Dear Brethren,
Issue 1 done and dusted, not too many complaints so here we go with Issue 2! I did actually receive some nice comments, which are always welcome. In particular the A5 size of the Newsletter making it very convenient to slip in with the summons especially with the change in postal despatches. I hope that every Mark Mason in the Province received a copy. Lodge Secretaries, there are two important points I would wish to labour! First as the Newsletter is only issued twice annually it is imperative that it is despatched as quickly as possible after receipt. Secondly, may I please ask that it is posted to your members with their summons and NOT left in piles in your Masonic centre. If you receive insufficient copies please let me know.
It has been a very busy year so far with the RAM Assembly back in January, the annual Provincial meeting held at Portsmouth in April and Grand Mark Lodge meetings in March and June. The Provincial Team are supporting the PGM and his Deputy and Assistant with some 30+ members attending visits. Well done ‘the team’! Oh by the way I must mention W Bro Dave King of Carnarvon No 62 Lodge of MMM as I neglected to include him in the promotion list for this year. My apologies and congratulations on your preferment to PPGJW. Congratulations too to VW Bro John Prizeman on his appointment to Deputy PGM and promotion to PGJO and also to W Bro George Deacon on being appointed as the Assistant PGM. Bravo Zulu! (Naval signalese for “well done”).
The Annual Royal Ark Mariner Assembly was held at the Brook House Masonic Centre Botley on Saturday 21st January 2006 under the auspices of the Installed Commanders Lodge. Provincial Grand Assembly was opened by the Provincial Grand Master RW Bro Nigel Buckingham GMRAC and Provincial Royal Ark Mariner rank bestowed upon the following brethren: Arthur Robinson (Portsmouth 17), Wally Woods (Aldershot Military 54), Brian Larcombe (Carnarvon 62), Gordon Hawking (Bournemouth 125), Richard Dunleavy (Gosport 305), Gordon Gilliver (Gosport 305), Ron Renel (Clausentum 613), Roy Ford (Loveland 674), David Barnden (Portsdown 739). Peter Young (Thomas À Becket 775), Mike Baker (Winchester 969), Peter Musselwhite (Hindhead 1049), Tom Lee (Clanfield 1385) Malcolm Diaper (Christchurch 1453) and David Walker (Mark of Education 1491). Some, but not all of those who were invested are shown in the photograph below.
W Bro John Walker and W Bro Charles Bailey Provincial Senior and Junior Wardens respectively for the year 2004—5 had been very well supported by other Provincial Officers in what has become known as the “Warden’s Swindle”. Each year the Wardens conduct a raffle for Provincial team members only and the money raised is presented to the PGM for a chosen objective. 2004-5’s income was put toward a new Banner for the Royal Ark Mariners and the dedication ceremony took place at the Provincial Assembly in January. Pictured is the Banner together with (back l to r) W Bro Charles Bailey, W Bro John Walker, W Bro Peter Dyke (overseer of the project) (front l to r) R W Bro Nigel Buckingham GMRAC, PGM, and W Bro George Deacon the then Provincial Director of Ceremonies
I am grateful to W Bro Dennis Samuels, Secretary of Saint Andrew’s Lodge of MMM No 63 for forwarding details of the presentation of a 54 years’ service certificate by the Provincial Grand Master RW Bro Nigel John Buckingham to W Bro Raymond Bealing. Bro Ray was advanced into No 63 on 11th September 1951 and became WM in October 1961. He was for eight years (1965—1973) the Lodge DC. Appointed ProvGStdB in 1965 and promoted to PPGJW in 1970. In 1973 he was honoured with Mark Grand Rank as PAGStdB, promoted PAGDC in 1985 and PGSD in 1994. A remarkable record—well done Bro Ray!
