Companions, may I begin my Address by extending a warm and sincere welcome to you all.

One of the privileges of being a Grand Superintendent is to witness and greet the newly appointed and promoted Provincial Officers as they ascend these intimidating steps to be invested. Why? because I know full well that each collar is richly deserved.

I wholeheartedly welcome the new team of Acting Officers and look forward to them accompanying me and the Deputy to Convocations around the Province.

To the outgoing team I thank them all for their support and all they do throughout the year. To those Companions who have been promoted today I offer my congratulations and best wishes. By virtue of their preferment they have all given valuable service to their respective Chapters and I trust will do so for years to come.

Here I make special mention of those four very dependable Companions of this Province to whom I presented my Certificate of Service. Their contribution to Royal Arch Masonry in this Province and their own Chapters is considerable.

To the Provincial Stewards I thank them for all they do on these special occasions and I hope the newly appointed and re-appointed Stewards will take up the opportunity to join the Provincial Grand Stewards´ Chapter, if they are not already members.

I would like to express my special thanks to those Grand Officers who represent me and members of the Executive, at meetings, when we are otherwise engaged, or when the rota is full.

On the 29th April we witnessed with pleasure those amongst us who were appointed or promoted in Supreme Grand Chapter. Each naturally worthy of the honour bestowed and I am sure our congratulations go to all concerned.

As I look back, I have the happy feeling that the past year for this Royal Arch Province has been most satisfactory. This is substantiated by Scribe Ezra´s report and from all the Chapter reports I receive.

We enjoy a ratio of Royal Arch to Craft members at 40% being almost the same as the ratio of Chapters to Lodges, which implies that on average our Chapters are as strong as our Lodges.

The average age of our exaltees at 50 is approximately seven years above the average age of initiates, which realistically is about as low as one can expect in the present climate. Here I pay tribute to you all for helping to maintain our success.

Chapter Scribes know that we are attempting to collate statistics on the reasons for resignations. We hope this will enable us to develop a strategy to improve retention and possibly lead to a plan for recovering those members who resigned in earlier years.

Once again in my Annual Address, I make no apologies, but place great emphasis on the importance of the Chapter Almoner or a senior P. Z. to mentor wavering members; to co-operate with the D. C. to ensure that new members are not left alone at any time to fend for themselves, but are welcomed and brought immediately into the fellowship and full body of membership.

As you know, sharing the work and the catechetical form of delivering lectures is very high on my agenda. It means so much to involve as many members as possible to engender enthusiasm in all our activities.

Turning to other matters, please remember that we are blessed in Hertfordshire with an excellent lecture panel, who are readily available to talk to Chapters on a variety of subjects. Do call on their expertise whenever you are without a candidate or decide not to stage an Exaltation rehearsal.

As Scribe Ezra has reported, as an Executive, we have been very active with many ceremonial commitments during the year. I can report that all were carried out to a high standard, coupled with fellowship, a great deal of conviviality and hospitality, which was enjoyed by so many. I pay a particular tribute to our Provincial Secretariat and Ceremonial teams for their expertise and attention to detail on such occasions.

I would like to add to Scribe Ezra´s report that one of the privileges we enjoy is the opportunity to attend the Convocations of some 20 other Provinces in addition to our own annual Craft and Mark meetings. Some of these visits, of course, mean travelling long distances; they are very happy and worthwhile occasions. Collectively, I can say "thank you" to many of our hosts sitting here this afternoon, for the hospitality we are afforded

I am happy to report that the Annual Sunday lunch for Scribe´s and MEZ´s (not forgetting partners) is gathering apace, year on year, under the direction of Ron Bartlett.

My wife and I had the happy experience of attending the Royal Arch Golf Day. For somebody whose handicap was GOLF (I stress was GOLF), I can say that it was a joy to be present; to enjoy a lot of hospitality and good humour at the Festive Board and to be able to present the trophies and receive a substantial cheque on behalf of Mencap.

The relationship with the other Orders in the Province remains on a high plateau and it is re-assuring to have official representation from them here with us today.

To continue in that vein, may I, once again assure you Provincial Grand Master of our continued support, particularly with the 20-09 Festival. Through you may I once again give thanks for the support and assistance we receive from the Craft Secretariat. This is also an opportunity for me to express thanks to Derrick Flowers, who recently relinquished his duties as Provincial Secretary, for the considerable help and advice my team received from him during his 9 years tenure in that office, I am sure we all wish him well in his new role as an Assistant Provincial Grand Master. Of course, we welcome Keith Gilbert as the new Provincial Grand Secretary and I am certain, because of our long standing friendship that co-operation will continue. This is also an opportunity to welcome (although absent today) Chris Radmore as the new Provincial Grand Secretary of the Mark Order.

Companions; a note for your diaries. The Annual Provincial Church Service will be held on Sunday, 27th February at the Cathedral and Abbey Church of St Alban.

Companions, it is necessary for me to give you notice that next year, as laid down by Supreme Grand Chapter, a restricted method of awarding Provincial Honours will be in place. We are naturally, endeavouring and have already taken steps to minimise the consequences. It is essential for me to stress the need for Scribes to deliver their recommendations, C.V´s and comprehensive report forms for nominees by the due date. We will be unable to consider late responses.

Before I conclude this Address, I would like to touch on the Strategic Working Party´s proposals for changes to the ritual. As a Province, collectively your very useful comments received have been collated and sent to Supreme Grand Chapter. I am sure these have had some bearing on the recent update and fine-tuning on the original proposals, which were published last January.
A large assembly attended a meeting of Herts First Principals´ Chapter last March to witness a demonstration of the original proposed changes. This was presented and narrated by Paul Ostwind and a team of four chosen Companions. It proved to be highly successful and most helpful in formulating opinions. Based on that premise Paul and colleagues have been invited to stage an updated demonstration next week in this building before Supreme Grand Chapter, with all the recent and up to-date changes and nuances.
Companions, we are approaching, hopefully, the conclusion of this long running debate which I hope will be settled next week at Supreme Grand Chapter.

Paramount in my thoughts are that the proposed and updated changes reflect the future and recruitment to the Royal Arch, not only today, but in 5 − 10 years time and beyond. That future must remain very precious and steadfast in our hearts and minds. My wish is that if and when the changes are implemented, they will not create disharmony in our Chapters but that we can come to accept them with the blessing of the T & L G M H.

My thanks to you all for the tremendous support given to me throughout the year. It is a pleasure to serve you.