A warm sunny day on the English Riviera was the setting for the 2024 Annual Meeting of the Devonshire Province of Mark Master Masons, being held under the banner of the Elliott Mark Lodge 169. The event, held in the Riveria Conference Centre, saw brethren attending from all corners of the Province to join together to celebrate the achievements of the Province over the previous year, whilst congratulating those receiving first appointments and preferments on the day.
Joining the brethren of Devonshire on the day, with some travelling great distances to support our PGM, were a number of Provincial Grand Masters, together with numerous other distinguished guests and visitors.
The lodge was opened in ample form by the Provincial Grand Master, Right Worshipful Brother David Charles Purdie, who was accompanied by his officers, Very Worshipful Brother John P. Clendinning, the Deputy Provincial Grand Master, and Worshipful Brother Brett Varker, the Assistant Provincial Grand Master.
A deputation of Royal Ark Mariners was then received into Provincial Grand Lodge, to the rousing tune of the "Hornpipe", lead by Worshipful Brother Bill Phillip carrying the "Travelling Ark" of the Province.
Following the initial business of the meeting, Right Worshipful Brother Christopher Davies, the Grand Director of Ceremonies, entered the lodge and announced the attendance of the Pro Grand Master, Most Worshipful Brother John Herbert Prizeman.
The Pro Grand Master was then received with rapturous acclamation by the brethren. He entered with an escort including all three of our active officers. Worshipful Brother Mark Nicholls, the Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies was joined by Very Worshipful Brother Bill Humphries, Grand Master Overseer as the Grand Sword Bearer, Worshipful Brother Paul Howard-Baker, Grand Senior Deacon as the Grand Standard Bearer, and Worshipful Brother Dennis Challis, Grand Steward.
The Pro-Grand Master was welcomed and the gavel was proffered by the Provincial Grand Master, which he held for a short time, whilst stating how delighted he was to be back in Devonshire visiting the oldest Mark Province and joining them on this day of celebration.
Following the normal reports and items of business, the Provincial Grand Master then went on to appoint his active officers for the year, followed by preferring promotions and first appointments to Past Provincial Rank. He then congratulated those who had been appointed to Royal Ark Mariner Grand Rank.
The next item on the agenda was the highlight of the day, where the Pro-Grand Master then presented Diamond Collarettes to the Worshipful Masters, or their representatives of 16 Mark Lodges. This now confirmed the Diamond Status of the all of the lodges within the Province. He congratulated the brethren of not only these lodges, but of all the lodges within the Province, for their generosity towards the Mark Benevolent Fund.
The Provincial Grand Master then addressed the meeting, during which he presented a cheque for £8000 to Right Worshipful Brother Ian Wright, the Provincial Grand Master for the Province of Oxfordshire, to assist with their festival.
The Pro-Grand Master then retired from the meeting, once again to rapturous acclamation, following which the Provincial Grand Master closed the meeting in due form.
The brethren then retired to the dining room, where they all participated in a wonderful festive board, with fun and laughter throughout.
It was also nice to see all of the heads of order within the Province of Devon and Cornwall joining together and enjoying each others company.
During the festive board, the Provincial Grand Master presented the Pro-Grand Master with a wonderful bouquet of flowers, for Mrs Prizeman of course. He then went on to present him with a unique bottle of bespoke Navy Strength Gin, which had come from a local gin distillery in Torquay.
He also presented Right Worshipful Brother Christopher Davies, the Grand Director of Ceremonies, with a gift of thanks from the Province.
The Pro-Grand Master, in his response, then thanked the brethren of the Province once again, whilst re-iterating his message that we should continue to support our craft lodges primarily, as without them, not only Mark Masonry but the the other orders would not be here.
Congratulations from all the brethren within of the Province of Devonshire go to all those who received their honours on the day, and grateful thanks go to the Worshipful Brother John Ashton, Worshipful Master of the Elliott Lodge 169 and his brethren for assisting with the operation of the day, and also to Worshipful Brothers John Smerdon and Bob Ware with their expertise in assisting with the photography during the event.
For a full review of the day, see the links for the photo albums from the day below
PGL 2024 - Photographs from the day