Provincial News
- Written by: Rob Taylor
The Assistant Provincial Grand Master, W Bro David Burton, in his capacity as Second Principal in Gildenburg Chapter No 2533 meets with E Comp Nick Cesare, MEZ of Gildenburg Chapter in a dress rehearsal for the next meeting of the Chapter at Ellindon Masonic Hall in Peterborough. At this next meeting, the Chapter will welcome E Comp George Clayton, Second Provincial Grand Principal on his first official visit to Gildenburg Chapter.
- Written by: John Fergusson
Northampton LAMs support ‘Teddies for Loving Care’
At their Coffee Morning, on Wednesday 2 March 2016, Northampton LAMs were delighted to welcome Assistant Provincial Grand Master, W Bro Jim Boughton, who told them all about the success of this marvellous initiative. The Members raised £250 for this worthy cause, by donating the proceeds of their raffle and collecting individual donations.
Northampton LAMS' Chairman, Anne Stevens, presented the cheque to W Bro Jim and they are pictured below.
- Written by: John Fergusson
At the invitation of the Centre with Unity Chapter No: 1637, our Royal Arch Demonstration Team performed “How and Why the Royal Arch” at the Harrow District Masonic Centre on Thursday 25 February. They were accompanied by our own Grand Superintendent, E Comp Wayne Williams. The team from Northamptonshire & Huntingdonshire were warmly welcomed on arrival by the Pro Provincial Grand Master and ME Grand Superintendent of Middlesex, E Comp Alastair Mason, and members of his Executive.
The Chapter meeting was well advanced but when concluded, over 70 Companions and invited Brethren then retired to the adjacent Temple in which our demonstration was presented and delivered to a very receptive and appreciative audience. Questions were later addressed by the two Grand Superintendents present before we all retired to an excellent Craft Festive Board. Our Team of E Comps Owen Davison, Barry Weigleb, Steve Squires, Trevor Cook, Hywel Parry-Jones, Peter Baker and Bob Watts are to be congratulated on their informative, yet highly entertaining performance which, from later feedback received, did a great deal to raise the profile of the Holy Royal Arch in general and stimulate a better awareness amongst those non-Royal Arch Masons present in particular.
Our Most Excellent Grand Superintendent, E Comp Wayne Williams pictured above with E Comp Alastair Mason – Most Excellent Grand
Superintendent and Pro Provincial Grand Master for the Province of Middlesex
- Written by: John Fergusson
On his official visit to St John’s Chapter No: 3972 on Wednesday 17 February, our ME Grand Superintendent, E Comp Wayne Williams, was joined by three distinguished visitors from the Royal Arch Province of Gloucestershire & Herefordshire – the ME Grand Superintendent Graham C King, the Third Provincial Grand Principal, David W Ford, together with E Comp George Lee. It was an ideal opportunity for E Comp George to bring home and formally present back to the Chapter the IPZ jewel previously belonging to the late E Comp Leo Coulston together with an original Chapter Founders’ jewel which was also previously in Leo’s possession.
E Comp George Lee, in years past, was at school with E Comp Leo who, over recent years, had enjoyed strong Masonic connections in both this Province and the Province of Gloucestershire & Herefordshire. E Comp Leo passed to the Grand Chapter Above on 17 January 2014 at his home in Gloucestershire. He was exalted into St John’s Chapter on 15 February 1967 and attained the First Principal’s Chair in 1981. He became a joining member of the Gloucestershire Schools Chapter No: 7228 in November 1985 and was proudly a Founder of our own Buckby Castle Chapter in January 2000, serving as Scribe N for 8 years up until November 2008.
In the Craft, E Comp Leo was awarded the rank of PPrJGW both in this Province and the Province of Gloucestershire but, with the passing of the years, he gradually found it necessary to curtail his Masonic commitments. Yet many Companions in both Provinces will fondly remember E Comp Leo Coulston who truly lived respected and died regretted.
Pictured above are (left to right): E Comp David W Ford – Third Provincial Grand Principal (Glos & Herefordshire), E Comp Geoff Allen – Joshua,
E Comp Phil Martin – Haggai, E Comp Richard Stokes – Zerubbabel – (all St John’s Chapter), E Comp George Lee (Glos & Herefordshire),
ME Grand Superintendent – E Comp Wayne Williams, ME Grand Superintendent (Glos and Herefordshire), E Comp Graham King
& E Comp Steve Seward PrAGDC