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New Leadership Team in White Ensign Chapter
On Tuesday 6th December White Ensign Chapter met for the installation of our new MEZ. There were 11 members of White Ensign Chapter and 11 visiting Companions taking passage with us for the convocation.
E.Comp Barry J. Griffin presented Comp. Paul Tuckley with his Supreme Grand Chapter certificate and gave a wonderful explanation of it. It was also E.Comp Barry who gave the Mystical lecture for Comp. Paul’s exaltation in the preceding September.
The installation Presiding Officer was E. Comp Timothy M. Jones Provincial 2nd Grand Principal. Assisting the Presiding Officer, were E.Comp Keith M. Evans Provincial 3rd Grand Principal, E.Comp Alan Bolton Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies and E.Comp Barry J. Griffin.
E.Comp Martin Green was installed into the Chair of Zerubbabel by E.Comp by the IPZ E.Comp David Crump, E.Comp Ian Fothergill into the chair of Haggai (in the absence of E. Comp Len Venables) and E.Comp Glyn Cardy inducted into the chair of Joshua. The new MEZ having appointed his Officers for the following year, the convocation was closed. The evening was concluded by the festive board and £120 raised by the alms collection.
White Ensign Lodge Installation
Friday 2nd December saw our Master-elect Bro. Martin Carver installed into the chair of King Solomon at White Ensign Lodge by the IPM W.Bro. Glyn Cardy. The Presiding Officer for the installation was the R W.Bro. Stephen J. Wyer, the Provincial Grand Master of Worcestershire, this being the PGM’s first visit to White Ensign since his own inauguration in May 2022. The rest of the Provincial team were W.Bro. Del Padmore ProvSGW, W.Bro. Neil P. Nicholls ProvJGW and W.Bro. James A. Benson ProvDepGDC.
Following the installation, our new Worshipful Master, W.Bro. Martin Carver invested his lodge Officers for the forthcoming year in White Ensign. During the evening, a ballot was held for the following brethren who wished to join White Ensign; W.Bro. Alun Jones, Bro’s Virrdell Francis and Baljeet Singh Gill. There being no ‘black balls’, the ballot proved positive. Bro. Paul Tuckley having been raised to the sublime degree of a Master Mason in March 22 was presented with his Grand Lodge Certificate by the PGM with a description of its symbolism. W.Bro. Ian Fothergill, the Festival 2022 representative of the lodge announced that the lodge had reached its Festival 2022 target of £28,749.00 which is a fantastic achievement and W.Bro. Mike Wroe, the Charity Steward of the lodge presented the PGM with a cheque for £1535.00 on behalf of the lodge, this being gratefully received by the PGM.
On conclusion of the lodge business, the brethren retired to the dinning room for the White Ensign festive board following the customary tot of Rum for refreshment, this being our new Worshipful Masters time to ‘shine’ in the chair for the toasts ably assisted by the lodges own Director of Ceremonies.
During the course pf the Festive Board, a total of £709 was raised for charity. This being comprised of : Alms collection – £250.00; Miscellaneous fines – £59.00 and the Auction – £400.00
To the ‘Immortal Memory’
One of the highlights of the masonic calendar for White Ensign Lodge is our Trafalgar night to commemorate the Battle of Trafalgar on 21st October 1805 when the Royal Navy was victorious over the combined fleets of the French and Spanish navies. and Lord Nelson made the ultimate sacrifice.
In the lodge room, Bro. Lee Taylor was passed to the degree of the Fellowcraft, congratulations go to Lee. A ballot for a candidate for initiation were successfully concluded.
We could not overlook the fact that our evening also coincided with the Royal Marines Corps birthday, best wishes to the ‘Royals’.
In the finest traditions of the Senior Service, a tot of rum was also available to Brethren who were declared not temperance or UA (Under Age). The rum being distributed by the DC and Steward of White Ensign.
During the Festive Board, our Worshipful Master WO Glyn Cardy welcomed the following brethren into White Ensign as reservists: W.Bro’s. Paul Buckingham, Andy Penver, Michael Littler, Jim Crawford and Jason Ward, each one receiving a certificate and Red Ensign pin.
Charity being of great importance to Freemasons, at the Festive Board, the following was contributed to the Worcestershire’s Festival 2022 on behalf of White Ensign Lodge: Charity collection – £455, Auction – £595 and Offenders (fines) – £90. A grand total of £1140!
Many thanks go to the brethren for their fantastic generosity and also to our JW, Bro. Chris Mason who donated the Falklands picture for the auction.