Brethren All
Was it really July when I submitted my last Blog? Where does the time go!
With sadness we note the passing of W Bro Tony Hammond on 22nd August after a long debilitating illness. He will be much missed by everyone in the Province.
The following videos were posted on the Masonic Order of Athelstan YouTube Channel and on the Order website https://www.athelstan.org.uk during the month and if you haven’t seen them, I suggest that you do. They are well worth watching.
- A Sword Fit For King Athelstan
- The Sword - Hidden Meanings & Symbolism
- Athelstan Sword Presentation - 11th June 2022
September saw the death and State Funeral of our dearly beloved Queen Elizabeth. We will never see the likes of her again. I am, no doubt, one of the several Brethren in the Province that can remember singing “God Save the King” at school.
The Court of Aelfred No 2 celebrated it’s seventeenth year as the Primus Court of the Order by Installing W Bro Nigel Williams as Worshipful Master on the 3rd September. Around 30 members from around the Province enjoyed a great day in Newmarket, the “Legendary Home” of the Order.
On the 10th September the East Anglia District Grand Master, V. Ill. Comp. Geoffrey Spencer, appointed and Invested me as his Deputy District Grand Master in the Grand Council of the Order of Royal and Select Masters of England and Wales and its Districts and Councils Overseas. A great honour indeed, which was totally unexpected. Now being active in five Provincial, District, or Regional, Offices, I am now having a few problems in sorting out my diary!
Our Provincial Grand Court meeting on the 24th September went extremely well. Thanks to all who attended. Our new Provincial Eminent Grand Prior W & Em Bro Roy Winfield-Lowe was Obligated and Dedicated by our Eminent Grand Prior RW & Em Bro. Chris Ansell.
Once again, my hearty congratulations to all who received Provincial Honours this year. We also Dedicated our Provincial Sword at the meeting, which of course was a once in a lifetime occurrence.
October began with an Official Visit by the Grand Master, Most Worshipful Brother Paul Weldon Johnston, to the Court of Anglecynn No 11. The Provincial Team turned out in force, which was much appreciated. There are a lot of photos elsewhere on this website, for your perusal.
Congratulations to both Roger Bathurst and Michael Pendred who, at the Annual Assembly of the King's Council of the Ancient Masonic Order of Alfred the Great on 21 October were admitted as Knights of the Order (KAG), and to Karl Debenham who was advanced to Knight Commander (KCAG). We also congratulate Karl on his appointment as Deputy Provincial Grand Master for the Province of Essex on 30th September at Chelmsford. We wish him well in his important new role.
I was delighted by the support from the members of the Province who travelled to Leicester for the Grand Court meeting on the 22nd October. It was fantastic to witness our own W Bro Mark Shields in action as Deputy Grand Marshal. Congratulations also to Stephen Norman for his first-time appointment to the active rank of Grand Burgh. There were also first appointments for W Bro Terry Gray and W Bro Reg Eaton to Past Grand Banner Bearer, and W Bro Peter Pryke also received a promotion to Past Senior Grand Deacon. All in all, a great reflection on the hard work put in by these Brethren within the Province.
The month ended, as it had started, in Lowestoft where a “Beyond the Craft” event was held at the Masonic Centre and my thanks go out to Worshipful Brethren Gerry Foulger, George Slaughter, Eddie Moore, and Colin Jackson, for attending and manning the Athelstan stand.
I believe that we have generated several probable new “Instructees” for the Province as a result. Well done to all concerned.
November has also started with a “bang”. On the 4th of November the Court of Unity at Witesie “Instructed” three new members into the Order. Well done to everyone who performed a first-class ceremony.
Your Provincial Grand Secretary Worshipful Brother Eddie Moore continues to update all the members with any important communications from Grand Court, so I will not repeat them here. Eddie has also updated the Provincial Yearbook as of 4th November, which he has issued electronically to the membership and is also available online on this website.
Don’t forget to look at the YouTube videos, and both our Grand Court and Provincial websites.
In the meantime, please look after yourselves, and your families, and I will be in touch again in due course.
Yours sincerely and fraternally
Alex Allan
10th November 2022