On the 4th July many Worthy Knights made their way to London to attend the Annual Assembly of Grand Imperial Conclave at Freemasons Hall, Great Queen Street.
The meeting was well attended by Worthy Knights of the Division of Hampshire and Isle of Wight, Worthy Knights from other Divisions from around the country and also delegations from independent Sovereign Grand Conclaves.
Most Illustrious Knight Graham Lesley Flight, G.C.C., Grand Sovereign, presided over the meeting.
There were several processions into Grand Imperial Conclave, including the current Intendants General, the delegations from the Independent Sovereign Grand Conclaves, concluding with that of the Grand Sovereign.
Once the initial business of Grand Imperial Conclave had concluded, the Grand Sovereign was pleased to re-appoint R.Ill. & Em.Kt. Christopher John Macdonald, G.C.C., as Deputy Grand Sovereign, and R.Ill. & Ven.Kt. The Revd Timothy John Nicholas L’Estrange, G.C.C., as Grand Eusebius.
Five Right Illustrious Knights were then appointed as Knights Commander of Constantine, in the persons of: R.Ill.Kt. Michael Daws, R.Ill.Kt. Richard Alan Lucas, R.Ill.Kt. Robert William Hancock, R.Ill.Kt. Keith Robert Beaumont, and R.Ill.Kt. Alasdair Antony Kenneth White.
There was a surprise sixth appointment to Knight Commander of Constantine for the Grand Marshal, Ill. Kt. Paul Anthony Norman.
They were then saluted in the tradition manner by the Worthy Knights below that rank.
Then followed the appointment to, or promotion in, Grand Imperial Conclave of nearly 140 Worthy Knights.
Our Division was honoured with one first appointment and four promotion, in the persons of:
– P. Kt. Malcolm Stuart Whiston appointed to the rank of Past Grand Warden of Regalia
– Ill. Kt. John Herbert Prizeman promoted to the active rank of Grand Senior General
– Ill. Kt. Jonathan Charles Whitaker promoted to the active rank of Grand Junior General
– Ill. Kt. Gordon Lee Robinson promoted to the rank of Past Grand High Almoner
– Ill. Kt. Michael Leslie Fuller promoted to the rank of Past Grand Standard Bearer (C)
Once all the appointments has been made the Grand Sovereign addressed the meeting:
“Worthy Knights, I am delighted to see such a good attendance for this year’s Grand Imperial Conclave meeting after the difficulties of Covid and, although we may still not be back at full strength, the road to recovery is well under way.
There are no changes in the top end offices this year and I thank my Deputy and my Grand Eusebius for their continuing and much valued support in all matters. My congratulations to those Right illustrious Knights who have today been honoured as Knights Commander of Constantine. All of these Knights have served the Order in high office over many years and are well deserving of their preferment. The “surprise” appointment of my Grand Marshal to this high rank is for two reasons. One as a reward for his service at the highest level since and before his appointment as Grand Marshal and secondly (as I discovered when I held that office) that the Grand Marshal may know most things but not all!
On preparing this address it became clear that the last year had been a very busy one for me and the Grand Team, still “catching up” with post-Covid appointments and events. I have visited the Grand Conclaves of Greece in Athens, of Italy in Florence, of Germany in Berlin, of Finland in Helsinki, of France in Paris and the Grand Council of Scotland in Perth atall of which we have been very well received and looked after and my thanks go to all my fellow Grand Sovereigns fortheir welcome and hospitality which I hope we can repay in some small way today.
In addition, five new Intendants-General have been installed: R.Ill.Kt. Alan Curley as I.G. for Dorset and Wiltshire following the retirement of R.Ill.Kt. Mathew Burt. R.Ill.Kt. David Green as I.G. for Kent following the retirement of R.Ill.Kt. Nicholas Alder. R.Ill.Kt. Nicholas White as I.G. for Devon and Cornwall following the retirement of R.Ill.Kt. Richard Lucas. R.Ill.Kt. Trevor Fish as I.G. for Northumberland following the retirement of R.Ill.Kt. Michael Daws. and R.Ill.Kt. Simon McCarthy as I.G. for Surrey following the retirement of R.Ill.Kt. Robert Hancock. And right up to date only four days ago R.Ill.Kt. Joseph Sudhakar as I.G. for Cumbria following the retirement of R.Ill.Kt. KeithBeaumont. We wish all of these Knights a happy and successful term in office.
“I offer my congratulations to those Worthy Knights I have appointed or promoted in Grand Conclave today and wish them well for their continuing service to the order with their new ranks.
My thanks as always to the members of my Grand Sepulchre Guard who give me tremendous support whenever called on and add such splendour to the ceremonial wherever I go. The Grand Recorder and his team at Mark Masons’ Hall and the Grand Marshal and his team continue to make the meeting flow smoothly and efficiently and I thank them for their contribution today.
Worthy Knights. we are all aware of the current difficulties in recruitment and retention across Freemasonry and I ask you to continue to support your Craft and Royal Arch meetings as well as your Conclaves to help provide a succession of suitable candidates for our Order and ensure we leave a lasting and secure future for our Order and the Christian Brotherhood it provides.
Worthy Knights. thank you for your patience and let us now “go to refreshment”. God Bless you all and keep you and your loved ones safe with the watchwords of our Order – Faith, Unity and Zeal.”
The remaining business of Grand Imperial Conclave was concluded, and the meeting was closed.
Following the meeting we all retired for refreshments before making our way to the Grand Connaught Rooms for the after proceedings.
I congratulations all who received appointments and promotions and I look forward to seeing them out and about during the next masonic year.