More than 40 brethren from the Province of Devonshire headed up to London as part of an expeditionary visit to the Annual Investiture meeting of Mark Grand Lodge, being held in the magnificent Grand Temple in Great Queen Street.
The Provincial Grand Master, Right Worshipful Brother David Charles Purdie, was accompanied by many distinguished brethren, and especially Worshipful Brother Brett Varker, the Deputy Provincial Grand Master and Worshipful Brother Christopher Elliott, the Assistant Provincial Grand Master, Right Worshipful Brothers Peter Hawken MBE and Peter Balsom, both Past Provincial Grand Masters, Right Worshipful Brother John P. Clendinning, the Past Deputy Provincial Grand Master, Very Worshipful Brothers Bill Humphries, Past Grand Master Overseer, and David Lee, Past Grand Senior Overseer, both of whom are Past Deputy Provincial Grand Masters.
A host of Grand and Provincial Grand Officers, together with other brethren from the Province, joined the Provincial Grand Master. These included Worshipful Brother David Eldridge, who was performing for the last time as the Grand Inner Guard, and Worshipful Brother Robert Palmer, the Outgoing Grand Steward and Provincial Grand Secretary. Accompanying them were the Provincial Grand Senior Worshipful Brother Barry Purdy and the Provincial Grand Junior Warden, Worshipful Brother Robert Hendy, together with Worshipful Brother Robert Truesdale, the Provincial Grand Senior Overseer, and Worshipful Brother Jon Webber, the Provincial Grand Junior Overseer and Provincial Assistant Grand Secretary.
The Grand Temple was packed out for the meeting of Mark Grand Lodge, which was opened in due form by the Most Worshipful Brother Raymond Smith, Past Pro Grand Master, who went on to complete the initial items of business for the day.
The Grand Master, His Royal Highness Prince Michael of Kent, was then welcomed into the Grand Temple with much acclaim. After being proclaimed to be the Most Worshipful Grand Master for the ensuing year, he gave his speech to the brethren, during which he congratulated all those who would be receiving preferment on the day. He then requested that Most Worshipful Brother Raymond Smith be the Investing Officer for the next part of the afternoon. This business was to undertake the appointment and investiture of the new Pro Grand Master for England and Wales and its District and Lodges Overseas. Right Worshipful Brother Paul Raymond Clement, OStJ, was subsequently obligated and invested as the new Most Worshipful Pro Grand Master in an excellent ceremony, and he was saluted accordingly. The Deputy and Assistant Grand Masters were then proclaimed for a further year. At this point, the Grand Master had to leave the Grand Temple, and once again was given a rapturous acclamation as he retired.
The next item of business was to see the new Most Worshipful Pro Grand Master appoint and invest his Active Grand Officers for the year, as well as those receiving first appointments to Past Grand Rank. Devonshire was very proud to see Worshipful Brother Bill Philip being invested as a Grand Junior Deacon together with Worshipful Brother John Hipwell, the Provincial Deputy Grand Secretary, being invested as Devonshire’s Grand Steward for the forthcoming year.
Our congratulations also went to Worshipful Brother Colin Day and Worshipful Brother Martyn Aldridge, who received their first appointments as Past Assistant Grand Directors of Ceremonies, with Worshipful Brother Christopher Sidwell receiving his first appointment as Past Assistant Grand Sword Bearer.
Following the meeting, the brethren retired to the Grand Connaught Rooms, where more than 1150 brethren joined together across many dining rooms to enjoy an excellent festive board. The afternoon was full of happiness and fun, a celebration for all those who had received their appointments.
There was also a very notable event that took place during the festive board, whereby the Provincial Grand Master, who was accompanied by Right Worshipful Brother Professor Denovan Keith Wilson, undertook a presentation to Brother Nebojsa Dordevic from Serbia. Following the sad closure of the St Aubyn Lodge of Mark Master Masons 64, the warrant was returned to Mark Grand Lodge and was subsequently reponed by a new lodge in Serbia on the 30th May 2026. Brother Dordevic was presented with numerous historic items from the St Aubyn Lodge that had been held by Devonshire following its closure. It was felt that they should be handed over to the brethren of Serbia so that they could continue building the lodge's history, whilst retaining the historic possessions.
Following the fabulous day out for everyone involved, the brethren found their way back across London and enjoyed their long train journeys back to the home pastures of Devonshire.
