The Annual Meeting of the Province was held at the Winchester Masonic Hall on Saturday, 7th April 2018 with R W Bro Lionel Broadbent Mee, Provincial Grand Master presiding. More than 70 brethren attended – which included members from the Province, Guests from Grand Court, other Provinces and Distinguished Brethren from as far as afield as Cornwall, East Anglia, Kent, Wales and Yorkshire.
The Annual Meeting of the Province was held at the Winchester Masonic Hall on Saturday, 7th April 2018 with R W Bro Lionel Broadbent Mee, Provincial Grand Master presiding. More than 70 brethren attended – which included members from the Province, Guests from Grand Court, other Provinces and Distinguished Brethren from as far as afield as Cornwall, East Anglia, Kent, Wales and Yorkshire.
Our special visitor was the Assistant Grand Master, R W Bro Roy William Leavers, GCh, GCSM who was warmly welcomed by the Provincial Grand Master and all the Brethren.
The Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master introduced a total of more than 30 Distinguished Guests, Heads of Orders, their Deputies and other members of the Executive within the Province - which comprises the Craft Provinces of Hampshire & Isle of Wight, South Middlesex, Surrey, Sussex and The Channel Islands.
During the meeting, the Provincial Grand Master re-appointed V W Bro Michael Daniel Ellis, KSM, PGSwdB as Deputy Provincial Grand Master after which he invested the Active Provincial Officers for the ensuing year and conferred Past Provincial Grand Rank on a number of brethren – including the rank of Past Provincial Senior Grand Warden on W Bro John Hickman in appreciation of his dedicated work as Provincial Treasurer over the past eleven years.
In his Annual Address to the Brethren, R W Bro Lionel said that he was delighted with the level of support he had received from Deputy Mike Ellis and the Provincial Officers of the year many of whom had accompanied them on the Official Visits to all Courts in the Province. He also expressed his appreciation of the welcome and hospitality extended on every occasion. A schedule of Official Visits for the coming year has been distributed to the newly appointed Active Officers who have again been invited to join him on the visits if they are available and wish to attend.
Two new courts have been established in the Province during the past twelve months bringing to 10 the number of Courts in the Province. The Court of Wiht-land No 123 was consecrated on 6th December 2017 to meet at Ryde on the Isle of Wight with W Bro Colin Wilson as Primus Master, and on 28th February 2018 The Court of Sion Abbey No 126 was founded to meet at Cole Court, Twickenham, with W Bro Martin Smith as Primus Master.
During the year we celebrated the Tenth Anniversary of the Order in the Province with a very successful Dinner & Dance in the Chichester Park Hotel in June 2017 with Wives, Partners, non-Masonic friends and other guests.
The Provincial Grand Master thanked W Bro Ron Bentley, Provincial Secretary, W Bro John Hickman, Provincial Treasurer and W Bro Mark Donovan, Provincial Marshal and his team for their hard work in planning and organising what had been a very successful meeting. He also thanked W Bro Matthew Burt for his wonderful musical contribution as acting Organist.
After the meeting there followed a pre-lunch Drinks Reception, following which 63 members and guests enjoyed an excellent and convivial Festive Board.
Photographs by W.Bro. Chris Eley
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The Annual Meeting of the Province was held at the Winchester Masonic Hall on Saturday, 7th April 2018 with R W Bro Lionel Broadbent Mee, Provincial Grand Master presiding. More than 70 brethren attended – which included members from the Province, Guests from Grand Court, other Provinces and Distinguished Brethren from as far as afield as Cornwall, East Anglia, Kent, Wales and Yorkshire.
Our special visitor was the Assistant Grand Master, R W Bro Roy William Leavers, GCh, GCSM who was warmly welcomed by the Provincial Grand Master and all the Brethren.
The Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master introduced a total of more than 30 Distinguished Guests, Heads of Orders, their Deputies and other members of the Executive within the Province - which comprises the Craft Provinces of Hampshire & Isle of Wight, South Middlesex, Surrey, Sussex and The Channel Islands.
During the meeting, the Provincial Grand Master re-appointed V W Bro Michael Daniel Ellis, KSM, PGSwdB as Deputy Provincial Grand Master after which he invested the Active Provincial Officers for the ensuing year and conferred Past Provincial Grand Rank on a number of brethren – including the rank of Past Provincial Senior Grand Warden on W Bro John Hickman in appreciation of his dedicated work as Provincial Treasurer over the past eleven years.
In his Annual Address to the Brethren, R W Bro Lionel said that he was delighted with the level of support he had received from Deputy Mike Ellis and the Provincial Officers of the year many of whom had accompanied them on the Official Visits to all Courts in the Province. He also expressed his appreciation of the welcome and hospitality extended on every occasion. A schedule of Official Visits for the coming year has been distributed to the newly appointed Active Officers who have again been invited to join him on the visits if they are available and wish to attend.
Two new courts have been established in the Province during the past twelve months bringing to 10 the number of Courts in the Province. The Court of Wiht-land No 123 was consecrated on 6th December 2017 to meet at Ryde on the Isle of Wight with W Bro Colin Wilson as Primus Master, and on 28th February 2018 The Court of Sion Abbey No 126 was founded to meet at Cole Court, Twickenham, with W Bro Martin Smith as Primus Master.
During the year we celebrated the Tenth Anniversary of the Order in the Province with a very successful Dinner & Dance in the Chichester Park Hotel in June 2017 with Wives, Partners, non-Masonic friends and other guests.
The Provincial Grand Master thanked W Bro Ron Bentley, Provincial Secretary, W Bro John Hickman, Provincial Treasurer and W Bro Mark Donovan, Provincial Marshal and his team for their hard work in planning and organising what had been a very successful meeting. He also thanked W Bro Matthew Burt for his wonderful musical contribution as acting Organist.
After the meeting there followed a pre-lunch Drinks Reception, following which 63 members and guests enjoyed an excellent and convivial Festive Board.
Photographs by W.Bro. Chris Eley
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