what is set out in the Mission Statement, by so doing we will enhance not only our own lives but the lives of all those whom we come into contact with.

IMPERIAL GRAND BLACK CHAPTER OF THE BRITISH COMMONWEALTH

DESIGNATED CHARITY FOR 2010/11

KIWOKO HOSPITAL UGANDA

From Left to right.

Millar Farr, Sovereign Grand Master, William Abernethy, Imperial Grand Treasurer, Mr Ken Finch, Chief Administrator, Kiwoko Hospital, Uganda, Mrs Judith Finch, Administrator, Kiwoko Hospital, Uganda, Ian McCafferty, Imperial Grand Lecturer, Dr Alison Reid who spent her medical elective in Kiwoko Hospital and William Scott, Imperial Grand Registrar.

ROYAL BLACK TO SEND TEAM TO UGANDA 
 

The Royal Black Institution is planning to send a team of volunteers to Uganda to help a hospital which has special links to Northern Ireland. 

The loyal order has made a community-based hospital in Uganda its designated charity for 2010 and is currently drawing up a plan to send 20 volunteers to work there for three weeks in the summer of 2011. 

They will provide a wide range of skills to support the hospital. 

Kiwoko Hospital is a community based facility of 245 beds in the Luwero area of Uganda and has been chosen by the Institution to benefit from fund-raising over the next year. 

In 2008 the Royal Black Institution raised money for Diabetes UK, Northern Ireland, and recently presented £77,000 to the charity, the biggest single donation it has ever received. Since 2002, the Institution has contributed almost £320,000 to a series of designated charities. 

Kiwoko Hospital was opened in 1988 by Dr.Ian Clarke, formerly from Bangor in Co. Down.

He became the only doctor to tens of thousands of people in an area, half the size of Northern Ireland. 

Dr. Clarke, his family and other people from Northern Ireland helped to build up the hospital over many years to help the local population. Last year, 1500 HIV cases were treated at the hospital. 

Uganda has 2000 doctors to serve a population of 30 million, one third of whom regularly go without food. The average income per head of population is 360 dollars per year. 

The Kiwoko Hospital is a Christian-based centre, which also has a special dedicated mission, helping to spread the Christian message in the area.  The motto of the hospital is ‘We treat, Jesus saves.’ 

Ken Finch, from Knockbreda is the administrator in charge of the hospital currently and his wife Judith also works there. Dr. Rory Wilson, from Ballyholme, Bangor, is the medical superintendent. 

The Uganda government contributes only 10% of the hospital’s running costs. Patients contribute to the costs of their treatment but in a rural area with so much poverty, and in a country where most of the population earn less than $1 per day, this is often not possible and the hospital’s ambition is that no patient should be turned away. 

The shortfall, approximately 60% of the total running costs must be met from other sources, usually donations from churches and individuals. 

The Sovereign Grand Master, Millar Farr, said:

“In 2008 we concentrated our fund-raising activities on helping Diabetes UK. It was an extremely worthwhile cause and we believe that we have enhanced the lives of many people, thanks to the research that the charity is carrying out.” 

“For 2010 we have decided to look further afield. The Kiwoko Hospital is a wonderful example of how Christian people can help the health of a nation. The work being done there is literally life-saving. 

“There are very obvious links with Northern Ireland and I am delighted that it has been chosen as our charity for this year. 

“We were extremely fortunate recently to have a visit from Ken and Judith Finch. They were able to tell us all about their work in Uganda and it has really given us the impetus to step up the support we can give. 
 

“I know that our members will make sizeable financial donations but we decided that we should do more than that and the team will head out there next summer to provide practical help.” 

The money raised by the Institution will be used to build new accommodation for nurses, provide medical equipment and bible translation.

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2010/11  PRESENTATIONS

Presentation to

KIWOKO HOSPITAL UGANDA

 2011

This presentation brings the total donated to Charities by the Royal Black Institution in the past six years to over £500,000.

This total does not include the numerous amounts given to local charities in the towns and villages in which our membership is based.

                                For God loveth a cheerful giver

                                                                         (2 Corinthians 9;7)

PAST DESIGNATED CHARITY UPDATES

Diabetes UK

The CHOICE diabetes study has now recruited 135 adolescents with type 1 diabetes.

A total of 14 education programmes have been completed and participants are being followed up for 24

months.

6 months data has currently been collected from all participants and is currently being analysed.

A full report of 12 months data will be available in March 2011

Open Doors Project Report

In 2007 Open doors appointed a new contractor to build the multi purpose training centre to be known as

'The Emmanuel Christian Training Centre (ECTC) in Goli, Southern Sudan.

