District Grand Prefect’s Address, Saturday 3rd December 2022
Brethren all, it is now my honour to address you for the 6th time at this our 16th Annual Meeting since the District of Surrey was formed here at Croydon out of the old District of Southern Counties.
It is so nice to see so many people here today and thank you all for your support especially our Past Deputy Grand Master who is always most welcome in Surrey and whose company we enjoy immensely, so thank you for honouring us with your presence.
An important part of all Freemasonry is visiting which continues to be the case especially during these difficult times; so thank you again to our many guests, whether travelling from near or far it is very much appreciated by us all that you have given up your precious time to support our District meeting. We look forward to your company at our Festive Board and hope that you will enjoy your time with us. I must also take this opportunity to add my sincere thanks for the generous hospitality which we receive around the country when we visit other Districts.
Brethren as Masons our generosity and support to all worthwhile causes is well documented, on that note I would like to especially thank you all for supporting the Surrey Mark Festival. I am proud to say that the Surrey AMD donated just under £14k, which from 9 councils was very generous - especially when you consider that we also contributed personally to the festival through our own Mark Lodges and brethren I`m sure you all remember our Surrey Mark Festival raised a staggering £1,002,022.
As well as generosity we are also well known and admired for our Brotherly Love and can I ask that we all continue to make a huge effort to stay in close contact with one another regularly. I believe that we are all almoners, and I can tell you from my own experience that an unexpected phone call received can bring the recipient so much joy!
Brethren I believe that we are all Almoners and as there could be difficult times ahead for some of our members let`s be as supportive as we can and staying in contact with each other is the very first thing we should do. If someone has not attended a meeting just call them to ensure they are fit and well and remind them how much we are looking forward to seeing them at our next meeting. Our members are precious to us so let`s ensure we look after each other - Please let me know if you are aware of any member experiencing difficulties for one reason or another and remember Brethren “It`s good to talk” and long may that continue!
I congratulate all the Officers whom I have been pleased to appoint or promote with District Grand Rank today and I hope you will all enjoy your year in Office, and if possible be able to support all of the Official Visits this coming year. I can ensure you that it is not only appreciated by myself and our Deputy District Grand Prefect but also all of the councils who gratefully enjoy our company. If any of our members would also like to attend, I can also assure you that you will also be made most welcome. On another note, I will ask our District Grand secretary to send out the dates of other District annual meetings around the country which you may like to consider attending. As Bobs chauffeur there is always room in my car for another two, again Brethren there is no pressure to attend albeit your company would be greatly appreciated by one and all.
I would also like to congratulate the Brethren who received Appointment or Promotion in Grand Rank at the Annual Meeting of Grand Council at Great Queen Street. It was a lovely meeting which was well supported, and my congratulations go out to W Bro Mike Neville (Promotion to) Past Grand Junior Deacon; as well as (First appointments to) W Bro Bob Hancock Active Grand StB and W Bro Ian Clark Active Grand Steward; and W Bro Ray Beadle to Past Grand Standard Bearer; - I do congratulate them all for these well-deserved appointments.
This years Hog Roast was another great success, sold out to capacity, raising lots of money from the raffle and yes brethren he did it again the our PDGP ensured that the sun shone all day – how does he do that brethren “is there no end to his talents”!! Thank you again to those that attended and brethren, please put next year’s date in your diaries which is the 9th July 2023. Bro Kevin Brennan is organising this event again and I thank Kevin for his hard work in ensuring that our Hog Roast is not only well supported but also an extremely enjoyable family day out.
The Web Site – I must mention that W Bro Bob has been under added pressure in recent months as Francis (his right-hand man) has been very poorly albeit after a couple of operations he is now recovering well. Bob please pass on our best wishes to Francis for a speedy recovery. Our web site is a great source of information and I encourage you, not only to log on so as to catch up with all of the news but also to send in articles and pictures which the Deputy District Grand Prefect W Bro Bob Tuthill will be pleased to add to your web site!
Our newly appointed District Grand SW will be attending all the Official Visits and other meetings with his ever-ready camera so that he can spread the happiness and joy we share at our meetings, through our web site and of course The Surrey Gridiron. Chris I`m sure you do not need to be reminded but I thank you again for the hard work and commitment that you give to our wonderful order, which is very much appreciated by us all.
As well as the napkins, the trifold flyer, and the pens which I hope you continue to use so as to promote our wonderful order and encourage new members to join - VW Bro Mik Barnes has put together a booklet which we have had printed called “Variety is the Great Attraction of the Allied Masonic Degrees”. It is very informative and will give potential candidates a much better idea of this beautiful Order. These will be distributed to your secretaries and put on display in our Masonic Centre’s – thank again VW Bro Mik.
Also remember Brethren that we are very fortunate to have the full support of our PGM in the Mark to promote our Order at Mark meetings so please take full advantage of his help and assistance by spreading the word and wearing your Allied napkins at each Mark festive board, which does brethren create awareness and hopefully a conversation about the beauty of the Allied Masonic degrees. The good news brethren is that we have welcomed in 12 new members and 10 joining members this year albeit we have unfortunately lost 9 members (for reasons beyond our control).
I congratulate and thank those councils that have recruited new members – please keep up the good work! To those who have not managed to recruit, please let me know how we can help you in any way to reverse that trend.
Brethren District Meetings do not just happen, and a lot of people have worked extremely hard to put everything together today for our enjoyment. and I offer my sincere thanks to all of them, particularly the District Grand Secretary W Bro Alan Brockwell and his team, the District Grand Director of Ceremonies W Bro Anton Smith and his team and W Bro Chris Craddock, who does so much work behind the scenes.
The Charity collection at this Meeting today will be going into the District Benevolent Fund, and because of your generosity, we will be able to support some very worthy causes.
The District Meeting next year will again be held here on the first Saturday in December which will be the 2nd of December 2023 so please make a note in your diary.
I finish by wishing you and your loved ones a very Merry Christmas and a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year.
Thank you for the kind attention you have given to my address – and May the Great Disposer of all have you in his holy keeping now and forever.
R.W. Brother John Vaughan Christopher French
District Grand Prefect
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