The Grand Temple, Freemasons Hall, Great Queen Street, London
On Monday 4th November 2019, out Most Excellent Grand Superintendent, E Comp James Sharpley presided over a wonderful convocation attended by 393 Companions of the Province and Guests, with Representatives from 15 neighbouring Provinces including 7 Grand Superintendent’s.
It was a truly memorable occasion when 37 Companions received either a re-appointment, appointment or promotion to active rank and 71 Companions received promotions in or were appointed to past rank. The Most Excellent Grand Superintendent re-appointed and invested the Deputy Grand Superintendent, E Comp David Hampton and E Comp Phillip Masters as the Second Provincial Grand Principal. E Comp Robert Asser was appointed, invested and proclaimed as Third Provincial Grand Principal. The Most Excellent Grand Superintendent presented a Past Jewel Collarette to E Comp Rodney Hancock with grateful thanks for his hard work and dedication over the last 12 months as Third Provincial Grand Principal.
In 2018, the Most Excellent Grand Superintendent created two new Offices and appointed E Comp’s Peter Walters and Darren Bending as Assistants to the Provincial Grand Principal’s in response to the increased workload placed on the Executive with the introduction of many new initiatives. During the year, the Most Excellent Grand Superintendent made a field promotion to E Comp Peter Pateman who was invested as the third of the Assistants to the Provincial Grand Principal’s, with specific responsibility to E Comp Tim Coles, the Provincial Mentor. All three Companions were re-appointed and invested at the Convocation.
The remainder of the Executive were re-appointed to their respective Offices, namely E Comp John Linley, Provincial Grand Scribe E; E Comp Tim Huckle, Provincial Grand Treasurer; E Comp Robert (Bob) Wale, Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies; E Comp David Broomer, Provincial Assistant Grand Scribe E and E Comp Tim Coles as Provincial Mentor.
The Most Excellent Grand Superintendent and the Deputy Grand Superintendent welcomed and congratulated six representative Exaltees to the meeting in the persons of Comp’s: Marcus Clark – East Herts C3748; Frank Freeman – Theobalds C4726; Gordon Gonourie – Rickmansworth C2218; Binta Mushini – Theobalds C4726; Steven Ingram – Burning Bush
C9608 & Alexis Schwatz – Chantry Bodina C9121
Of particular note, was the presentation of the Most Excellent Grand Superintendent’s Certificate of Service to Royal Arch Masonry to E Comp’s: Colin Henry Childs PPGSN of Kingswood Chapter No2278; Jeremy Stephen Frederick Hopkinson PPGSN of King Henry the Eighth Chapter No1757 and Ernest Peter Raymond Morris PPGSN of Verulam Chapter No6131, who received their certificates and the grateful thanks from the Most Excellent Grand Superintendent for their service and dedication over many years. The Deputy Grand Superintendent presented each of them with a commemorative gold tie pin and offered his congratulations to them on the honour conferred. The Companions were warmly applauded by all those present.
The Most Excellent Grand Superintendent addressed the Companions highlighting the current and new initiatives and thanked all the Companions for their support and enthusiasm for the Royal Arch in Hertfordshire. The Most Excellent Grand Superintendent also made mention of the retirement of the Third Provincial Grand Principal, E Comp Rod Hancock for his unstinting service to the Province. The Most Excellent Grand Superintendent also made mention of the retirement of E Comp Howard Collins, Provincial Charity Steward, and E Comp John Burnapp,
Provincial Grand Almoner and thanked them for their dedication and hard work. E Comp Howard had worked tirelessly over 7 years to steer the Province through two Charity Festivals, namely the Royal Arch Bi-Centenary in 2013, in aid of the Royal College of Surgeons and the 2019 Craft Festival, in aid of the Royal Masonic School for Girls and Boys, both of which raised record amounts towards the respective Charities. The Most Excellent Grand Superintendent also welcomed to their new roles, E Comp Robert Gurney, Provincial Grand Almoner and E Comp Clive Bradnum, Provincial Grand Charity Steward and was looking forward to working with them in the years to come. (The Most Excellent Grand Superintendent’s full
address can be found in a separate article).
The Festive Board was well attended and received, with 243 Companions and Guests dining in the Grand Connaught Rooms, following which the Deputy Grand Superintendent thanked the Most Excellent Grand Superintendent for presiding over such a wonderful meeting before proposing a toast to his continued success and health. The Most Excellent Grand Superintendent responded with grateful thanks and that he was enjoying the companionship and support from all the Companions in this Province of Happy Hertfordshire.
