The Installation meeting of Three Counties Lodge No. 9278 took place on Monday the 25th of October 2021 at Sheaf Close, Northampton.
It was a very memorable and special evening that saw WBro James (Jim) Boughton PDepGSwdB, PAsstProvGM installed into the Chair of King Solomon by WBro Bob Stokes PAGDC.
Considering that WBro Jim is the Most Excellent Grand Superintendent of the Royal Arch in the Province of Northants and Hunts, and WBro Bob is the Provincial Grand Master of the Mark Degree in the Province of Northamptonshire, Huntingdonshire and Bedfordshire, the Installation was a very rare and significant event indeed!
From left, WBro Neil Handley PPSGW (Senior Warden), WBro Jim Boughton PDepGSwdB, PAsstProvGM (Worshipful Master), WBro Bob Stokes PAGDC (Installing Master), and RWBro Anthony Henderson ProvGM (Beds) (Junior Warden)
WBro Jim was Initiated into Heigham Lodge No. 8486 in 1985 before becoming Master of the Lodge in 1992. He subsequently became a founder member of Scout Lodge No. 9814 (as Junior Warden) in 2006 before becoming Master two-years later in 2008.
WBro Jim is also a member of Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire Lodge of Installed Masters No. 3422 and Palmer Lodge of Provincial Grand Stewards No. 8995 where he served as Master in 2011 and 2017 respectively.
This will be WBro Jim’s fifth time as Worshipful Master having been installed in 1992, 2008, 2011, 2017, and 2021. He also served as Assistant Provincial Grand Master from 2012 until 2016.
In the Royal Arch, Excellent Companion Jim Boughton has served as the Most Excellent Grand Superintendent in and over the Province of Northamptonshire and Huntingdonshire since 2018.
Amongst those present at the Installation meeting were the Provincial Grand Master, RWBro Max Bayes, together with his Provincial Executive team and a large number of Grand Officers and active Provincial Officers.
Following the Installation ceremony, the Provincial Grand Master gave his traditional half-yearly address during which he announced that VWBro Trevor Boswell PGSwdB, PDepProvGM would be installed as the next Worshipful Master of Three Counties Lodge No. 9278 in October 2022.