Provincial Grand Lodge of Mark Master Masons of Hertfordshire

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Newsletter

Autumn 2006

From: W Bro Philip Hoy Provincial Information Officer

Provincial Grand Lodge 2006

On Tuesday the 11th July Rickmansworth Masonic School for Girls was once again the wonderful setting for the Mark Provincial Grand Lodge Meeting. As always, no matter what the weather has been the day before, the Sun shone and it was a very warm occasion

Right on time, Provincial Grand Lodge was opened with all the ceremony and colour that accompanies this annual event. A lot of the colour being provided by the many Lodge Banners that provided a backdrop to the event this year.

Provincial Grand Lodge

The Provincial Grand Master welcomed all of our many distinguished visitors from other Mark Provinces and the senior members of the other Masonic orders in Hertfordshire.

Charitable Donations

The Provincial Grand Lodge likes to lead the Charitable giving of the Lodges in Hertfordshire by example; this year being no exception. Various Charitable donations were proposed and approved amongst them:

Donation of £3,000 to the Craft Province of Hertfordshire in support of the Craft Provincial Grand Master’s 2009 Festival Appeal.

Donation of £2,000 to the Mark Province of Staffordshire & Shropshire in support of the Mark Fund of Benevolence 2007 Festival Appeal.

Donation of £6,000 (payable at £2,000 per year over three years) in support of scholarships for twp mature students at the University of Hertfordshire.

Donation of £1,000 to the Willow Foundation to support special days for seriously ill young adults.

Donation of £1,000 to The Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospice Appeal for the provision of a children’s hospice in South Hertfordshire/North London.

Reimburse the Discretionary Fund available to the Provincial Grand Master and Trustees in support of benevolent causes, to £5,000

Changes to the Executive

There have been a number of changes to the Executive this year starting with the appointment of W Bro Colin Hellyer, PGStwd as Assistant Provincial Grand Master on the retirement from that post of W Bro Michael Roff, PGSD.

Colin Hellyer is presented to the R W Provincial Grand Master

David Sawyer has taken over as Provincial Grand Chaplain from Michael Watts, PAGSwdB; Duncan Beardsley, PAGSwdB has taken the place of Colin Hellyer as Provincial Grand Treasurer; Albert Waite, PGStB has replaced Philip Hoy as Deputy Secretary and Peter Hughes has taken over as Provincial Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies from John Hurley, PAGDC

All other appointments can be seen on the Provincial website and in the forthcoming year book.

Prince Michael of Kent Court

Prince Michael of Kent Court is of course named in honour of M W Bro HRH Prince Michael of Kent. In the entrance is his portrait which has been there since the centre was opened and was, to be frank, showing its age. It was therefore with much delight that the PGM was able to present W Bro Peter Richards as Chairman of the Friends of PMOKC with a newly framed Portrait of our Grand Master to replace the old one. Peter was delighted to receive it and promised to have it hung immediately.

Peter Richards Receiving the Portrait

The R W Provincial Grand Master then addressed Provincial Grand Lodge and touched on many subjects including the Five-Year Plan that was now being enacted and the reformation of the Provincial Development Committee. He reinforced this Provinces commitment to Charity and thanked all for the support he continues to receive.

The Lodge was then closed and the PGM and other Distinguished Officers were escorted from Provincial Grand Lodge.

The Recesson from Provincial Grand Lodge

Festive Board

The Festive Board took place in the Dining Room and was enjoyed by all present. Once again, the hot weather had been taken into account and a very tasty cold meat salad was the meal with plenty of excellent wine to accompany it.

Tony Lapsley and Eric Turver better known from the KT

Neill Phillips, Royal Arch Information Officer (who now owes me a picture on his page)

Bob Jackson and some unknown chap (everyone pretends not to know George Laverick)

The Festive Board during the PGM's Speech

Charity at Ayot Lodge

Ayot Lodge of Mark Master Masons No 1529, has increased its charity fund raising efforts this year where the Brethren of the Lodge have supported the three following initiatives:

Firstly, Bro Graham Kolthammer undertook a 10km endurance swim in March, and even though he had suffered from a mild cold during the week before the event, he managed to complete the distance in 3hrs 43mins 11secs. This was longer than he had hoped (3hrs 20mins) but quicker than he had dreaded (4hrs), and his 5km split was 3 mins faster than for that distance which he swam the previous year. The Brethren of the Lodge supported this event to the sum of £110, with the parents, guardians, and friends at his daughter’s school, Benington Primary School, raising a further £120 for the school; both sums will be boosted with the reclamation of Gift Aid.

Secondly, W Bro Manoo Mootien, in his joint offices of Master and Commander of the Ayot Mark and Royal Ark Mariner Lodges respectively, hosted a charity luncheon for Lodge members, their partners, and guests. Finding a sunny window between the early May showers, the event was very well supported and raised just over £250 for charity. The Lodge’s thanks not only go to W Bro Manoo but also to his wife Salma and daughter Davina for making everyone welcome at their home.

The third and longer lasting initiative has been the striking of the Ayot Mark Token, which has been the brainchild of Charity Steward W Bro Bob Chilvers. Along with support from the Mark Token Collectors Club, limited editions of boxed enamelled tokens produced to underwrite the first strike were taken up by the Brethren of the Lodge. These Brethren also received a plain token to be used at Lodge meetings, for Ayot is a fine Lodge where members, visitors, and guests can be fined £1 for charity for committing offences such as failing to sign the Attendance Book with their Mark, failing to present a Mark Token at the Festive Board, or even wearing an inappropriate tie...

The design of the token incorporates the Lodge’s logo of St. Peter’s Church at Ayot St Peter, the east end of which is embellished with two pillars and an arch incorporating the keystone. The design also includes a large crossed Mallet and Chisel underneath the logo, to indicate that the Mallet of the Great Overseer admonishes us to exertion. The great lesson being that skill without exertion is worthless, whilst the chisel, grounded to acute sharpness and representing that skill, will make an impression on all but the hardest of substances if driven with repeated efforts by the Mallet of exertion.

The Lodge will be presenting this token to future Candidates and Joining Members and has a stock for fund raising purposes. Anyone wishing to acquire an Ayot Mark Token may do so by contacting the Lodge Secretary W Bro Mike Herman and donating a minimum of £6 to the Lodge’s charitable fund raising but they only have about 40 of this first strike remaining so get in quick. With all Tokens attracting the minimum donation, it is expected that the first strike will raise a minimum of £375 for charity, all monies being thankfully received and faithfully applied.

When their initiatives are nearer completion and they have a consolidated total, Ayot Lodge will be announcing their aim of supporting a locally organised charity.

Ayot Tokens

Making His Mark

At the Chorleywood and Chenies Branch of The Royal British Legion Annual Dinner on Friday 3rd March 2006,John Oakley-Smith JP Chairman of the Branch from 1976-1981 and President since 1991 was awarded the Royal British Legion Gold Badge for his past contributions to the Royal British Legion, in a surprise presentation by the Member of Parliament for South West Hertfordshire David Gauke who was in attendance as the guest speaker.

(L - R) David West (Chairman), John Oakley-Smith (President), David Gauke MP and Arthur Toms.

Our congratulations to John

And Finally

Caption Competition

This photo came my way recently and seldom have I seen a photo more worthy of a caption.

We three (four) do meet and agree

What do you think Teddi the Dog might be thinking?

Answers by email or Post to me and I will let the Deputy Provincial Grand Master select the best one.

I am sure I can even get the Mark executive to cough up a bottle of Champagne to the winner (or I publish the other photos)

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Items of news should be sent to Philip Hoy at info@hertsmark.org or by fax to 01279 817793.

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