The quarterly communications meeting at Mark Grand Lodge took place recently with Right Worshipful Brother David Charles Purdie, the Provincial Grand Master, heading up the delegation from the Province. He was accompanied by Worshipful Brother Brett Varker, the Deputy Provincial Grand Master, Right Worshipful Brother Peter Balsom, the Past Provincial Grand Master, Right Worshipful Brother John P. Clendinning, the Past Deputy Provincial Grand Master and Worshipful Brother Robert Palmer, Grand Steward and the Provincial Grand Secretary, along with a number of other distinguished brethren.

The meeting was opened in ample form by the Presiding Officer, Right Worshipful Brother Professor Denovan Keith Wilson, the Deputy Grand Master. Following the routine business of the meeting, the Presiding Officer then called off the meeting and a celebration of the Mark Benevolent Fund and the Grand Masters Keystone Fund then took place with both verbal statements and a number of video presentations by recipients of grants that had been awarded over the previous year. A grand total of more than £2 million pounds had been awarded from the funds, which was a display of the generous donations given by the brethren of this wonderful degree.

The meeting was then called back on and the Presiding Officer then proceeded to make a very moving and heartfelt tribute to the late Pro Grand Master, Most Worshipful Brother John Herbert Prizeman. When he finished, he was greeted with a rousing standing ovation by all assembled which vibrated through the Grand Temple with such verve, both for his words and also as a thank-you for the lasting memory of John – A brother who lived respected and died regretted.

Following the meeting, the brethren retired to the Grand Connaught Rooms where they enjoyed the company of many others from around the Provinces, before heading home later that evening.