On a cold and wet morning, with occasional flurries of light snow, the Intendant General, R. Ill. Kt. Steve Groeger and the Divisional Recorder, Ill. Kt. Mark Denton set off on a trip to Gillingham, Kent.
We were not looking forward to the journey due to the forecast of snow across the country. However, the closer we got to Kent the more the county lived up to its reference as “The Garden of England” as the sun came out and it turned into a lovely day.
We were supported by the Deputy Intendant General, V. Ill. Kt. Kevin Todd, who joined us in Gillingham and who had had a shorter journey as he was already in the local area.
The reason we all made the trip was to attend the Annual Divisional Conclave meeting of the Division of Kent.
This was the first Divisional Conclave meeting to be officiated over by R. Ill. Kt David Green, their new Intendant General, having only been installed into that office by the Grand Sovereign in November 2022.
The many visitors and members of the Division bore witness to an exceptional meeting led by R. Ill. Kt. David.
We congratulate R. Ill. Kt. David on his first full Divisional Conclave meeting and to all those Knights who were appointed or promoted in Divisional Conclave.
We are sure that with the support of the Deputy Intendant General, the Divisional Officers and all the members of the Division, R. Ill. Kt. David will have a very successful term in office and we wish him all the best for the future.
Following the meeting we were treated to a wonderful festive board and some stimulating conversation both of which made a very fulfilling end to a great day.
We then left sunny Kent and headed back to Hampshire and Dorset, during which the weather turned out to be the complete opposite of the journey to Kent. The further we got from Gillingham the sunshine lessened, the clouds came out and the rain started. By the time the Intendant General got back to Poole it was raining very hard.
At least we all had a nice sunny day in Kent, although most of the time we were inside!
Here’s looking forward to a similar sunny day next year when we make another trip to Kent.