Winter Gardens, Margate

on Friday 17th. April 2009

The elements as last year did their worst for those attending the Provincial Craft Festival at the Winter Gardens, Margate, on Friday 17th. April. The rain lashed down, the wind whipped up the sea as the tide rose and the limited visibility required radar and sea charts rather than sat-navs or road atlases.
 

Inside the Winter Gardens, however, it was all peace and happiness as the Provincial Director of Ceremonies and his Deputies arranged the various processions. Photographs were being taken of outgoing and incoming Executive members for inclusion in future editions of the Website and the Provincial. Others were taking advantage of visiting the two stalls selling Masonic items, particularly the new Provincial Tie which proved very popular.
 

By 14.45 everyone was in their appointed places. The first procession entered consisting of the Grand Officers of the Province of East Kent and the Distinguished Guests from our neighbouring Provinces. Amongst the latter was WBro Russell Race DL PJGW MGM, this being the first visit to Provincial Grand Lodge since the recent promotion to his new office of Metropolitan Grand Master.
 

The Past Provincial Grand Master's procession followed with RWBro John Bonomy OBE PPGM escorted by the Past Assistant Provincial Grand Master WBro Graham Smith PSGD.
 

Then, greeted by hearty applause, came the Provincial Grand Master's Procession consisting of an escort of the Provincial Executive, the outgoing Board of Provincial Grand Stewards and the Provincial Senior and Junior Grand Wardens, WBro Roger Waltham and WBro Chris Saville, followed by the four Assistant Provincial Grand Masters, WBro Brian Powell PSGD, WBro Charles Boxer PSGD, WBro Pat Thomas PSGD, and WBro John Grumbridge PSGD and the Deputy Provincial Grand Master VWBro Peter Brooshooft PGSwdB. Finally, led by the Provincial Grand Sword Bearer WBro John Baker with sword at the carry, followed by the Provincial Standards carried by Provincial Grand Standard Bearers WBro Paul Chapman and WBro Michael Manser, then the Provincial Director of Ceremonies WBro Peter Hagger PGStB, immediately preceding the Provincial Grand Master, RWBro Michael Bailey.
 

The Provincial Choir sung an anthem 'Be Still My Soul' from Finlandia by Sibelius. Provincial Grand Lodge was then opened in due form by the Provincial Grand Master, after which he was saluted.
 

The Distinguished Guests were welcomed, and the minutes of the 2008 Provincial Meeting were confirmed. Then followed a number of items of regular business.
 

The Deputy Provincial Grand Master VWBro Peter Brooshooft was reappointed and saluted by the brethren.
 

WBro John Grumbridge who was retiring from the position of Assistant Provincial Grand Master was then thanked most graciously by the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master for his long service on the Executive, first as Provincial Charity Steward then as Assistant Provincial Grand Master for a total of seventeen years. After the Provincial Director of Ceremonies removed his chain the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master invested WBro John Grumbridge with his collar and Past Jewel and Collaret to warm applause.
 

Assistant Provincial Grand Masters WBro Patrick Thomas, WBro Charles Boxer and WBro Brian Powell were re-appointed and were afterwards saluted by the Brethren.
 

A deputation of four brothers, namely WBro Tony Denne of the Invicta Lodge of Ashford No. 709, WBro Cecil Barton of the Norman Lodge No. 3502, WBro Alan Higson of the Rochester Lodge No. 3494 and WBro James Gillett of the Peace and Unity Lodge No. 4101 together with two Assistant Provincial Grand Masters, WBro Patrick Thomas and WBro Charles Boxer were then assembled and accompanied by the Provincial Director of Ceremonies, departed to receive WBro Andrew (Andy) Notley and escort him back into the Lodge to be appointed, obligated and invested as an Assistant Provincial Grand Master, following which he was saluted by the Brethren.
 

The Provincial Grand Master then proceeded to appoint and invest the rest of the Provincial Grand Officers for the year, who were afterwards saluted by the Brethren.
 

Special presentations of a plaque and scroll were then made by the Provincial Grand Master in recognition of long and loyal service to Freemasonry in East Kent to the following Brethren:

Bro. Sydney Frederick Pook, PPrADC, Porta Maris Lodge No. 4287
WBro Ernest John Nicholls, PPrGReg, South Kent Lodge No. 4303
WBro Ben John May, PPrDGSwdB, Binnewith Lodge No. 6338

The Provincial Grand Master next addressed the meeting, first welcoming the Special Guests and Visitors and the Masters of Lodges ranged in the West. He paid tribute to the great support he received from the Deputy and Assistant Provincial Grand Masters and thanked them warmly.
 

Those retiring from post next came up for special mention and thanks.

WBro John Grumbridge had given seventeen years service to the Province, first as Provincial Charity Steward culminating in the very successful 2004 Festival for the Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys, then as an Assistant Provincial Grand Master and overseeing the University Scheme in East Kent in conjunction with the St. Augustine Lodge No. 972. In this respect a reminder was given of a most important visit in May to the Kent Provincial Grand Stewards Lodge by the Assistant Grand Master RWBro David Kenneth Williamson at which meeting W Bro John Grumbridge will give a talk entitled "The University Scheme and its implementation in East Kent".
 

WBro Tony Jones was retiring after a hugely successful period as Provincial Grand Almoner, made no doubt easier by the support of his wife Rita.
 

