The 2023 Annual Meeting
For those involved in the final preparations for the Annual Meeting on 13 July, the day started very early. With signage to put up, welcome packs to fill and rehearsals to perform it was all hands on deck! You can see the photos taken in the run-up to the meeting here.
But the big moment finally arrived and several hundred brethren took their seats ahead of the processions.
The ProvGM’s procession into Grand Temple was accompanied by the swirl of the London Celtic Pipes and Drums. Once he was seated, it was the turn of the Worshipful Masters, Worshipful Commanders and a very long procession of newly-Advanced brethren. After which we then welcomed the arrival of the Assistant Grand Master, R.W. Bro. Prof. Denovan Keith Wilson. Photos of the meeting before we opened officially can be seen here.
The business of Provincial Grand Lodge was carried out with efficiency and good humour, which saw W. Bro. Marios Stylianides invested as the newest Assistant Provincial Grand Master.
After the appointment and investiture of the Provincial Grand Officers of the year, the Assistant Grand Master gave his Address. He talked about the strong relationship with the Craft and the Grand Master’s Keystone Fund. He also mentioned how much he had enjoyed the music and the processions – in particular the newly-Advanced brethren’s procession which represented the 130 or so brethren who had joined the Province this year. The AGM went on to stress that “among Mark Master Masons you will ever find friends.”
The Provincial Grand Master’s Address which followed can be read here.
Once the meeting ended, there were drinks in the bar before over 400 brethren sat down to dine in the Grand Connaught Rooms – the photos of which can be seen here.
All-in-all it was an excellent day, and a great opportunity to catch up with old friends and to make new ones. The minutes of the meeting can be read here.
With thanks to Gary Carter, Chris Eley, Gary Stratmann, Chris Stewart and Hiko Tanaka for the photos.