Provincial Grand Lodge Articles Summer 2022
From the Provincial Grand Master and Grand Superintendent
Notes from the Provincial Grand Almoner – Compassion, Relief, Charity and Teamwork
Notes from the Provincial Grand Mentor
Pantomime Project – Roger Hampshire to retire
Provincial Grand Lodge – Appointments and Promotions
From the Provincial Grand Master & Grand Superintendent Summer 2022
Dear Brethren and Companions
As we come towards the end of the Festival, I have been very proud of the way you have responded to the last push towards reaching a total of which we can all be proud, and I feel sure that we will hit that seven figure number, which will be amazing. The final total will be announced at the Gala dinner.
As we head off for a summer break, I am enthused, even excited, about where the province is and what we can achieve. In the year to the end of May, we have initiated 100 new members, and we are showing a net increase in the number of members of 30 in the Craft. The Chapter is also showing growth in the first half of 2022. The Provincial Membership Officer tells me that there is a good pipeline of potential candidates and many lodges have a backlog of ceremonies. I do appreciate that some lodges may not be seeing quite the same picture, but my message to them is that the opportunities are there – you just need to do what you can to grab them.
When we come back to the new masonic season in September, we will be reflecting on how we can capitalise on this growth, to show that we are a thriving organisation. We will look at how we can engage further in the community and enhance our reputation in that respect by ensuring that we communicate coherently and consistently. We will be looking at ways how we can make it easier for all to contribute to the advancement of our lodges and chapters and how we encourage more of us to take part in all activities, so that the burden does not fall on just a few of our members. Ideally, let’s get the right people with the right skills to do the right jobs.
But above all, we must remember that Freemasonry is built on its core values, as well as on fun and sociability, Not only must we enjoy our own masonry, we must strive to make it enjoyable for all our members.
James Hilditch
Provincial Grand Master and Grand Superintendent
Notes from the Provincial Grand Almoner
Compassion, Relief, Charity and Teamwork
My article this month encompasses everything that Freemasonry embodies within its key values, Compassion, Relief and Charity together with Teamwork.
But before I begin, I can confirm that all living people named in this article have given their full and explicit permission for me to share their names and circumstances of their story.
Bro Peter Cook Almoner of Alfred Lodge, contacted me early in June to bring to my attention the plight of the daughter and her family of the Late W.Bro Joe Wake a Past Master of Alfred Lodge who died in 1998. Joe was a member of Alfred & St Giles Craft Lodges and Carfax and Installed First Principals Chapters.
The reason Joe’s Widow Pam who is in her 80’s and her daughter Susan (Sue) Walker both of whom live in Eynsham wanted me to share their story, is to raise awareness of sudden impact head injuries which can and does have an absolutely devastating and ongoing impact on the lives of those injured and their families as their own story emphasises.
Susan returned home after an evening out with friends just after 10.00pm on the 27th, January this year and found her husband Mark who had been alone in the house collapsed at the foot of the stairs.
The emergency services were called, and Mark was taken to the JR and eventually moved to the Neurology when after numerous tests and a brain scan Mark was diagnosed with a bleed on the brain, a fractured Skull and blood clots behind his forehead. Mark remained at the JR until 24th’ February when he was transferred to Badby Park Rehabilitation Centre at Daventry, Northampton Mark is still at Badby Park
However, the prognosis is not good, it is thought that if Mark return’s home he may require full 24 hour care/supervision, and will be unable to continue his employment as a self-employed builder.
Mark was the main earner in the family and had no protection in place for income protection, Mark & Sue also have an outstanding mortgage that due to their circumstances is currently being paid by Pam who doesn’t have sufficient pension income and so is drawing down from her life savings in order to support her daughter’s family. Since January Mark had received no state benefits at all until very recently when he started to receive a weekly benefit of £77.40.
On being informed of their plight by Peter Alfred Lodge’s Almoner, I immediately made contact with Pam & Sue and arranged for a petition for assistance to be submitted to the MCF.
Pam and Sue were clearly very worried and desperate and confirmed that they had approached all other sources of potential assistance and been turned down.
The petition to the MCF was also unfortunately turned down on eligibility grounds, as Mark is the son-in-law of the late Joe who as stated died in 1998.
I had to break the sad news to Pam and Sue who were both devastated as they believed we were their last hope.
I felt that I couldn’t leave it their and so immediately contacted W.Bro Andrew Keech our Provincial Charity Steward and Chairman of the Oxfordshire Provincial Charity, at the same time reaching out to Alfred &, Carfax Lodges and the Installed First Principals requesting support.
I asked Andrew to appeal to the other committee members and trustees of the Provincial Charity for a one-off ex-gratia payment to support Sue & Mark in the short term.
Andrew flew into action and within a matter of hours came back to confirm that he and the committee were all very moved by Sue and Mark’s plight and had agreed to award an immediate significant award as a one-off ex-gratia payment of £3,000.
This is a tremendous expression of Compassion, Relief and Charity coupled with superb Teamwork for which I am personally very grateful to all concerned.
