This meeting was held to commemorate the 25th Anniversary of the Founding of the Lodge at its Consecration on the 19th of November 1999, as closely as possible to the actual date by dispensation of the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master, and was held in the morning, as was the Consecration Meeting.
On this occasion we were honoured by the presence of W Bro Christopher Thomas the Assistant Provincial Grand Master accompanied by a team of active rank Provincial Officers.
The main business of the meeting was to carry out a double third degree ceremony for Brothers Phil Lord and Chris Wall, friends from their school days, and still joined at the hip! It was a fantastic way to celebrate 25 years of our Lodge’s existence, and for our two Brothers achieve their major milestone together. Friends amongst friends, the Wyke Millennium ethos.
The Worshipful Master proposed the Lodge donate the sum of £200 towards the Festival, which was seconded by W Bro Lewis and approved by all present, and was well received by W Bro Chris Thomas on behalf of the Province.
The next order of business was the presentation by W Bro Thomas to the Worshipful Master and the Lodge of a 25 Year Certificate on behalf of the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master.
The Worshipful Master gratefully received the certificate and went on to describe the founding of the Lodge and its genesis. The Worshipful Master reflected on the work done by W Bro Brian Baker our first Secretary, who went on to become Provincial Grand Scribe Ezra in the Chapter and subsequently the Provincial Grand Secretary in the Craft, carrying on those roles with dedication and high competence.
The Worshipful Master also spoke of the founding members we have lost over the years and the parts they played in the early life of the Lodge, losing two of our founders too early in their life, recalling to our thoughts W Bro Digby Bates and W Bro Nigel Steel.
The Worshipful Master was pleased to point out our Honours Board on display and fully lettered up to date for the first time, despite having been made especially for us many years ago. A story to be told there Brethren. It is a fine piece of oak furniture, made by a master craftsman to be collapsible like all of our Lodge furniture, and which will now be proudly on display at all of our future meetings.
At the Festive Board, we enjoyed an excellent buffet meal. The Worshipful Master gave all five formal toasts.
The Assistant Provincial Grand Master was gracious in responding to the fifth toast and once again congratulated the Worshipful Master and the Lodge on its 25 years of existence and the conduct of a fine double ceremony of Raising to mark the event.
The Assistant Provincial Grand Master congratulated our two candidates, Bros Phil Lord, and Chris Wall on their achieving the third degree in Freemasonry and their individual performance during the ceremony, which was excellent.
W Bro Mike Roberts PSGD a past master of the Old Hymerian Lodge No 6885, our Mother Lodge, proposed the toast to the Founders of the Lodge and took us on a tour of the history of the Lodge and the manner it was brought to life. Some of the Founders had already been mentioned by the Worshipful Master during the Lodge meeting, W Bro Roberts recalled some of the other key players in the creation of this fine modern Lodge, W Bro Kevin Shilcock, the Founding Master and one of the instigators of the creation of the Lodge; W Bro Roger Lewis the first Almoner, W Bro David Taylor the first Chaplain, W Bro Dieter Elwood the first DC, W Bro Ted Gillard the first IPM and of course W Bro Malcolm Grange the first Senior Deacon.
The Worshipful Master duly responded and thanked W Bro Roberts for his kind toast and the reminisces that were brought to mind because of it. The Worshipful Master also brought a few anecdotes to mind on how we achieved what we did, and the parts played by, amongst others, the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master of the day, Right Worshipful Brother, His Honour, Gerald James Kay-Coles QC, an outstanding man of his time and a great supporter of this Lodge.
The Junior Warden W Bro Roger Lewis proposed the toast to our Visitors, and W Bro David Waddington the Worshipful Master of the Old Hymerian Lodge No 6885, our Mother Lodge duly responded, complaining (in jest) that everyone who had spoken before had stolen all his best lines! Nonetheless, W Bro Waddington gave a fine response on behalf of the Visitors and stated what all felt, it had been a good day and well done to all taking part and congratulations on 25 years well achieved.
All of the members and guests present were given a piece of memorabilia by the Lodge consisting of a business card holder and money clip, with the Lodge Name and anniversary year printed on the face of the insert on each. Something to remind us all of an idea brought to life and nurtured successfully for 25 years.
We are grateful for the Whymant family’s continued hospitality.
Here’s to the next 25 years of this fine modern Lodge!