The WM of Mark of Education Lodge of MMM No 1491 W Bro Terry Rowsell joined with W Bro John Lock WM of King Edward VII Lodge No 3816 to raise money to provide a walker to Futchers School in Drayton, Portsmouth. The walker has been allocated to Miss Sydney Collins initially, but will be passed on to other pupils when she has outgrown it. Sydney (aged 6) suffers from Agenesis Corpus Callosum—part of her brain is missing. This sadly results in Apnsea Seizures (stops breathing), epileptic fits and inability to communicate or show emotion. Both lodges held carol services in December 2005, and as the Charity Steward for both lodges is W Bro Roger Boulton the sum was raised and a chair purchased for £800 in mid January. Bros John Lock and Terry Rowsell presented the cheque, plus another for £200 donated by a non-Masonic guest at one of the carol services, to John Meek headmaster of the school. Well done!
Pictured left to right are W Bro Terry Rowsell, W Bro John Lock, the Headmaster with Sydney and her Mum Leanne.
The following extract of a letter received from VW Bro Richard Gan, PGMO, Deputy Grand Secretary dated 22nd June 2006 has been sent to the Secretary of your Lodge, but is reproduced here for ease of reference.
“Following the statement made by the President of the General Board RW Bro Keith Carmichael CBE PGSW at the Annual Investiture Meeting of Grand Lodge held on Tuesday 13th June 2006 I thought it would be helpful to write to all Provinces, Districts and Inspectorates to give an update of the current situation regarding the forthcoming Sesquicentenary celebrations in October of this year.
Although the closing date for applications is 30th June 2006 I have to advise you that as at today’s date the number of applications is well over 6,000. The capacity of the Royal Albert Hall (RAH) for the celebratory meeting on Thursday 26th October 2006 is 4,900 together with a further 300 places for standing in the Gallery.
The General Board considered the situation at the meeting held on the morning of Tuesday 13th June 2006. Although everybody involved in the planning of the event is delighted by the number of applications, it nevertheless results in a problem that has to be dealt with in as fair and transparent way as possible. The members of the General Board are all too well aware that a considerable number of people have already entered into commitments in respect of both travel and accommodation to ensure that they will be in London in October.
One immediate decision made by the General Board was to agree to have a live video link from the RAH to Mark Masons’ Hall (MMH). At this stage it is envisaged that those who wish to see the event at MMH will be invited to a Champagne Reception, which will commence immediately after the transmission has finished. It has also been agreed that the Pro Grand Master, Deputy Grand Master and Assistant Grand Master and possibly the Grand Master, will attend the Reception and meet as many of those attending as possible.
Allocation of tickets is planned to take place on 5th July 2006. Brethren unsuccessful in securing a place at the RAH will be given the opportunity of attending the video link transmission at MMH, or the offer of a standing place in the Gallery, or the opportunity to be placed on a waiting list. If the alternatives offered are unacceptable then brethren will also be given the opportunity of either having their registration fee returned or if you prefer, to retain the souvenir pack.
It is hoped to advise all unsuccessful applicants as soon as possible, but certainly before the end of July. Tickets for both the RAH and MMH will be sent out in early September together with full details about the arrangements, including dress code.
As the President of the General Board stated at the meeting of Grand Lodge all those who register for the celebratory meeting will be entitled to wear the special date bar on the Sesquicentenary jewel, and will be listed in the souvenir programme/brochure.
I trust you find this information of some assistance. Further details will of course follow in due course. Whilst some will no doubt be disappointed at the outcome, we should all take heart that this wonderful Degree of ours enjoys such popularity and standing that we can more than fill the RAH for such an important and historic event.”
Please note—nothing further has been received at the time of writing.
The Annual Meeting at Portsmouth Guildhall was extremely well attended this year and well over 200 joined the PGM and our distinguished guests for lunch. Thank you to all those who did so, and if you didn’t take lunch this year, be not afraid there is plenty of room for more! The Guildhall staff are so adept at changing scenery that they can create a Lodge Room from a fully furnished luncheon setting in hardly any time at all.
