Provincial News
- Written by: Jack Summerfield
On Sunday the 3rd December 2017, 400-people booed, hissed, yelled, laughed, screamed and cried during two performances of the latest pantomime from the Corby Masonic Players.
Snow White, written by WBro Jack C. Summerfield, was very well received by all who attended. It contained all the usual panto puns, plus a generous helping of local, topical and Masonic comedic content.
Entrance to the pantomime was free of charge. Corby Masonic Complex also donated selection boxes, which were gifted to the children in the audience.
- Written by: John Fergusson
As 7th May 2007 will be remembered as the start of a new era so 31st January 2018 will be remembered as the day the curtain came down on the tenure of E Comp Wayne Edward Williams as the Most Excellent Grand Superintendent in and over the Royal Arch Province of Northamptonshire & Huntingdonshire. He was only the 12th Grand Superintendent of this Province.
By his own admission, his Royal Arch career prior to May 2007 had been somewhat less than spectacular – his focus had invariably been on his Craft involvements as Assistant Provincial Grand Master and Provincial Grand Secretary. By contrast, during his tenure as Grand Superintendent, his achievements have been more than spectacular. In those early days when speaking to Craft Masons who were not Companions, he would often remind them that he knew who they were and where they lived; the phrase has become embedded in the Province and that there are few who would not associate the expression with the Grand Superintendent.
As leader of the Royal Arch Province, he brought his inimitable energy and enthusiasm to bear in everything that he did for the Order, keeping his promise from his Installation that he would take the Royal Arch forward by a process of evolution rather than revolution and that “What you see is what you get!”
Memorable moments, there have been quite a few…
In May 2011, our Grand Superintendent was appointed as one of two sitting Grand Superintendents to the Committee of General Purposes of Supreme Grand Chapter which was a tremendous honour both for him and the Province.
At the Convocation of Installed First Principals, the Province was able to present a cheque for £65,000 to the Second Grand Principal, E Comp George Francis, as part of the Royal College of Surgeons appeal during the Royal Arch Bicentenary. This was a fundraising effort that our Grand Superintendent spearheaded with his usual passion which was instrumental in securing such an outstanding achievement.
His excellent relationship with his counterpart in the Province of Bristol, E Comp Alan Vaughan, was central to bring a very memorable demonstration of the Ceremony of the Veils to this Province for what was a memorable evening for all those in attendance - it qualified under the daily advancement in Masonic knowledge.
Piscator Chapter moved from London during his time in charge, following the move of Piscator Lodge a few years earlier. He has ensured that they have been made to feel at home from the start and his faith has been repaid by the manner in which the Chapter is moving from strength to strength.
On a personal note, he was honoured to become the First Principal of Probity Chapter Chapter of Probity in the Province of Cambridgeshire – membership of this prestigious Chapter is restricted to Grand Superintendents , their Deputies and other senior Royal Arch Masons predominantly based in the Eastern Provinces. He is currently First Principal of the Peace and Harmony Chapter in the Province of Warwickshire which serves a similar purpose for the Royal Arch Provinces in the West Midlands and beyond.
Technology has held no fear for our Grand Superintendent as he has taken to Twitter or as he prefers to call it Intertwit to spread the Royal Arch message.
One of his major achievements, is rewriting and producing a Welcome To Royal Arch Brochure which is given to all Exaltees; this took many rewrites but it is so good at helping the new Exaltee start to understand the Royal Arch that it has been adopted by other Provinces. This brochure is coupled with the informative Next Step For A Master Mason leaflet which helps to explain to the Master Mason why the Royal Arch is the completion of their journey in Pure Antient Masonry.
He has been served by 2 Deputy Grand Superintendents (E Comp David Jackson and E Comp Michael Coleman), 4 Second Provincial Grand Principals (E Comp Terry Roy, E Comp Michael Coleman, E Comp George Clayton and E Comp Jim Boughton) and 5 Third Provincial Grand Principals (E Comp Trevor Cooke, E Comp Roger Wood, E Comp John Phillips, E Comp George Clayton and E Comp Mark Constant). To them all, he expresses his sincere thanks for their help, commitment and support throughout. Without them, the journey would not have been so enjoyable
The Royal Arch Province will be forever grateful and appreciative of the tremendous contribution and efforts of E Comp Wayne Williams as its Grand Superintendent. We wish you a very enjoyable retirement and thank you once again.
- Written by: John Fergusson
The second Temple at Sheaf Close was virtually full as Northampton Chapter No: 360 greeted E Comp Desmond Jones back to Northampton for our regular meeting on Thursday 23rd November 2017. E Comp Desmond has long since moved to Cirencester and has become a regular attender also in the Province of Gloucestershire. But as our longest standing IPZ, exalted in May 1957, he still attends his mother Chapter in Northampton for any special or celebratory occasion and is always assured of a warm welcome by all present. Thursday 23rd November was one such occasion as we marked his 60 years as a subscribing member of Northampton Chapter No: 360, acknowledging that we were a little late in any formal recognition but timing had prevented any earlier meeting. We were however set to make good.
The ME Grand Superintendent was delighted to make the formal presentation of a Diamond Jubilee Certificate to E Comp Desmond, who is now in his 87th year, referring to his long Masonic career in Northampton and in Northampton Chapter in particular. He also reflected on the distinguished careers of Desmond’s younger Brother, E Comp Brian Jones who passed to the Grand Chapter Above some 4 years ago and his father, the late E Comp Clifford Jones - a leading light in Northampton Freemasonry for many a year.
By way of added recognition and as a total surprise to E Comp Desmond, the Grand Superintendent also took the opportunity to award E Comp Desmond his “Certificate of Meritorious Service” to further recognise an outstanding commitment to the Royal Arch in this Province and beyond and to Northampton Chapter No: 360 in particular for over 60½ years. E Comp Desmond responded beautifully with a tear in his eye and was delighted to respond further at the Festive Board by taking wine with all Companions present. It was a great occasion for Northampton Chapter and E Comp Desmond, accompanied by his Companions from Gloucestershire, returned to his home in Cirencester a very happy Companion, much loved by us all, and one held in the highest esteem here in Northampton.
Pictured Left to Right: E Comp Mark Constant, Provincial 3rd Grand Principal, E Comp Max Bayes, Provincial Grand Master,
E Comp Wayne Williams, Grand Superintendent, E Comp Desmond Jones, E Comp Jim Boughton, Provincial 2nd Grand Principal
& E Comp Mike Coleman, Deputy Grand Superintendent
- Written by: Simon Key
Thursday the 16th of November 2017 was a special evening for WBro Bill Pendray PPJGW (Surrey) when he was presented with a 50-year Golden Jubilee certificate by WBro Richard Brice, Provincial Grand Mentor, at the meeting of Lactodorum Lodge No. 8526 in Towcester.
From left, WBro Chris Oldfield, WM of Lactodorum Lodge; WBro Richard Brice, ProvGMen; WBro Bill Pendray, PPJGW (Surrey); and WBro Bob Cox, PProvDepGDC and DC of Lactodorum Lodge