The Assistant Provincial Grand Master, Worshipful Brother Christopher Elliott, together with Worshipful Brother Robert Palmer, Grand Steward and Provincial Grand Secretary, joined the brethren of the Fidelity Huyshe Lodge of Mark Master Masons 91 recently for their regular meeting. He was accompanied by some very distinguished brethren, including Right Worshipful Brother John P. Clendinning, Past Grand Junior Warden and Past Deputy Provincial Grand Master of the Province of Devonshire, Worshipful Brother Nicholas Ball, the Provincial Grand Master of Devonshire in the Craft, and Most Excellent Grand Superintendent of the Royal Arch.

Before the opening of the Lodge, the brethren, both members and visitors, enjoyed an illustrated presentation on behalf of Memory Matters, a Community Interest Company that supports people of all ages who are diagnosed with dementia in the Plymouth and Cornwall areas. This presentation was arranged following a generous donation by the Lodge to Memory Matters, in support of its programmes in Plymouth.

For further information - Memory Matters | Dementia Support & training in Plymouth & Cornwall

Once the Lodge was opened by the officiating Worshipful Master, Worshipful Brother Brian Elms, and the routine business of the Lodge completed, the Assistant Provincial Grand Master asked for Brother John Graham Aston Lea (known as Graham) to be presented to him. 

They sat down together at the front of the Lodge, and Worshipful Brother Chris asked Bro Graham about his life growing up in Dudley in the West Midlands and then joining the Royal Navy aged sixteen years as a boy seaman. Graham specialised in Gunnery, and he was later commissioned as an Officer in the Royal Navy. He went on to command a flotilla of minehunters in the United Kingdom, meeting the future King Charles, after which he became the First Lieutenant at H.M.S. Raleigh at Torpoint. He was appointed a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (M.B.E.) in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List of June 1984. He retired with the rank of Commander.

Graham was advanced into the Fidelity Huyshe Lodge, MMM No 91, at Oreston on 24 January 1961. Although he had to resign from the Lodge due to his service in the Royal Navy, he remained a member of the Order, and he rejoined Fidelity Huyshe Lodge as soon as he was able. The Assistant Provincial Grand Master asked the Provincial Grand Secretary to read the Celebration Certificate received from Grand Lodge in recognition of his Sixty Years’ service to Mark Masonry, which was then presented to Brother Graham. The Provincial Grand Secretary then read the Provincial Certificate, also celebrating his Sixty Years as a member of the Province. The Assistant Provincial Grand Master was also presented with this certificate along with a Provincial Mark Token.

The Assistant Provincial Grand Master then announced that the Provincial Grand Master was pleased to award Brother Graham an immediate promotion to the rank of Past Provincial Assistant Grand Standard Bearer in recognition of his service to this Degree, and he handed him a letter to that effect, much to the delight and surprise of the recipient.

Following the meeting, the 27 brethren present joined together at a festive board to celebrate Brother Graham's achievement. On behalf of all the brethren from the Province of Devonshire, we congratulate him on his excellent service to Mark Masonry.