Knights of Malta Ball 5th March 2011

The Knights Ball, the largest fund-raiser of the Scottish Delegation, will take place in Edinburgh in the Sheraton Grand Hotel on Saturday 6th March. Full details will follow shortly, although it is never too early to put it in your diary and dig out some raffle prizes (anything from a case of wine to a week in your villa in Antibes). I know several of you have been in the past and I think Alex and Amy would recommend it highly - large numbers of students go so it is not just for coffin-dodgers.

Kibera 2011 Dinner

The group going to Kibera in February will be having a Group Hug in Viva on Tuesday 26th October at 5 p.m. with the accompanying staff. It would be good if some Companions could pop in from 6 for a pizza and/or a drink to share some advice informally - much more useful than my yapping on all the time. Please text me if you can come.

We also need to solidify the proposal for a late June 2011 trip to Kibera which some of you have already said you are interested in. Currently we have 4 people definitely going.

Any other Companions, Knights or Dames would be most welcome to come with us - it is always great fun and very rewarding.

Order of Malta Requiem Mass

The Annual Requiem Mass for deceased members of the Order will take place at the Gillis Centre, 100 Strathearn Road, Edinburgh, on Thursday 11th November at 6.15 for 6.30 p.m.

Chivalric sciences

The College of Noblemen (Nobili), otherwise known as St Francis Xavier, was a branch of the multifarious educational activities of the Society of Jesus in 18th century Bologna. In addition to the usual Jesuit curriculum, young noblemen studied the Chivalric Sciences (scienze cavalleresche) of conversation, deportment, fencing, and horsemanship as well as foreign languages, music, military architecture and heraldry. The Collegio dei Nobili had two elite academies within it—the Argonauts, and the Affidati who received an even more rigorous course than the rest. The boy who scored the highest marks in each academy in philosophy, literature or in arms would be created Principe dell’Accademia for that semester. Some of these principi included future doges of Venice and Pope Clement XIII.

While it is not proposed to offer deportment, and conversation would be a work of supererogation, all Companions are cordially invited to join the seminars preparing the two Africa groups, as well as specially arranged classes in KISWAHILI, AFRICAN DRUMMING, HERALDRY, ARCHERY, FIRST AID, PLAINSONG, RIDING and FENCING.

Service for the Pakistan Floods

Many thanks to all who supported the Scottish Asian Christian Fellowship service in aid of Pakistan. A huge number of churches was present - some of them very small - with the Catholic church represented by Father Gannen of St Albert the Great's, and ourselves. £1000 was given to Release International and a delicious lunch was served afterwards by Octavia and her team.