A new District Grand Prefect for Kent
On Saturday the 18th of February 2023 at Gillingham the Grand Master of the Allied Masonic Degrees, M.W.Bro. Thomas Firth Jackson, installed W.Bro. Brian Alan Ward, P.G.St.B., as the District Grand Prefect of the District of Kent.
After a very good journey round the M25 the coffee and bacon butties were gratefully received, and thankfully applied.
We then made our way upstairs to the Temple where the Grand Director of Ceremonies and his team were finishing their rehearsals.
While the rest of us were able to catch up with some old friends.
The Grand Team were having their photographs taken with the District Grand Prefect Designate and the Deputy District Grand Prefect Designate.
The Brethren of the District of Kent and all visiting Brethren were seated in the Temple by 11 a.m. to receive the Presiding Officer, R.W.Bro. Clive Robert Manual, Past Deputy Grand Master, who opened District Grand Council. I had the pleasure of acting as District Grand Inner Guard - at the last minute.
The Installing Officer, M.W.Bro. Thomas Firth Jackson, accompanied by the Assisting Officers of Grand Council, entered, assumed the Chair and appointed his Officers.
The Installing Officer was saluted under the direction of the Grand Director of Ceremonies. He then directed the Grand Secretary to call the Roll of Councils in the District, following which he addressed the Brethren assembled and announced that he has appointed W.Bro. Brian Alan Ward, P.G.St.B., as the District Grand Prefect for the District of Kent.
The Grand Director of Ceremonies announced that the District Grand Prefect designate was in attendance and requests to be admitted so that he may be installed. The Installing Officer directed the Grand Director of Ceremonies to form an escort and introduce the District Grand Prefect designate. The District Grand Prefect designate-and his escort entered in procession.
The Installing Officer addressed the District Grand Prefect designate and then directed the Grand Secretary to read the Patent of Appointment. After a prayer the District Grand Prefect designate was obligated, invested and installed as the District Grand Prefect for the District of Kent.
The Installing Officer invested and installed the District Grand Prefect, who was proclaimed and saluted under the direction of the Grand Director of Ceremonies.
The Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies enquired of the District Grand Prefect whom he appoints as Deputy District Grand Prefect. The District Grand Prefect announced that he is appointing W.Bro. Geoffrey Edward Whale, P.G.St.B., as Deputy District Grand Prefect of the District of Kent and requested the Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies to form an escort and introduce the Deputy District Grand Prefect designate.
The Deputy District Grand Prefect designate and his escort entered in procession. The District Grand Prefect addressed the Deputy District Grand Prefect designate and requested the Grand Secretary to read the Patent of Appointment. After a prayer the Deputy District Grand Prefect designate was obligated, invested, and installed. He was proclaimed and saluted under the direction of the Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies.
The District Grand Prefect addressed the Installing Officer thanking him and his team for making this a very special day, for himself and the District of Kent. The Installing Officer, accompanied by Assisting Grand Officers, retired from the District Grand Council.
After the regular business of District Grand Council had been completed the District Grand Prefect appointed and invested the Officers of District Grand Council for the ensuing year.
The District Grand Prefect addressed District Grand Council. He thanked the Director of Ceremonies and the Secretary and their teams for all the work they had put in to make the day such a success, as well as everyone for attending today. He and his Deputy are looking forward to visiting each Council in the District, and said that he will be inviting everyone to a social event at his house in Folkestone in the summer. He encouraged everyone to take every opportunity to promote our wonderful Order to others.
District Grand Council was closed in due form and the District Grand Prefect, the Deputy District Grand Prefect, District Officers of the year, and honoured guests, retired from District Grand Council.
After a quick group photo…
…we retired for refreshments…
…before making our way into the dining room for lunch.
R.W.Bro. Ray Hussey, Past District Grand Prefect of Surrey, said that the Merlot was one of the best he had tasted – praise indeed.
After a most enjoyable lunch the District Grand Prefect proposed the toast to the Grand Master thanking him and his team for a very special day.
He then had much pleasure in presenting him with a Gable Endies scarf, from Melrose Football Club.
And a bottle of Nadar Gin from the Arbikie Highland Estate, telling him to ignore the words ‘Experimental Batch’ on the label.
The Grand Master replied by thanking the District Grand Prefect for his kind gifts.
He then presented the District Grand Prefect with his dummy as the newest District Grand Prefect in the Order.
After a most enjoyable morning we all made our way home to our Districts wishing the District Grand Council of Kent every success in the future.
Article and photos by Chris Eley
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