The Annual Assembly of the Provincial Grand Court of Sussex took place on Saturday 1st of April at the Winchester Masonic Centre.
Provincial Grand Court was honoured by the presence of the Assistant Grand Master. R.W.Bro. Charles Jonathan Aspinell.
From 8.30 am the Brethren of the Province and their guests started arriving. They all received a warm welcome from the Provincial Burghs.
As well as coffee and bacon butties.
While the team were busy ensuring that everything was ready for the meeting.
It was good to see so many Brethren from other Provinces who came along to support the Province of Sussex.
There were also many from other Orders attending to support R.W.Bro. Lionel B Mee, our Provincial Grand Master.
By 10.45 am everyone was seated in the Temple. Just after 10.50 am the Brethren were called to order to receive the distinguished guests, including Right Worshipful Brethren. The Assembly was called to order by W.Bro. Chris Eley, the Provincial Grand Marshal, to receive the Provincial Grand Master, R.W.Bro. Lionel B Mee.
At 11.00 am Provincial Grand Court was opened in due form by the Provincial Grand Master, who was saluted with seven under the direction of the Provincial Grand Marshal.
Provincial Grand Court received the Assistant Grand Master, escorted by the Grand Marshal, W.Bro. Glen Connelly. The Assistant Grand Master was welcomed to the Province of Sussex by the Provincial Grand Master and saluted under the direction of the Grand Marshal. After a fanfare by the Grand Organist, W.Bro. Matthew Burt, KAG.
After the regular business of Provincial Grand Court had been concluded the Provincial Grand Master said he was very pleased to re-appoint V.W.Bro. Mark Donovan, KAG, as Deputy Provincial Grand Master thanking him for his support over the past few years. The Very Worshipful Deputy Provincial Grand Master was saluted with five under the direction of the Provincial Grand Marshal.
The Deputy Provincial Grand Marshal inquired of the Provincial Grand Master if it was his wish to appoint a Provincial Prior. The Provincial Grand Master said it was his wish to appoint W.Bro. Chris Eley as Provincial Prior and called upon W & Em Bro Eric Trodd to form the Priors of the Vigil. W.Bro. Chris Eley was Consecrated and Dedicated as Provincial Prior in a very sincere manner by his old fried Eric, and was then congratulated and invested by the Provincial Grand Master. The Provincial Grand Master thanked Eric for his support as Provincial Grand Prior over the past four years.
The Provincial Grand Master asked the Provincial Grand Secretary to read the names of those Brethren he has appointed to Active and Past Provincial Rank. A total of 23 Brethren received re-appointment, appointment, promotion, or first appointment in Provincial Grand Rank.
In his Address the Provincial Grand Master congratulated the Provincial Grand Officers, appointed or re-appointed. He hoped that they will enjoy their year in office, and he encouraged them to come along on any of the visits with the Provincial Team. He thanked the guests and members for turning out in such numbers to support him and the Province of Sussex, especially the Assistant Grand Master, who said a few words of thanks before retiring from Provincial Grand Court, escorted by the Grand Marshal.
A charitable donation of £250 was approved to Prostrate Cancer, and £100 to the King Athelstan Memorial Foundation. The Assembly was then called to order and closed in due form. The Provincial Grand Master, the Deputy Provincial Grand Master, the Provincial Grand Wardens, the Provincial Grand Prior, Right Worshipful Brethren, other Honoured Guests and Provincial Officers then left the Temple in procession, greeting their honoured guests as they retired.
Then followed refreshments in the bar where we had time to catch up with old friends.
We were then called into lunch.
There was a most convivial atmosphere in the dining room.
After lunch we all made our way home – wishing the Province of Sussex all the beat for the future.
Article by Chris Eley and photos by Satish Dhir and Chris Eley
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Provincial Grand Court was honoured by the presence of the Assistant Grand Master. R.W.Bro. Charles Jonathan Aspinell.
From 8.30 am the Brethren of the Province and their guests started arriving. They all received a warm welcome from the Provincial Burghs.
As well as coffee and bacon butties.
While the team were busy ensuring that everything was ready for the meeting.
It was good to see so many Brethren from other Provinces who came along to support the Province of Sussex.
There were also many from other Orders attending to support R.W.Bro. Lionel B Mee, our Provincial Grand Master.
By 10.45 am everyone was seated in the Temple. Just after 10.50 am the Brethren were called to order to receive the distinguished guests, including Right Worshipful Brethren. The Assembly was called to order by W.Bro. Chris Eley, the Provincial Grand Marshal, to receive the Provincial Grand Master, R.W.Bro. Lionel B Mee.
At 11.00 am Provincial Grand Court was opened in due form by the Provincial Grand Master, who was saluted with seven under the direction of the Provincial Grand Marshal.
Provincial Grand Court received the Assistant Grand Master, escorted by the Grand Marshal, W.Bro. Glen Connelly. The Assistant Grand Master was welcomed to the Province of Sussex by the Provincial Grand Master and saluted under the direction of the Grand Marshal. After a fanfare by the Grand Organist, W.Bro. Matthew Burt, KAG.
After the regular business of Provincial Grand Court had been concluded the Provincial Grand Master said he was very pleased to re-appoint V.W.Bro. Mark Donovan, KAG, as Deputy Provincial Grand Master thanking him for his support over the past few years. The Very Worshipful Deputy Provincial Grand Master was saluted with five under the direction of the Provincial Grand Marshal.
The Deputy Provincial Grand Marshal inquired of the Provincial Grand Master if it was his wish to appoint a Provincial Prior. The Provincial Grand Master said it was his wish to appoint W.Bro. Chris Eley as Provincial Prior and called upon W & Em Bro Eric Trodd to form the Priors of the Vigil. W.Bro. Chris Eley was Consecrated and Dedicated as Provincial Prior in a very sincere manner by his old fried Eric, and was then congratulated and invested by the Provincial Grand Master. The Provincial Grand Master thanked Eric for his support as Provincial Grand Prior over the past four years.
The Provincial Grand Master asked the Provincial Grand Secretary to read the names of those Brethren he has appointed to Active and Past Provincial Rank. A total of 23 Brethren received re-appointment, appointment, promotion, or first appointment in Provincial Grand Rank.
In his Address the Provincial Grand Master congratulated the Provincial Grand Officers, appointed or re-appointed. He hoped that they will enjoy their year in office, and he encouraged them to come along on any of the visits with the Provincial Team. He thanked the guests and members for turning out in such numbers to support him and the Province of Sussex, especially the Assistant Grand Master, who said a few words of thanks before retiring from Provincial Grand Court, escorted by the Grand Marshal.
A charitable donation of £250 was approved to Prostrate Cancer, and £100 to the King Athelstan Memorial Foundation. The Assembly was then called to order and closed in due form. The Provincial Grand Master, the Deputy Provincial Grand Master, the Provincial Grand Wardens, the Provincial Grand Prior, Right Worshipful Brethren, other Honoured Guests and Provincial Officers then left the Temple in procession, greeting their honoured guests as they retired.
Then followed refreshments in the bar where we had time to catch up with old friends.
We were then called into lunch.
There was a most convivial atmosphere in the dining room.
After lunch we all made our way home – wishing the Province of Sussex all the beat for the future.
Article by Chris Eley and photos by Satish Dhir and Chris Eley
< return to News Index