I contacted Sue to inform her that the Provincial charity had agreed to support her with a one-off Ex-gratia payment but at this time didn’t inform her of the amount. The reason for this is I wanted to meet with Pam & Sue again to fully explore all other avenues of potential support they believed they had already exhausted.
We met on Wednesday 15th June at Sue’s home in Eynsham where Pam and Sue shared again the full story. During our discussions it was confirmed that Joe had worked for Thames Valley Police and that Millie in fact is currently working for Thames Valley.
I asked if they had approached the Thames Valley Police Benevolent fund for support and they confirmed that they didn’t realise that they could. After a quick google search, I provided Sue with the contact details of the TVP Benevolent fund contact person based in Kidlington and suggested that they should contact him without delay.
I then suggested that they set up a Just giving Go-Fund me page to raise awareness of Sudden Impact Head Injury and gain some financial support for themselves. This had been suggested previously but Sue just felt totally overwhelmed at the time and so had not progressed it at that time.
When I informed Sue & Pam of the amount of the award from the Provincial Charity Sue broke down and the relief in her sobs was both heart breaking and Palpable.
In Sue’s own words ‘I can’t thank you and the Provincial charity enough… you have given us hope and the breathing space to start to plan our future, thank you all so much, I really can’t express just what this means to our family’
Pam was also very moved and has subsequently emailed me her own grateful thanks to the Provincial Charity and all concerned.
I am pleased to say Millie and Tyler immediately got together and set up the Go fund page the link for which is here.
The last time I looked a fantastic amount of £1,200 had currently been raised in just a few hours which is simply brilliant. If you feel moved by Sue and Mark’s story and can help, please do so by contributing to their Gofund me page.
Brethren, this is an example of the Compassion, relief and charity together with superb teamwork that makes me very proud to be an Oxfordshire Freemason and is proof of the valuable support, advice and service we together provide to our members and in our local communities. I would like to extend my sincere thanks to Bro Peter Cook and W. Bro Andrew Keech for their vital support in this matter.
Have a nice summer
W.Bro Adrian Barlow
Provincial Grand Almoner
Notes from the Provincial Grand Mentor – Summer 2022
We will be planning and running a series of practical sessions at centres throughout the Province on implementing the Updated Members Pathway to continue the well supported online Zoom events that took place a few months back. These sessions will include, but not restricted to:
- Developing Lodge Profiles and Development Plans.
- Unique Selling Points of your lodge and what makes it attractive to potential candidates.
- Setting up social media accounts, websites and mailing lists.
- Effective use of Solomon in lodge meetings to enhance the desire to learn for everyone.
There will be more to follow so if you are interested then drop the Team a line and we will get things moving in a centre near you.
I look forward to seeing you soon
Keith
Pantomime Project
Pantomime Project
New Secretary Required
W. Bro Roger Hampshire who along with W Bro’s Graham Ellis and Brian McDonald, started the Pantomime Project in 2012 is now retiring as its Secretary. Our first pantomime was at Henley in 2013 and apart from 2020 has been a yearly event. Although in 2020 as the theatre was closed we still gave 600 children a goody bag containing a teddy bear and chocolate buttons.
The secretary duties are to arrange the meetings with the theatre to negotiate the next Pantomime. Inform the persons who assist in organising and attending the pantomime. Working with others to get as much publicity of the event as possible.
Organise the contents of the children’s gifts. Arrange for the delivery of the costumes, children’s gifts and other items the day before the pantomime. On the day, brief the volunteers and dames, ensure our dignitaries are catered for and be a point of contact for any matters arising. The next day arrange for all costumes and miscellaneous items to be returned to the storage facility at Witney Masonic Hall. Which means as well as secretarial matters there is also some physical work as well.
The committee has persons inviting all the children and working with the various agencies and organisations. A financial officer arranging the weekly fund raising game and keeping the accounts in order. A person who invites all the dignitaries and another organising the volunteers and working on the contents of the bag of gifts given to children when they leave.
Interested persons should contact Roger Hampshire on pantomime@oxfordshirefreemasons.org
You would also be required to assist at this years event on 6th December and help on day before and after and also attend a meeting with the theatre in October.
This is a very rewarding aspect of freemasonry and possibly now the longest running event for the Oxfordshire communities we have supported, as we have approximately 450 disabled children and 150 carers attend each year.
To find out more about the Pantomime Project and what it has achieved and what it hopes to achieve in the future, take a look at the attached PDF:
Provincial Grand Lodge Appointments and Promotions
We know you are all eager to discover those members of Oxfordshire who have been preferred this year, in fact, when we published this page last year it was the most popular page of the 2nd Rising. Congratulations to all those listed below.
