Craft News
- Written by: John Fergusson
Northamptonshire & Huntingdonshire Lodge of Installed Masters has witnessed many special occasions and the Installation meeting which took place on Monday 24 October 2016 stands alongside those occasions. Our Provincial Grand Master, RW Bro Max Bayes, was installed into the Chair of King Solomon by W Bro Richard Bedells in an exemplary manner. The ceremony was performed in front of a very full Lodge room at Sheaf Close including the full Executive team of Deputy Provincial Grand Master, VW Bro Trevor Boswell and Assistant Provincial Grand Masters, W Bro David Burton and W Bro Charles Bennett.
The Past Assistant Provincial Grand Master, W Bro Norman Pope was appointed and invested as Senior Warden and the Lodge’s Past Secretary, W Bro Graeme Fordham as Junior Warden.
Above (left to right), Assistant Provincial Grand Master, W Bro David Burton, Deputy Provincial Grand Master, VW Bro Trevor Boswell,
Senior Warden, W Bro Norman Pope, Worshipful Master, RW Bro Max Bayes, W Bro Richard Bedells, Assistant Provincial Grand Master,
W Bro Charles Bennett & Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies, W Bro Dale Gilbert.
After the Installation ceremony was complete, W Bro Mark Smith of the Province of Essex and `Antiques Roadshow` fame, gave a very interesting and informative talk on the Victoria Cross. It covered the history and origins of the Cross, along with his findings on the heroics of some of the Freemasons who have received it. During the course of his talk, the Brethren were privileged to hold a Victoria Cross medal for themselves.
The evening was concluded with a very enjoyable Festive Board.
At a packed “X Factor” style audition held at Corby Masonic Centre, on Saturday 29th October 2016, various brethren from across the Province demonstrated ritual with the hope that they would be selected to take part in the 2nd Degree ceremony to be held on the 25th March, 2017 in the Main Temple at Great Queen Street, London, to Pass Bro Luke Howard.
As a result of the audition, the brethren listed below have been selected to take part in that ceremony.
- B Bennett, Socrates, 373
- R Pengilley, St Peters, 442
- P Logan, Lodge of Fidelity, 445
- Tho Than Nugyen, Perseverance, 455
- Daryll Swainson, Chichley, 607
- Paul Donneky, Elanor Cross, 1764
- Andy Walker, Euston, 2283
- V Tindale, Fitzwilliam, 2533
- B Smethurst, St Ivo, 2684
- F Hawson, Pemberton, 3039
- M Curren, Hatton, 3041
- Robin Beeby, Cytringan, 4048
- John Simpson, Old Northamptonian, 5694
- Peter Chapman, Lodge of St George, 5978
- D Watts, Risdene, 6532
- J Russell, Thistle and Rose, 6644
- G Sharif, Lodge of St James, 6838
- Daniel Day, Piscator, 7557
- Scott Austin, Dr Field, 8158
- Graham Rodger, Ferraria, 8489
- S Key, Lactodorum, 8526
- A R Collins, Lodge of Harmony, 9048
- A McWilliam, Corbie, 9155
- J Taylor, Hinchingbrooke, 9282
- Phillip McKeown, Gates of Billing, 9309
- N B Hood, Burghley, 9364
- E Storey, Lodge of Unity, 9495
- K C Mackie, Pro Musica, 9547
- K Roberts, Scout, 9814
Tickets for this event are on sale now. Please see your lodge secretary for details.
Thanks to the generosity of numerous Lodges throughout the province, the gardens at Palmer Court, a Masonic Housing Association, have undergone a transformation.
The work on the gardens has recently been completed and included a new decking and patio area, allowing residents to relax outside in more modern and stylish garden.
- Written by: Gerry Crawford
WBro Peter Robinson is the newly appointed Provincial Communication Officer. He succeeds the late WBro Richard Turpin.
Peter, who has been the Local Communication Officer for there Kettering area since the summer of 2012, was initiated into the Lodge of Perseverance No 455 in 1998, serving for 4 years as Charity Steward and then as Master in 2011.
He is also a member of Perseverance Chapter No455, the Palmer Lodge of Provincial Grand Stewards No 8995 and is Treasurer of the Lodge of Installed Masters No 3422.
Northamptonshire born and bred, he attended Northampton Grammar School, but now lives near Kettering with his wife Sue, two sons & a daughter (and their 3 dogs). A keen sportsman and FA Coach in his younger days, he now enjoys a round of golf and the occasional run for charity.
Peter, who works as Managing Director of an Insurance Broker in Kettering, is also involved with a number of organisations within the local community and is a former school governor.