There were 10 fulltime builders and six trainees. They worked 6 days a week (Monday mornings after

breakfast mere is Bible study and Prayers).

The logistics of getting materials on time was difficult coupled with the insecurity which exists in the area

but this had improved as work progressed.

A huge milestone for the workers was the installation of electricity and the provision of 21 flushing toilets at

the ECTC.

A 700 sq metre staff school known as the Emmanuel Christian Academy is 70 complete but it has been

taken into use even though it has no roof.

The classrooms have been fitted with desks for pupils to use while they do research for assignments and the

library is temporarily in a classroom until more finance is available.

To make ECTC self sufficient with regards to food - 2chicken coops and 3 pig pens have been built.

Action M.S. Project Summary

Cutting Edge Technologies are being used in N. Ireland to study Multiple Sclerosis

From funding received from the Royal Black Institution in 2006 Action M.S. employed Dr. Paula Cunnea,

who had obtained her PhD in Sweden as a M.S. researcher, to examine aspects of blood vessel pathology in

M S. The research work was undertaken in the laboratories at Queens University.

The aim of the project was to build on previous work which had shown that disruption of blood vessels on

the brain could be associated with the onset of M S. The project was only possible because of precious gift

tissue samples received from people who had died with M.S.

Using state-of-the art technologies and complex software programmes they identified 21 up-regulated genes

involved in blood vessel disruption.

A further study using advanced microscopic techniques confirmed that these genes of interest are

up-regulated and therefore of potential importance in M.S.

A draft paper is being prepared to allow colleagues in the international M.S. research community to review

this novel approach that this project has used and examine some of the genes highlighted by the studies with a long term view of potential therapies.

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Presentations

Guiding Star R.B.P.1133

Guiding Star RBP 1133 Newtownhamilton at their monthly meeting on Tuesday 12th April 2011 had 5 Sir Knights have the Red Cross degree conferred on them. What made this so special is that 4 of the Sir Knights were brothers and the Sir Knights of RBP 1133 would like to know if any other Preceptory have had 4 brothers in their ranks who got their Red Cross degree together.

Back Row L - R.

Brothers Warren Montgomery, Jonathan Montgomery, Robert Montgomery and Clifford Montgomery

Front Row L - R

Sir Knight Walter Keating (grandfather) Eldon RBP 33 Newbliss, Clones No.1 Dist. Co. Monaghan and      their father Sir Knight David Montgomery PM RBP 1133.

Back Row L - R Sir Knights John Bartholomew Knights of the Red Cross RBP 801 Hamiltonsbawn    (father-in-law of Robert Montgomery), Roy Hanna Eldon RBP 33 Newbliss, Clones No. 1 Dist. Co. Monaghan, Jonathan Montgomery, Jonathan McNiece (5th Sir Knight to receive the Red Cross), Warren Montgomery, Robert Montgomery, Clifford Montgomery and David Montgomery PM RBP 1133.
 
Front Row L - R Sir Knights William McCombe WM RBP 1133, Thomas McBurney WDM No.3 District Markethill, RBP Aughnagurgan Star and Garter RBP 658, Ronnie Black, County and District Lecturer,

Knights of the Red Cross RBP 801 Hamiltonsbawn and Jim Copeland Lecturer RBP 1133, PDM No. 3  District Markethill and PM RBP 1133.

After conferring of the degrees the District Officers then proceeded to carry out installation, Sir Knight Wayne Hawthorne was installed as Registrar and Sir Knight Allen Hawthorne installed as Committee Member.

Guiding Star RBP 1133 situated in what has become well known as the Bandit Country of South Armagh, under much provocation from republican terrorists have remained calm and dignified and carried on with quiet determination during desperate times in the face of such evil when they had 8 Sir Knights  murdered between 1973 and 1976. 

This marble plaque erected by the Sir Knights of RBP 1133 was erected in the orange hall in their memory.

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INSTALLATION NIGHT AT DERRYCORRY R.B.P. 320

Sir Knights Robert Mullen and David Gilpin receiving their Red Cross Certificates with

Worshipful Sir Knight Nathaniel Gilpin receiving his Past Masters Certificate

 Sir Knights John Gilpin, Robert Mullen, Nathaniel Gilpin, David Gilpin and Mervyn Mullen.

Worshipful Sir Knight John Gilpin replaces Worshipful Sir Knight Nathaniel Gilpin  his father  as Worshipful Master after occupying the chair for 14 years.

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 BALLINAMALLARD R.B.P. 272