On Saturday 25th September a delegation from Surrey attended the Annual Meeting of the Provincial Grand Senatus of Essex held at Saxon Hall, Southend on Sea. We received a very warm welcome from R.Dist.Comp. Ray Clare, Provincial Grand Summus, and the Essex Companions.
Present at the meeting was our Grand Summus, M.Dist.Comp. Ian S Currans, seen here with the Provincial Grand Summus, R.Dist.Comp. Ray Clare.
The Companions were called to Order to receive the Right Distinguished Provincial Grand Summus who entered the Temple in procession, accompanied by the Provincial Grand Officers of the Year.
Provincial Grand Senatus was opened in due form and the Provincial Grand Summus was saluted with seven under direction of the Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies. The other Right Distinguished Companions were then saluted with seven under the direction of the Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies.
Most Distinguished Companion, Ian S Currans, Grand Summus, was received and welcomed by the Provincial Grand Summus. He was then saluted with eleven under the direction of the Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies, V.Dist.Comp. Julian Greenwall.
The Provincial Grand Summus welcomed the many honoured guests of the Province and other Distinguished Companions.
After the regular business of Provincial Grand Senatus had been concluded, the Provincial Grand Summus reappointed Dist.Comp. Christopher Derek Sampson, P.A.G.D.C., as Deputy Provincial Grand Summus and V.Dist. Comp. Robin Fagence, P.G.Her., as Assistant Provincial Grand Summus. A total of 30 appointments and promotions in Provincial Grand Rank were made.
The R.Dist. Provincial Grand Summus was pleased to appoint the Captain, Deputy Captain and Members of the Tzaddikim. He then inspected his personal Tzaddikim.
The Provincial Grand Summus addressed Provincial Grand Senatus. In his Address he said that it had been a hard struggle which is not over yet. He thanked every member of the Province for their support over the past 18 months saying how glad he was to be able to hold a face-to-face meeting rather than a Virtual Business Meeting. He congratulated those who had received appointments or promotion in Grand Rank earlier in the month and ended by thanking his Provincial Grand Recorder and Provincial Director of Ceremonies, and their teams, for all their assistance and support.
The Grand Summus then retired in procession with his Grand Officers.
Provincial Grand Senatus was closed in due form and the Right Distinguished Provincial Grand Summus retired in procession accompanied by Right Distinguished Companions, and Honoured Guests.
After a few drinks in the bar the Companions of the Province of Essex and their guests retired to an adjoining room to partake in a Southend Sea Food Stall.
Before going into the dining room at Saxon Hall for a splendid lunch of Haggis, Neeps and Tatties with a tot of Whisky where the traditional Toast to the Haggis was given.
In proposing the toast to the Grand Summus the Provincial Grand Summus thanked the Grand Summus for attending to make this a very special day for the Provincial Grand Senatus of Essex and had much pleasure in presenting him with a nice bottle of port.
In the reply to his toast the Grand Summus mentioned the two challenges we all face. The first is recruitment into our Order from the OSM and the need to support the OSM in attracting candidates; and the other is encouraging Companions to resume attending meetings.
Article and photos by Chris Eley, Provincial Grand Recorder
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