It is of course a big day for all who receive Provincial honours whether for the first time or a promotion, and it is very heartening to see so many brethren come along in support of their Lodge chums. I won’t list all those who received honours as they were listed in Keystone Issue 1—except for W Bro Dave King who is mentioned on the front page of this issue! We bade farewell to VW Bro Malcolm E Slater PGJO who has been our Deputy Provincial Grand Master for the past two years, and Assistant PGM for two years previous to that. The PGM was most fulsome in his praise for Malcolm’s contribution to the Mark Degree during his tenure of office.
W Bro John Prizeman was appointed Deputy in Malcolm’s place and is here shown being congratulated by our PGM.
VW Bro Malcolm Slater is shown in the background behind the newly invested DPGM. (Keep your eye on the Prov D.C. shown left !)
Voila! W Bro George Deacon the Provincial DC in the picture above, is shown (right) being invested by the PGM as the new Assistant Provincial Grand Master. Unfortunately the newly appointed Provincial Director of Ceremonies W Bro Brian Ridler is just out of shot.
Behind W Bro George is VW Bro Harold Mayne PGJO, PProvGSec, PAPGM.
Our congratulations go not only to the Deputy and Assistant Provincial Grand Masters, but to all who received honours on this super day at Portsmouth. Make sure you come next year because it really will be a BIG EVENT. The date—SATURDAY 21ST APRIL 2007. You will, in due course, be invited to book through the Assistant Provincial Grand Secretary W Bro Nigel Wilkinson. Do please make a note of the date, and don’t leave booking too late, as it is likely to be very well subscribed.
This will be the Provincial Grand Dining Steward’s, sorry the Provincial Grand Assistant Secretary’s biggest test to date!!
The Commander of the County St John’s Ambulance Mr David Harrison attended lunch at the Guildhall and was formally handed the keys to the Challenger ambulance donated by Hants & IOW Mark Master Masons by RW Bro Nigel Buckingham, Provincial Grand Master. In his thank you speech Mr Harrison suggested two ways in which the St John Ambulance could repay in some way the generosity of the Mark Masons. He therefore offered to arrange to bring the ambulance along to any Lodge meeting so that all Lodge members could view it. Secondly, an offer of free Community First Aid Training for Lodges should they wish to avail themselves of it. He reiterated that this was very little in response to the exceptional generosity of the Province. To take up either or both offers it will be necessary to contact the St John Ambulance County H.Q. St John House, Worthy Lane, Winchester SO23 7AB. (I do not have a telephone number). By the way W Bro Bill Moore was gratified when a youngster (about 10) said to him “Thanks for donating the ambulance Mister!” (I think we’re winning!)
Congratulations are due to the PGM RW Bro Nigel J Buckingham GMRAC on his appointment at the June meeting of Mark Grand Lodge to Deputy President of the General Board. At the same meeting the DPGM W Bro John Prizeman, W Bro A A Taylor (951) and W Bro John Wilson ProvGTreasurer (973) were promoted to PGJO and John Brayford to PGSD. Appointed to PAGDC W Bro John Drake, W Bro Alan Small, to PAGSwdB, W Bro Terry Bruty, W Bro Jim Purvis, PGStdB, W Bro Dave Tink and to PAGStdB W Bro Vic Blackman who reluctantly retired as Provincial Grand Tyler in April after 19 years! Congratulations to all on their preferment.
The newly appointed APGM W Bro George Deacon’s first Official Visit was to Carnarvon Mark No 62 where he had the honour of presenting VWBro Harold Mayne PGJO PAPGM with his certificate for 50 years service to the Mark Degree. It was a lovely evening.
The next Keystone Magazine will be issued early in the New Year and thereafter twice each year. Contributions (before Christmas), comments and helpful advice will always be gratefully received by the editor W Bro Peter James, 17 Shotterfield Terrace, Liss, Hants GU33 7DY Tel 01730 893328, email: p.k.james@btinternet.com. August 2006