News - Contingent from Kent visit the District of Thames Valley for their Annual Meeting

On Saturday 15th August 2022 the Deputy District Grand Prefect W. Bro Brian Alan Ward accompanied the District Grand Secretary W. Bro Derek Wilkins left Folkestone at 6am (it was still dark!) to attend the Thames Valley District annual meeting. The first task of the day was to collect the District Grand Prefect R. W. Bro Peter Brockbank and W. Bro Tony Maslin at Eltham (it was still dark!) Despite the train strike and the anticipated hold ups on the motorways (M11, M25, M40) the journey north via the Blackwell tunnel was trouble free and we arrived in daylight at just after 9am.

As is typical of any Allied masonic meeting we received a very warm welcome from our hosts and were directed towards tea, coffee and bacon butties. In truth no directions were necessary as the smell of bacon was mouth-watering. Whist munching bacon butties and slurping tea we were able to catch up with friends from other districts before taking our seat in the temple.

After the council had been opened, an escort comprising of active Grand officers was formed and the Grand Master M. W. Bro. Thomas Frith Jackson was escorted into the temple where he was warmly welcomed and saluted.

Contingent from Kent visit the District of Thames Valley for their Annual Meeting

Those assembled then witnessed the Grand Master install the new District Grand Prefect W. Bro Robert William Chevin in a most excellent manner.

The newly appointed District Grand Prefect then appointed and invested his Deputy District Grand Prefect W. Bro Simon Russel Gillas. He then appointed and invested his District officers for the ensuing year.

When the business of the day had been completed and the council closed the brethren assembled in the banqueting suite to once again enjoy each other’s company and a superb festive board consisting of Chicken Parfait with an Orange glaze to start followed by a Baked Salmon with a chive cream sauce and seasonal vegetables and finishing with a monster bowl of Eton mess (which hopefully contained hardly any calories). Having enjoyed a superb day with friends, good food and Guinness the contingent from Kent headed south for home. Having safely returned the District Grand Prefect and Tony Maslin back to their homes in Eltham Derek and Brian headed back to Folkestone to arrive home in the dark!

Congratulations to all those from the Thames Valley District who helped to organise such a fabulous day.

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