© 2021 Provincial Grand Court of Wessex
Held at Mount Edgcumbe Masonic Hall,
237 Citadel Road East, Plymouth, PL1 2NG, on Saturday13th. May 2017 at 11:00 a.m. Hosted by the Provincial Grand Master
R.W. Bro. Roger Wilfred Freeman and assisted by his Deputy W.Bro. Keith Roger Duncan Waters, KSM, PSGD
Provincial Grand Masters Address
Brethren
I
wish
to
thank
you
all
for
attending
here
today,
this
the
9th
Annual
Assembly
of
the
Province
of
Wessex
,
it
is
good
to
see
you
all
here,
and
indeed
many
of
you
have
travelled
long
distances
both
within
the
Province
and
beyond.
I
am
acutely
aware
of
several
competing
meetings
today,
including
Provincial
Meetings,
which
has
caused
something
of
a
dilemma
for
those
who
have
commitments
in
office
or
receiving
honours
in
in
other
Orders,
and
would
otherwise
have
been
here
today.
Next
year’s
arrangements
will
need
to
be
considered
again,
I
have
been
informed
yesterday
that
at
least
one
other
Provincial
Meeting
plans
to
change
next
year’s
meeting
to
the
2nd Saturday in May!
I
have
already
welcomed
our
distinguished
guests,
a
special
delight
to
have
their
company
today,
and
I
now
wish
to
extend
my
thanks
to the individual Courts and the members for your welcome and hospitality given to me and my Deputy.
It
has
been
a
busy
but
satisfying
year
which
has
seen
Theocsbury
Court
join
the
Wessex
Clan
and
I
am
delighted
to
see
members
from
Theocsbury
Court
here
today.
I
am
delighted
to
witness
the
commitment
and
hard
work
demonstrated
by
all
the
Courts
in
working
and
polishing
the
ritual,
and
particularly
the
standards
achieved
–
the
Ceremonies
have
been
a
pleasure
to
see.
Candidates
are
of
course
sought
in
each
Court
but
the
practice
of
a
demonstration
working
to
build
up
the
experience
and
expertise
in
the
Ceremony
is
to be commended. My Deputy is the most experienced demonstration Candidate in the Province.
In
addition
I
appointed
a
new
Provincial
Grand
Secretary
David
Attwater
after
Barry
Chalkley
was
appointed
last
year
as
Dep.
Grand
Secretary, and I again warmly welcome him here today in that role,
My
Deputy,
Keith
Waters,
my
Provincial
Grand
Secretary,
and
I
have
visited
all
Courts
in
the
Province
since
December
and
it
is
my
intention
to
continue
I
this
manner,
but
perhaps
to
allow
the
Courts
to
conduct
business
occasionally
without
the
PGM
peering
over
the
shoulder
.
The
family
of
the
Wessex
Province
is
my
prime
concern
and
I
hope
that
you
are
all
aware
that
I
and
my
team
aim
to
be
approachable and are all happy to discuss any issues or concerns.
At
the
last
Provincial
Assembly,
mention
was
made
of
considerations
given
for
a
new
Court
in
the
Province.
Much
work
has
been
undertaken
by
my
Deputy,
KW,
to
take
this
forward.
Founders
have
been
identified
and
we
are
sight
of
the
finishing
line
when
a
number
of
new
candidates,
or
Uniques,
have
been
confirmed.
Any
information
or
details
to
assist
in
this
last
push
please
pass
to
KW,
and will be gratefully received.
My
congratulations
to
all
those
officers
that
I
have
had
the
pleasure
to
appoint
or
reappoint
today,
and
I
hope
that
you
will
derive
much
satisfaction from your ranks and the support to the Province.
Here
I
would
like
to
extend
my
thanks
to
the
Officers
for
the
last
year
who
have
been
most
helpful
and
supportive.,
and
many
have
carried out extensive visiting to the Courts, this is no mean feat bearing in mind the size of the Province and the distances involved.
I wish to give my personal thanks to my executive team for their support and commitment in what has been a busy time.
My Deputy, Keith Waters, for his company, at meetings and extended travelling, his assistance and support, and wise counsel
My
Eminent
Prior,
Michael
Williams
for
his
sincere
and
comfortable
approach
to
his
position.
W
&
Em.
Bro
Michael
has
carried
out
his
duties
and
responsibilities
in
a
most
commendable
and
enthusiastic
manner,
travelling
many,
many,
miles
to
assist
at
Installation
Meetings
and
other
Meetings.
W
&Em
Bro.
Mike,
I
and
the
Province
are
most
grateful
for
your
contribution
to
the
development
of
this
Province
My
Provincial
Grand
Secretary,
David
Attwater
for
the
extensive
work
undertaken,
and
keeping
me
fully
informed
with
progress
–
David
I
sincerely
hope
that
your
load
will
now
be
much
reduced
following
this
first
meeting
–
but
again
my
sincere
thanks.
Brethren,
a
meeting
such as today does not just happen, much work is undertaken behind the scenes. Much discussion, letters E.mails and liaison.
My Provincial Grand Treasurer, Mike Daniels, for his eye for detail and ensuring that all is well on the financial front.
My
Provincial
GDC,
Craig
Cox,
for
his
eye
for
detail
and
supporting
me
on
my
official
visits,
and
for
today’s
ceremonial.
Again
much
work has been undertaken and is gratefully acknowledged
I
should
like
to
finish
by
saying
that
I
am
extremely
proud
to
be
your
PGM
and
I
look
forward
to
our
future
meetings
in
your
company,
and
to
remind
you
that
Malmesbury
Court
currently
looks
after
the
travelling
beehive
and
awaits
a
visit
for
a
transfer
to
another
Court.
I
leave you with that challenge Brethren
I wish you all well, and a safe journey home
Roger Freeman PGM