This year’s Grand Council meeting took place at Great Queen Street on 15th April with a good number of members and guests in attendance. Warwickshire District was, as always, well represented.
M.Ill.Comp. Kessick John Jones, IX, Grand Master, presided over the meeting, assisted by R.Ill.Comp. Paul Anthony Norman, IX, Deputy Grand Master, and R.Ill.Comp. Norman Dunkeld Milburn, IX, Grand Principal Conductor of the Work, pictured below.
The Grand Temple at the Freemasons’ Hall, Great Queen Street,London, saw in excess of 600 Companions of the Order of Royal and Select Masters in attendance. The Grand Master conferred Appointment to, or Promotion in Grand Rank, on 144 Brethren and invested those present.
R Ill Comp Paul Norman, Deputy Grand Master, gave an update on the highly successful Sesquicentenary appeal and thanked all who had contributed for their generosity.
Those present from Warwickshire, mostly pictured below, included:
Ill Comp David Ursell, re-appointed to Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies
Ill Comp Graham Masefield, appointed to Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies
Ill Comp David Hopkins, appointed to Past Grand Sword Bearer
Ill Comp Gavin Cumberland appointed to Past Grand Standard Bearer
During the early part of the meeting, the Grand Master was re-elected to his high office, and he subsequently re-appointed the Deputy Grand Master and the Grand Principal Conductor of the Work. During the Grand Master’s address, he outlined the various appointments made during the year and major events that he had intended, and gave a brief mention of the consecration of our own Carolean Council, due to take place just a week later. He also commented on the success of the sesquicentenary appeal, and thanked everyone who had contributed to the fund and concluded by presenting cheques to the Masonic Charitable Foundation and the Mark Benevolent Fund.
As ever, the meeting was followed by an excellent dinner, presided over by the Grand Master, and enjoyed by all present.