On Monday 7th November 2016 in the Main Temple at Freemasons Hall, Great Queen Street, London, our Most Excellent Grand Superintendent, E Comp James Sharpley presided over an excellent meeting attended by 455 Companions of the Province and Guests.
It was a memorable occasion and 32 Companions received appointments or promotions to active rank and 64 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. E Comp Paul Blakemore was promoted to Second Provincial Grand Principal and E Comp Phillip Masters was promoted to Third Provincial Grand Principal. The remainder of the Executive were re-appointed into their respective Offices, namely E Comp John Linley, Provincial Grand Scribe E; E Comp Tim Huckle, Provincial Grand Treasurer; E Comp Robert Asser, Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies; E Comp David Broomer, Provincial Assistant Grand Scribe E and E Comp Tim Coles as Provincial Mentor.
Of particular note, was the presentation of the Most Excellent Grand Superintendent Certificate of Service to Royal Arch Masonry to E Comp’s George Davis, Donald Robinson, Robert Wray and Derrick Lyons, who received their certificates from the Most Excellent Grand Superintendent and a tie pin from the Deputy Grand Superintendent. The Companions were warmly applauded by all those present.
Another memorable moment in the proceedings was the presentation of a 50 year certificate to E Comp Sidney Tuck, who was escorted by the Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies to the Most Excellent Grand Superintendent, who presented E Comp Sidney with the certificate after a most eloquent speech of about his Royal Arch career. E Comp Sidney then addressed the Companions, thanking them for their support over the last 50 years and in his usual inimitable style, relayed a few anecdotes from his past. The Companions stood and applauded E Comp Sidney in recognition of this achievement.
The Most Excellent Grand Superintendent addressed the Companions highlighting the current and new initiatives and thanked all the Companions for their support and enthusiasm and wished them all well. (The Most Excellent Grand Superintendent’s full address can be found in a separate article.
The Festive Board was well attended and received, with 297 Companions and Guests dining in the Grand Connaught Rooms, following which the Deputy Grand Superintendent thanked the Most Excellent Grand Superintendent, on behalf of all the Companions, for presiding over such a great meeting before proposing a toast to his 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