On Friday 29th October a delegation from Surrey attended the Installation Meeting of the Provincial Grand Senatus of The Chilterns held at Ashwell House, St Albans. We received a very warm welcome from Dist.Comp. Dr Silverio L Ostrowski, Provincial Grand Summus Designate, and Companions of The Chilterns. Present at the meeting to install the new Provincial Grand Summus was our Grand Summus, M.Dist.Comp. Ian S Currans, seen here with his Assisting Officers and the Provincial Grand Summus designate.
The visiting Right Distinguished Companions entered the Temple in Procession and Provincial Grand Senatus was opened in due form by the Presiding Officer.
The Grand Director of Ceremonies, V.Dist.Comp. Phillip Purves, was admitted and advised the Presiding Officer that the Grand Summus, Most Distinguished Companion Ian S Currans was outside the door of Provincial Grand Senatus. The Grand Summus entered in procession led by the Grand Sword Bearer and followed by the Grand Standard Bearer.
The Most Distinguished Grand Summus, was received, welcomed by the Presiding Officer and took the Chair. The Installing Officer appointed his Officers and was saluted with eleven under the direction of the Grand Director of Ceremonies.
The Installing Officer addressed the Companions and directed the Grand Recorder to call the roll of Consistories in the Province. He then directed the Grand Director of Ceremonies to ascertain that the Provincial Grand Summus designate was in attendance.
An escort was formed and the Grand Director of Ceremonies introduced the Provincial Grand Summus designate in due form. The Installing Officer addressed the Provincial Grand Summus designate and requested the Grand Recorder to read the Patent of Appointment. Dist.Comp. Dr Silverio L Ostrowski was obligated, invested and installed as the Provincial Grand Summus of The Chilterns, and was Proclaimed and saluted under the direction of the Grand Director of Ceremonies.
The Provincial Grand Summus appointed and invested Dist.Comp. Daryl S Hayler, MBE, P.G.St.B., as Deputy Provincial Grand Summus; and Dist.Comp. Peter W Gilkes, P.A.G.D.C., as Assistant Provincial Grand Summus.
The Provincial Grand Summus addressed the Installing Officer to thank him and his team for making this a very special morning for the Province of The Chilterns. The Installing Officer and his team then retired.
Most Distinguished Companion, Ian S Currans, Grand Summus, was supported today by members of his family. R.Dist.Comp. Trevor Currans acted as Grand Episcopus, and Dist.Comp. Mark Currans acted as Captain of the Grand Tzaddikim.
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. Afterwards he posed for photographs with his Provincial Officers…
…and the delegation from Surrey.
After a few drinks in the bar the Companions of the Province of The Chilterns and their guests sat down to a splendid lunch in the dining room of Ashwell House.
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 The Chilterns and had much pleasure in presenting him with a nice bottle of his favourite tipple.
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 our Companions to resume attending meetings.
Article and photos by Chris Eley, Provincial Grand Recorder
< back to news index