PGM's Diary

DECEMBER 2007

Here I am late again, but there seems to be an awful lot going on in my life at the moment. Our daughter presented us with our first grandchild on Monday of last week and so, if you will excuse me, my mind has not exactly been concentrating on matters Masonic!

The following Monday, we travelled to Bolton for a very special occasion; the 275th anniversary of Anchor and Hope Lodge No 37, the oldest Lodge in the English Constitution outside London . It is incredible to think that this Lodge was consecrated 60 years before Beethoven wrote his first symphony, and has been meeting regularly in Bolton ever since. It was an evening steeped in history - very special.

The following evening I attended the 50th anniversary of WBro Fred Kemp in Blackburn. Bro Kemp was, of course, the PGM in the Mark degree for 10 years, and so there was a heavy Mark presence! We heard a lovely tribute to Fred from his brother in law. I then said a few words, and the DC paraded him around the lodge room to loud applause - did I detect a little tear in his eye as he thanked everyone present. Such celebrations are lovely occasions when the brethren can pay due tribute to great service.

I was supposed to travel down to London for Supreme Grand Chapter on the Wednesday but, unfortunately, a change in my drug regime got the better of me. Along with my colleagues, I decided to have two weeks rest so that I would be ok for Provincial Grand Lodge at the end of the month.

Your support at Blackburn on 29 November was magnificent, with nearly 1,200 brethren present; the most we have had for some years. The collection, which, with tax reclaim, raised over £6,000 for ELMC - another record.

It was a really happy meeting. Amongst those who I appointed and promoted was a Brother from Audenshaw who had celebrated his 100th birthday in October. Then, at the conclusion of the meeting, I was able to present the Past PGM, RWBro Jimmy Hemsley, with a certificate commemorating his 50 years in the Craft. The assembled company broke in to spontaneous "For he's a jolly good fellow"- great stuff!

I had some important things to say about mentoring so please have a look at our website www.pglel.co.uk and read the address. I hope that it sets out our plans clearly for the coming year.

So may I wish a Happy Christmas to you and your families. It is a special time of the year and, of course, Marlene and I will be enjoying our new grand daughter, Isobel, although I have made it clear to the new parents that whilst Grandpa can be called on to deal with wet nappies, brown ones are out of the question!

Have a peaceful and Happy Christmas and New Year.

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OCTOBER 2007

Apologies for being a bit late with my October diary but Marlene and I were in the Maldives for 10 days at the end of October and life has been pretty hectic since we returned.

October opened with a meeting of the Frederick William Towns Grand Officers Mess in Audenshaw. We used to have a Grand Officers Lodge but decided to close it and meet for dinner informally twice a year and that that atmosphere would be more conducive for my colleagues and I to meet with the Grand Officers. We had dinner together and I then referred to some briefing notes which I ask them to use when they act as my representative at Installation meetings. The Grand Officers of this Province offer such an important and vital service and it is important that they are well briefed.

On the Thursday I attended the Unity Chapter No.298 200th celebration and what a wonderful night. We were graced with the presence of E.Comp Neil Collings the 3rd Grand Principal who was quite outstanding. Comp.Nigel Love the Scribe E. of the Chapter had put together a quite remarkable historical account of the chapter but to everyone's surprise -- particularly Nigel's! --even he had missed an important event. My Prov.Grand Sword Bearer was inspecting the sword before we entered the chapter and found to everyone's surprise that it had been presented to one of my predecessors E.Comp.Col.le Gendre Nicholas Starkie in 1872 by a member of Unity Chapter No.298 !! The chapter was on great form and gave all the guests a truly memorable experience.

The following Wednesday I attended a presentation by the Education and Training Committee to around 90 brethren in Manchester many of whom were lodge mentors. Over the next few months this presentation will be made in each district of the Province and I will be announcing the launch of our new Mentors initiative at Provincial Grand Lodge in a few weeks time. The brethren showed a very high degree of interest in the presentation with plenty of questions and recognised that in the end we are all mentors for each other.

The following evening I attended the Provincial Grand Officers Chapter No.3747 and witnessed a lovely installation ceremony at which E.Comp Malcolm Worsley was installed as First Principal by the Dep.Grand Supt. E.Comp Jack Price. To recover from this Malcolm has taken himself off on a 6 week holiday to New Zealand with his wife Norma! The Chapter was well attended and is an excellent opportunity to meet with the Provincial officers. At the Social Board we sit at round tables and place one of the Provincial leaders at each table to enable the companions to update themselves on Provincial matters. I would strongly recommend any of you who are Provincial officers in the Royal Arch to join 3747 as it does afford you the opportunity to meet with the leaders of the Province in a relaxed atmosphere.

The following Tuesday my Deputy and I met with our counterparts in West Lancashire for lunch. We do this twice a year to share our thoughts on major masonic matters and it is extremely useful. I am glad to say that the relationship between our two Provinces and the sharing of experiences and thoughts is of the highest order.

On the Wednesday I went on an official visit to the Lodge Fidelity No.430 in Ashton. Anyone who knows the lodge will know that it is akin to entering the lions den -- even for a Provincial Grand Master. We heard an explanation of the 1st Tracing Board by one of my Deputy Provincial Grand Directors of Ceremonies -- not the ritual from the book but in modern day language which was really illuminating. This was presented to a full lodge room which contained over 20 brethren who had become freemasons in the last year or so. After the meeting and before the social board I met with the new members and we had an excellent exchange of views. It is a format I propose to repeat next year giving me an opportunity to meet younger freemasons and for them to meet their Provincial Grand Master.

Then on the Friday we traveled to Burnley to Brun Lodge No.5118 to witness the initiation of a young man -- just 21 years of age. An excellent ceremony and great to see such a young man enter our order. This time before the lodge opened I again met around 25 of the younger brethren over a cup of tea and again had an excellent exchange of views and I was able to explain what freemasonry meant to me and how it has played such a special part in my life.

Brethren Provincial Grand Lodge in Blackburn is only a few weeks away. Could I particularly encourage any of the younger brethren who may read this diary to come along with their friends to this meeting. I remember my first visit and what an impression it made on me -- somehow it was only then that I realised just what I had joined -- the colour and the way the Director of Ceremonies and his team coordinate the proceedings and being able to put a face to the names that are toasted so often at lodge meetings. I hope to see you there.