On Tuesday the 9th of April 2019, at their last meeting of the Masonic season, Petriburg Lodge No. 8767 was honoured by an official visit by the Assistant Provincial Grand Master, WBro David Burton, accompanied by WBro Tom Webster ProvDepGDC.

The meeting was a special one, not only because it marked WBro David's last official visit to the Peterborough Centre before he steps down as APGM in May, but also because WBro David and WBro Tom are both members of the Lodge.

WBro David's first surprise of the evening was to discover that over 90-brethren were in attendance to show their appreciation of his work, not only as APGM for the last 4-years, but also for the Peterborough Centre.

Amongst the brethren WBro David wasn't expecting were the Provincial Grand Master, RWBro Max Bayes, the Past Provincial Grand Master, RWBro Barrie Hall, the Deputy Provincial Grand Master, WBro Charles Bennett, the Past Deputy Provincial Grand Master, VWBro Trevor Boswell, the Assistant Provincial Grand Master, WBro Lou Orsi, the Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies, WBro Dale Gilbert PAGDC, four other Officers of United Grand Lodge, the Provincial Senior Grand Warden, WBro Bob Cox, the Provincial Junior Grand Warden, WBro Tony Elsey, all of the Peterborough Group Officers, and six-other active Provincial Grand Officers!

WBro David had also invited a number of personal guests including the Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Lincolnshire, WBro John Crutchley, the Past Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Hertfordshire, VWBro David Ferris, the Past Assistant Provincial Grand Master of Bedfordshire, WBro Eric Barford, the Past Assistant Provincial Grand Master of Lincolnshire, WBro Richard Garn, and the Provincial Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies of Lincolnshire, WBro Peter Odling.

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Having been offered the gavel by WBro John Humphreys, Petriburg's Master, WBro David chose to exercise his prerogative by occupying the chair of King Solomon and presiding over the ballot for the Initiate. 

One particular highlight of the initiation ceremony that followed was an exemplary presentation of the Charge by five Master Masons: Bro David Samler, Bro Gabriel Bradley, Bro Malcolm Larrington, Bro Steve Snell, and Bro William Cartledge.

At the Festive Board, the two-remaining founder-members of the lodge, WBro George Martin and WBro John Sumner, presented WBro David with a cheque for £200, a voucher for a champagne afternoon tea, and a bouquet for his wife, Judith.

The presentation was a lovely touch as WBro George and WBro John were Master and Senior Warden respectively at WBro David's initiation.

All in all it was a wonderful occasion, one that honoured the outstanding contributions made by WBro David both as Assistant Provincial Grand Master specifically, and as a Peterborough Mason in general. There's no doubt that the occasion will be remembered by all those who attended for many years to come.

We thank WBro David for all he has done and have no doubt he will continue to work just as hard in future.