WBro Lyndon Jones had been helping in the Provincial Office for many years culminating in the last five as first Assistant Grand Secretary, then Deputy Grand Secretary. His wife Mary had been a stalwart and could be expecting to see more of WBro Lyndon, although there was a suggestion that he may be supporting the Province in the future in a different manner.
 

The programme of Active Provincial Officers travelling the Province in support of official visits had continued apace and had been appreciated by all involved.
 

Then to the new appointments, first as Assistant Provincial Grand Master, WBro Andy Notley would have responsibility for the Mentoring Scheme, then WBro Michael Gee as Provincial Grand Almoner and finally WBro Chris Saville as Provincial Deputy Grand Secretary, all of whom been selected for the skills that they would be able to bring to bear in their new posts.
 

The Provincial Grand Master made a plea to all Provincial Officers to try and make contact with those Brethren who haven't been seen so regularly in Lodge, to meet with them and their families and try to encourage them back.
 

The Provincial Grand Master was pleased to report that despite difficult times being experienced, the launch level of contributions to the 2014 Festival were being maintained. The Brethren were reminded that the Province of East Kent receives a total of approximately £800,000 from the three Masonic Charities annually, so it was good to have an opportunity to be able to pay something back.
 

The meeting was advised that the EKPCA had now relocated from Tovil to Whitstable, alongside the Provincial Office.
Recruitment of new members would benefit from the Mentoring Scheme and it was encouraging that there was an increase in initiates, particularly of Lewises. Cross visits to struggling Lodges is to be recommended. Introduce your own newer members to other Lodges and make use of White Table meetings to involve family and friends.
 

Three Open Days are to be held in June and July at the Canterbury, Dover and Gravesend Centres being overseen by Brian Powell, Roger Waltham and Tony Elliott. Later in July in conjunction with West Kent we will again be having a stand at the Kent Show at Detling. The Summer Provincial Ball last year raised in excess of £22,000 and it is hoped that similar success will be experienced this year. Finally there is the Folkestone Race Day to be held in the Autumn.
 

All details will be posted on the Provincial Website, which is reported as being in the top three Masonic sites in the country. This is all down to the hard work by Brian Powell, Michael Lewis, Chris Saville, Roger Waltham and Tony Elliott and Stephen Simmons the new webmaster, who has taken over from Chris Saville and is now looking after the site in a very professional manner.
 

The Royal Arch Chapter will again be sponsoring the bi-annual Christmas Choral Festival, to be held on the 11th. December at the Royal Engineer's Church, Brompton. The Edward Elgar Lodge Choir will be leading the carols and it is expected that the four local Mayors and escorts will be in attendance.
 

The bi-annual Provincial Church Service will move from Rochester to Canterbury Cathedral for May 2010.
 

The Provincial Grand Master paid tribute to the smooth running of the afternoon's events due mainly to the magnificent efforts of the Provincial Grand Secretary, The Provincial Director of Ceremonies and their dedicated teams. The work put in by the retiring Assistant Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies, WBro Roy Hartley over the last seven years was most appreciated.
 

It was sad to note that WBro Malcolm Cheeseman, Provincial Grand Tyler had suffered a heart attack and was in St Thomas's Hospital in London and not able to be at his post, with every good wish for a rapid recovery.
 

The Cornwallis Lecturer chosen for 2009 is WBro Michael Laurence PPrAGStB of the Castle Lodge No. 1436, of which more later.
 

After this address a presentation was made by the Provincial Grand Supreme Ruler of the Order of the Secret Monitor, RWBro John Dalley of £500 to the Provincial Grand Master as an initial contribution to the 2014 Festival and was gratefully received.
 

On such an encouraging note the proceedings were wound down during which a collection for alms was made, and the Provincial Grand Lodge was closed.
 

Next came a special presentation ceremony in which four representatives from Canterbury Cathedral Masons Department, Brigadier John Meardon, Receiver General, Mrs Heather Newton, Stone Renovating Officer and two apprentice stone masons, Emylyn Harris and Ben Swinfield, were escorted into the hall by the Provincial Director of Ceremonies, two Deputy Provincial Director of Ceremonies and the Provincial Grand Secretary. The Brethren were reminded that the Apprentices were featured on a stand at the Provincial Garden Party last Summer demonstrating their skills. As a direct result in order to assist them to pursue their aims a contribution was to be made towards their education of £3,000 each. With alacrity the Brigadier took the envelope containing the cheques causing merriment among the Brethren then made a well received acceptance speech which was roundly applauded.
 

The outgoing procession then formed up and departed from the hall with the Brethren heartily singing 'Land of Hope and Glory'.
 

The Brethren who were dining retired to the bar and later the Provincial Grand Master and his Executive joined in and circulated, before everyone was called to the dining hall for the meal.
 

The Provincial Choir sang Grace, whereupon the diners enjoyed an excellent meal served with their usual efficiency by the Winter Gardens Team. The Choir returned to provide additional entertainment prior to VWBro Brooshooft's toast to the Provincial Grand Master in which he explained that of the Province continued in good health under the excellent direction of our Provincial Grand Master and wished him every success for the coming year. The Brethren finally returned outside to find the elements somewhat calmer and thankfully made their way home.