BELFAST RB BOOKLET 2020 - Flipbook - Page 4
Ci t y of Belf ast Grand Bl ack Chapt er - Dem onst rat i on Bookl et 2020
CITY GRAND CHAPTER : INTRODUCTION - CORONAVIRUS
Nearing the finality to our preparations for
the publication and planned launch of our
annual Demonstration Booklet, the world
was unfortunately disrupted and stopped in
its tracks by an unsuspecting viral
contagent. 'Coronavirus' which originated
in China at the beginning of January has
since engulfed over one hundred and fifty
countries globally, infecting more than a
quarter of a million people, resulting in over
ten thousand deaths to date. Due to the
speed of its geographical spread this new
infectious virus, for which humanity had no
immunity, was soon declared as a
pandemic,
by
the World Health
Organisation (WHO).
From the start of the year, the situation, which
has been correctly described as the biggest
public health societal challenge of a generation
if not since World War II; continues to inflict its
deadly respiratory illness across all nations.
Similar types of epidemics have been around
since the dawn of civilisation, but with the gutsy determination that permeates the blood of all our people
within any such crisis there are also those to whom we all owe a debt of gratitude. We refer to the
doctors, paramedics, nurses, ambulance personnel, carers, homehelps and auxiliary medical staff
alongside the many professions within the NHS and the other emergency services. So too, all Sir Knights,
as members of this Christian Fraternity, as well as being a responsible civic organisation, we will
endeavour to play our part within the well-being of the community to defeat this challenge; we are all in
this fight together.
Our over-riding duty of care alongside health and safety considerations, as well as the directives
and instructions issued by the Government and Health Officials, has decreed several variations to
this year's publication, both in the numbers produced, cancelling the normal launch evening and
the eventual, albeit limited, distribution to help prevent any further spread of the contagent.
Currently with all events and meetings cancelled forthwith the Institution's traditional 'last
Saturday' including our own Dromore demonstration as well as many other events and Church
Services, planned for later in the year remains unclear until such time that further guidance is
received from IGBC Headquarters which in turn, will be cascaded throughout the membership.
However without distracting from the increasing medical seriousness of the current situation, yet at the
same time wishing to be in a position whereby the Sir Knights of Belfast can express their appreciation of
the valorous actions shown throughout World War II, particularly during this celebratory 75th VE Day
anniversary year, the City Grand Chapter decided to produce a limited 2020 issue. In so doing we also
wish to both maintain the continuity and integrity of our annual end-product that has been associated with
the City of Belfast Grand Black Chapter down through the years. Therefore the page content throughout
will still contain many references to events etc that were already pre-arranged well before the viral
urgency took its deadly hold on the Nation. But with all either now cancelled indefinitely or until further
instruction, it was prudently decided to leave these in, rather than strike out, the relevant data.
IN MEMORY OF THE FALLEN - 2 - AND THE FUTURE OF THE LIVING