The 2025 Annual Meeting of the District Grand Council of Kent in the Allied Masonic Degrees
The 2025 Annual Meeting of the District Grand Council of Kent took place on Saturday the 15th of February 2025 at the Franklin Rooms, Gillingham, Kent.
Brethren of the District of Kent and their guests started arriving from 9 am where they received a warm welcome from the reception team before making their way into the lounge where tea and coffee were being served. Representing Surrey were W.Bros. Paul Fitzgerald, Alan (Zimmo) Zimon, and Chris Eley on photographic duties. There were many guests from other Districts, as well as the Past Deputy Grand Master R.W.Bro. Clive Robert Manuel; R.W.Bro. Noel Grout; and the Grand Master of the Royal and Select Masters, R.W.Bro. Kessick J Jones.
The Right Worshipful District Grand Prefect, R.W.Bro. Brian Alan Ward, entered the Temple in procession attended by the Deputy District Grand Prefect and Officers of District Ground Council, and accompanied by distinguished guests. District Grand Council was opened, and the District Grand Prefect was saluted. He then had much pleasure in welcoming all the guests and visitors from other Districts, as well as Heads of other Orders in Kent.
After the In Memoriam, the District Grand Secretary called the Roll of Councils of the District of Kent, and the District Grand Prefect received those Brethren admitted into the Order since the last meeting. After the regular business of District Grand Council had been concluded, the District Grand Prefect had much pleasure in reappointing Worshipful Brother Geoffrey Edward Whale, P.G.St.B., as Deputy District Grand Prefect, thanking him for all he has done to support him and the District over the past year. The Provincial Officers of the year were appointed and invested.
The District Grand Prefect made a presentation to Archie Torrance, the President of the Mark Benevolent Fund, on behalf of the District. The President of the Mark Benevolent Fund thanked the District for their generous donation and had much pleasure in investing the District Grand Prefect with the Grand Master’s Keystone Fund collarette saying that Kent was the first AMD District to achieve this award.
The District Grand Prefect then addressed District Grand Council. In his address he thanked the District Grand Secretary and the District Grand Director of Ceremonies and their teams for ensuring the day was such a success. He also thanked all the outgoing District Officers for their support during their year in office. He congratulated the newly appointed District Officers of the year and said he looked forward to their company in the months ahead. He congratulated the four Brethren who were honoured with Grand Rank last year and was delighted that they have been able to welcome nine new members to the Order since the last district meeting.
He reminded everyone that their Craft, Chapter and Mark lodges also need to attract new members and urged everyone to promote the Craft where they can and to encourage Craft Masons from their own Lodges to join both Chapter and the Mark. Last year they published two issues of their very own Kent Gridiron Magazine. An idea that he said they stole shamelessly from the District of Surrey. He thanked everyone involved in its publication.
He closed by saying that he is very proud of what they have achieved together over the last twelve months and is confident that with their continued support and enthusiasm for the Order they will continue to go from strength to strength.
District Grand Council was then closed in due form and the District Grand Prefect retired in procession from District Grand Council accompanied by District Grand Officers and Honoured Guests, greeting everyone on their way out from the Temple.
After a few group photos with the recently appointed Officers, and members of the other Districts, we retired for refreshments. The Brethren of the District Grand Council of Kent and their guests sat down to a most enjoyable lunch at the Franklin Rooms in Gillingham.
The Toast to the District Grand Prefect was given by the Deputy District Grand Prefect, W.Bro. Geoff Whale. In his amusing toast he gave R.W.Bro. Brian a bag of Walkers crisps. There was one bag for each time his football team had won a match, sadly there were some packets of crisps left in the bag… However, he did present R.W.Bro. Brian with a green pin – because he is Perfect. We then departed our several ways following a very successful morning.
Article and photos by Chris Eley
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