Provincial News
- Written by: Michael Genner
At the England’s Centre Lodge March meeting the WM and the DPGM presented a cheque for £1,500 to John Helm who is the Fund Raising Manager for the Cynthia Spencer Hospice. The Lodge contributed £1,000 and the Provincial Grand Charity £500 towards the donation.
Mrs Z Bowers, wife and Gareth Bowers son of the late Bro John Bowers also attended the presentation.
Last year two of The Lodge members were nursed by the Hospice before departing to The Grand Lodge Above. The WM said that the Lodge has been delighted to support such a worthy cause.
From left to right: WM WBro Rob Walker, Mrs Z Bowers, John Helm of Cynthia Spencer Hospice, DPGM VWBro Viv Thomas and Gareth Bowers.
- Written by: Michael Genner
WBro Bob Hall was initiated into the Lodge of St Paul 6516 Kettering on 10 January 1955 and became the Worshipful Master in 1964. He was the Lodge Almoner from 1979 for 7 years and awarded Provincial Rank in 1979. He received his 60 year Jubilee Certificate Certificate on 10 March 2015. It was presented by W Bro Michael Branch.
It’s been quiet a time for WBro Bob because he also celebrated his 100th birthday in October.
W Bro Bob still takes a keen interest in Lodge affairs and we all send him our congratulations and best wishes.
- Written by: Super User
E Comp Richard Stainton SANDBACH PGSupt, OSM
Companions all,
Nearly a week has now passed since we received the sad news that our Past Grand Superintendent, E Comp Richard Sandbach, had passed peacefully away last Saturday morning at the RMBI Residential Home at Devonshire Court and where he and his late wife, Wendy, had spent their last few years together. E Comp Richard was in his 100th year.
We have already written to the family to convey our sincere condolences and to assure them that our thoughts and prayers are with them at this sad time. We understand that a memorial service will be held to commemorate his life in due course.
E Comp Richard was the ME Grand Superintendent of this Province from 1978 to 1990 – he was appointed some six years before being installed as our Provincial Grand Master in 1984. Having been initiated in 1949, he was later exalted into our St Peter’s Chapter No: 442 in 1952. There followed a very distinguished and illustrious Masonic career, not only in this Province of Northamptonshire & Huntingdonshire but also in London and in other Orders of Freemasonry in which he held high office and in which he was greatly respected and held in the highest regard.
In March 2006, he was awarded the Grand Master’s Order of Service to Masonry (OSM) – an accolade afforded to just a privileged few. He was greatly influential in the revision of our Royal Arch ritual in 2004 when recommendations and amendments were accepted and approved by Supreme Grand Chapter in November of that year.
Indeed, we have a great deal for which to be grateful and for which we are indebted to our Past Grand Superintendent. He will be sorely missed by all those that were privileged to have known him but through our amended Royal Arch ritual, his memory will continue to live on. He certainly lived respected and he truly died regretted.
Wayne E Williams ME Grand Superintendent
Royal Arch Province of Northamptonshire & Huntingdonshire.
- Written by: Super User
As the 2014/15 Masonic season comes towards a close and the Holy Royal Arch Chapters hold their last meetings, Excellent Companion David Jackson enjoyed a most convivial evening of companionship at Ailwyn Chapter which was his last official visit as Deputy Grand Superintendent. E Comp David, has served on this Province’s Executive since 2002 which is over 13 years dedicated service, the last 9 years have been in the capacity of Deputy Grand Superintendent. It should be noted that he has served under 2 Grand Superintendents.
During this period, E Comp David has enjoyed many official visits across the province and has represented Northamptonshire & Huntingdonshire across the country at numerous Provincial Grand Chapter meetings. His last visit at Ailwyn on Monday night was an excellent occasion and enjoyed by all those in attendance. The Three Principals wished E Comp David well in his retirement and thanked him for his services to the Holy Royal Arch, which met with unanimous agreement from all the Companions present.