Provincial Grand Conclave of London and Middlesex

The Annual Meeting of the Provincial Grand Conclave of London & Middlesex took place on Wednesday the 10th of September at Mark Masons’ Hall.

From 2.30 pm the Brethren of the Province and their guests started arriving.   It was good to see so many Brethren from other Provinces, and other Orders, who came along to support the Province of London & Middlesex.  By 3.45 pm everyone was seated in the Temple.  Just after 3.50 pm the Brethren were called to order to receive the distinguished guests, including Right Worthy Brethren.

The Brethren were called to Order to receive the Provincial Grand Supreme Ruler, R.Wy.Bro. Clifford Mark Sturt, who entered the Temple in procession, accompanied by the Provincial Officers of the Year.  Provincial Grand Conclave was opened in due form by the Provincial Grand Supreme Ruler, who was saluted with seven under the direction of the Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies.  The Provincial Grand Supreme Ruler welcomed the honoured guests of the Province and other Distinguished Brethren.  A proposal was made to donate the sum of £1,600 to the Magical Taxi Tour charity.  The charity gives sick children a break from therapy and treatment by giving them a three-day trip to Disneyland, Paris.  The children are transported in a convoy of London Taxis and support staff.   The families would not be able to undertake this trip alone, only in convoy with medical support can they do so.  This was approved.

After the regular business of Provincial Grand Conclave had been concluded, the Provincial Grand Supreme Ruler was pleased to re-appoint the Deputy Provincial Grand Supreme Ruler, R.Wy.Bro. Jonathan Peter Wallis, P.G.G., thanking him for all his support over the past year.  He then invested his Officers for the year.

After receiving his Arch of Steel, he addressed Provincial Grand Conclave.  He thanked all the guests for supporting Provincial Grand Conclave, and all the Provincial Grand Officers who had accompanied him on his visits to the Conclaves over the year.  He congratulated those he had appointed and invested today saying he was looking forward to his visits to Conclaves this year.  He thanked the Provincial Grand Recorder and the Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies and their teams for all they had done to make the meeting such a success, and finally all the Brethren of the Province of London & Middlesex for their support.

Provincial Grand Conclave was closed in due form and the Provincial Grand Supreme Ruler, attended by the Deputy Provincial Grand Supreme Ruler retired in procession, greeting their honoured guests on their way out.  We then enjoyed some refreshments before going into the dining room at Mark Masons’ Hall for a delicious carvery meal.  After the meal the Deputy Provincial Grand Supreme Ruler proposed the Toast to the Provincial Grand Supreme Ruler thanking him for all he has done for the Province over the past year.  The Provincial Grand Supreme Ruler thanked the Provincial Grand Supreme Ruler and the Brethren for their best wishes.  After a most enjoyable day we all made our way home to our various Provinces.

Annual Meeting of the Provincial Grand Conclave of Kent

On Saturday the 10th of October a delegation of Surrey OSM Brethren travelled round the M25 to Gillingham to attend the Annual Meeting of the Provincial Grand Conclave of Kent at the Gillingham Masonic Centre.

We were made most welcome by the Provincial Grand Supreme Ruler and the brethren of Kent.  While coffee and breakfast rolls were being served in the dining room the Provincial Grand Supreme Ruler’s Arch of Steel were busy rehearing their duties in the Temple.  Among the many guests were Heads of Orders from several Kent Orders, and distinguished guests from other Provinces.

The Right Worthy Brethren entered the Temple under an Arch of Steel, followed by the Provincial Officers of the Year.  The Provincial Grand Supreme Ruler, Right Worthy Brother, Scott James Dunn, preceded by the Provincial Bow Bearer and Sword Bearer, entered the Temple through an Arch of Steel, accompanied by the drums of the Chatham Royal Marine Cadets, an impressive sight.

Provincial Grand Conclave was opened by the Provincial Grand Supreme Ruler, who was saluted with seven under the direction of the Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies.  After the In Memoriam to departed Brethren, the Provincial Grand Supreme Ruler welcomed all the honoured guests of the Province hoping that they will enjoy the meeting, which as is the usual tradition, will have a few special surprises.

The Provincial Grand Supreme Ruler thanked Wy.Bro. Philip Charles Clare for his support over several years as Deputy Provincial Grand Supreme Ruler and announced that he was appointing Wy.Bro. Paul Robert King as Deputy Provincial Grand Supreme Ruler.  An escort was formed to introduce Wy.Bro. Paul into Provincial Grand Conclave.  After a few words from the Provincial Grand Supreme Ruler Wy.Bro. Paul was Obligated, Invested, and Proclaimed as the Deputy Provincial Grand Supreme Ruler of the Provincial Grand Conclave of Kent.  The Provincial Officers for the year 2026/2027 were appointed and those present were invested.  The Provincial Grand Supreme Ruler then appointed the Commander, Deputy Commander, and Registrar of his Bodyguard and acknowledged the members of his Arch of Steel.

He then had much pleasure in presenting several awards.  He presented the Provincial Grand Supreme Ruler‘s Service Award for dedicated service, unwavering commitment, and outstanding contributions to three brethren of the Province.  He then had pleasure in presenting the Supreme Grand Supreme Ruler’s Award of Merit to two brethren of the Province for their unwavering dedication which has been instrumental to the success of the units to which they belong.  He then presented a rather large Past Deputy Provincial Grand Supreme Ruler’s jewel to Wy.Bro. Phil Clare.

During the year the Province has donated to many charities.  We received presentations from four of these charities; Ellenor Hospice, Medway Towns Sea Cadets, Medi Tech Trust, East Kent Widow’s Sons, Air Ambulance Charity Kent Surrey Sussex, Royal Marine Cadets, and Little Princess Trust, who all thanked the brethren of Kent for their support.  During his address to Provincial Grand Conclave, the Provincial Grand Supreme Ruler thanked all members of the Province for their continued support and requested them to continue to seek out from their Craft Lodges suitable members for this wonderful Order.

After the meeting the Provincial Grand Supreme Ruler greeted all the honoured guests on their way out of the Temple.  We then sat down to a most enjoyable luncheon where the Chatham Royal Marine Cadets played for us at the festive and the Provincial Grand Supreme Ruler had much pleasure in presenting cheques to the charities who attended today’s meeting.

Kent Kares Appeal Reaches £95,000 Milestone, Supporting 30 Charities

In 2024 as the OSM Province of Kent approached its 40th Birthday, R.Wy.Bro. Scott Dunn launched the ‘Kent Kares’ Appeal. The aim to raise £100,000 and support 40 charities by the end of its Birthday year. 

As the Province enters the last 12 months of the appeal, R.Wy.Bro. Scott was pleased to announce that with the £10,000 given out on Saturday, the Province has reached £95,000 and 30 charities. 

The funds have bought medical equipment, CCTV equipment, supported Hospices, Marine and Sea Cadets, Independent Charities, the Royal British Legion, the KSS and London Air Ambulance, assisted Masonic Centres in repairs, donated to the MBF, the OSM Benevolent Fund and other Masonic Charities and Appeals and has funded a CPR and First Aid scheme training masons and staff at masonic halls across Kent. 

The members of Kent OSM have really risen to  the challenge of demonstrating the caring aspect of the Order.

R.Wy.Bro. Scott stated he was immensely proud and humbled to be able to lead the Brethren of OSM Kent without whom none of this would be possible and thanked the Brethren for their commitment and generosity.