| Active Provincial Grand Lodge Officers | 2022-23 |
|---|---|
| Deputy Provincial Grand Master | Graham P. Ellis |
| Assistant Provincial Grand Master | Alan J. Baverstock |
| Senior Warden | Peter G. Jones |
| Junior Warden | Eugene M. Gratwohl |
| Chaplain | Geoffrey Bourne-Taylor |
| Treasurer Elected | Andrew Keech |
| Registrar | Philip F. Harley |
| Secretary | Bernd Wegerhoff |
| Director of Ceremonies | Paul G.Buck |
| Sword Bearer | Kevin C. Cruickshank |
| Superintendent of Works | H. Alan Meech |
| Deputy Director of Ceremonies | Stephen N. Pope |
| Almoner | Adrian H.Barlow |
| Charity Steward | Mark D. Adams |
| Membership Officer | David J. Robinson |
| Communications Officer | Christopher J. Wagstaff |
| Mentor | Keith F. Harvey |
| Senior Deacon | Stephen J. Warren |
| Senior Deacon | John C.Rippington |
| Junior Deacon | Albert P. Ingram |
| Junior Deacon | Swalie Forest |
| Assistant Secretary | Ronald J. Barnett |
| Assisstant Director of Ceremonies | Yanto R.J.D. Evans |
| Assisstant Director of Ceremonies | Mark A. Slaymaker |
| Organist | Alistair C. Eden |
| Standard Bearer | Vaughan F. Humphries |
| Standard Bearer | Andrew G. Proper |
| Pursuivant | Brett P. Clancy |
| Steward | William P. Allen |
| Steward | Donald M. Crook |
| Steward | Thomas K.C. Boardman-Weston |
| Steward | Ian D. Budd |
| Tyler | Nigel C. Payne |
| First Appointments to Past Rank | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Heman Joshi | PPrAGDC | Apollo University | 357 |
| Henry George Hebborn | PPrAGDC | Weyland | 6507 |
| Colin Cregan | PPrAGDC | Shiplake | 7942 |
| Martin James Kirk | PPrAGDC | Clavis | 8585 |
| Martin Lee Craft | PPrGStB | St. Edburg's | 9233 |
| Alireza Vahdani | PPrGStB | Round Table Lodge of Oxfordshire | 9509 |
| Stephen Dumper | PPrGStB | Round Table Thames Valley | 9697 |
| Barclay Ronald Lawrence | PPrGStB | Marlborough | 1399 |
| Albert Leslie Whilde | PPrGStB(withrosettes | Bertie | 1515 |
| John Joseph Keen | PPrGstB | Wychwood | 2414 |
| David James Sant Williams | PPrGStB | Icknield Way | 8292 |
| Richard Anthony Hogg | PPrGStB | Danesfield | 8520 |
| William John Rowden | PPrGStB(withrosettes) | Lodge of Peace | 8850 |
| Ian Robinson | PPrGstB(withrosettes) | The Oxfordshire Lodge of Service & Honour | 9162 |
| PROMOTIONS to Past Rank | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Bernard Frow | PPrSGW | Jerey | 2334 |
| John Williams | PPrSGW | Calthorpe | 5172 |
| Raymond George Claridge | PPrJGW | Semper Paratus | 3015 |
| Klaus Charles Hodge | PPrJGW | Aelfric | 8926 |
| Martin McBride | PPrJGW | Witta's Island | 9359 |
| Alan David Spence | PPrGReg | Alfred | 340 |
| Richard Walker | PPrGReg | Semper Paratus | 3015 |
| Ian Collinson | PPrGReg | Hampden | 6290 |
| Keith Horne | PPrGReg | Castle | 7302 |
| Richard Anthony Florio | PPrGReg | Icknield Way | 8292 |
| Clive Power | PPrGReg | Witta's Island | 9359 |
| Geraint Howell Gregory | PPrGReg | The Redman Brown | 9607 |
| Barry Prior | PPrGReg | Round Table Thames Valley | 9697 |
| Peter R. Johnson | PPrGSwdB | Caversham | 3831 |
| Jeffrey Warren | PPrGSwdB | Cherwell | 599 |
| Terence Barry Gerald Cox | PPrGSwdB | Castle | 7302 |
| Raymond Dennis Miles | PPrGSwdB | Danesfield | 8520 |
| Graham Paul Treadwell | PPrGSuptW | Windrush | 1703 |
| Ian Leslie Lever | PPrGSuptW | Windrush | 1703 |
| Christopher Stuart Norridge | PPrGSuptW | Wychwood | 2414 |
| Richard Arthur Rose | PPrGSuptW | Annesley | 3961 |
| Patrick Anthony Hayes | PPrGSuptW | Oxnaford | 6691 |
| Terence Ronald Williams | PPrGSuptW | Buttercross | 7240 |
| James Kirkcaldy | PPrGSuptW | Clavis | 8585 |
| Dennis White | PPrGSuptW | Rathcreedan | 8690 |
| Mark Haynes | PPrGSuptW | The Oxfordshire Lodge of Service & Honour | 9162 |
| David John Crump | PPrGSuptW | The Redman Brown | 9607 |
| Gary Forest | PPrSGD | Windrush | 1703 |
| Michael Trumper | PPrSGD | Evenlode & Norton | 6535 |
| Dharmender Sall Singh | PPrSGD | Cadogan | 8965 |
| Daniel John McGeehan | PPrSGD | The Redman Brown | 9607 |
| George Alan Wase | PPrJGD | Cherwell | 599 |
| David Arthur Dillon | PPrJGD | Annesley | 3961 |
| Ian William Thomas | PPrJGD | Cadogan | 8965 |