A ‘Mini’ Provincial Meeting held at Newark.

On Thursday 27th September, 2007, the Fleming Lodge of Mark Masters No. 265 held their Regular & Installation Meeting at The Masonic Hall, The Avenue, Newark on Trent.

For those of you who are not too familiar, the Lodge took its name from Alan Fleming who was a Warden of the Trinity Guild who died in 1363. Newark Parish Church contains one of the most famous brasses in England as a memorial to him. It was made in Flanders where the Trinity Guild of Newark had many connections with its association with wool, which initially was exported, from this country for processing abroad.

The Lodge was Consecrated on 9th August, 1880, at the Savings Bank, Newark, having been sponsored by the Remigius Lodge No. 117 of Lincoln.

Our Master Elect, now W. Bro. ‘Bob’ Orridge has for many years been a personal friend of the Rt W. Bro. Michael Herbert, the Past Provincial Grand Master for Leicestershire & Rutland, a Member of the G.M.R.A.C. and current President of the General Board. He has expressed a wish to attend Newark during W. Bro. Orridge’s membership but previously time constraints and Masonic business have always intervened. This time we were all honoured to receive such an eminent and wonderfully generous man. He was greeted by our own Provincial Grand Master, Rt. W. Bro. M. J. Gutteridge, who was scheduled to attend, and by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master W. Bro. T. D. Ward who also happens to be a member of Fleming Lodge.

The Lodge was further honoured by the presence of V. W. Bro. T. H. Kitchen the Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Lincolnshire, W. Bro. C. Cantrell the Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Derbyshire who brought his Acting Pr.G.J.O. W. Bro. B. Terry, and W. Bro. J. S. B. Mather P.G.S.D. and Assistant Provincial Grand Master of the Craft in this Province.

As our Organist Bro. John Jalland is progressing to the Chair we were richly entertained on this special occasion by W. Bro. H. W. Stringer P.G.J.D.

Our Installing Officer, W. Bro. Jim Molloy has had a wonderful year, with enthusiastic Candidates at each Meeting. He has done a tremendous amount of work in preparing for this Installation Meeting and installed W. Bro. Orridge in exemplary fashion. Everyone taking part in the Ceremony did so in a relaxed atmosphere and where the sense of support and encouragement was much appreciated, not least by W. Bro. Phil Pollard the Pr.A.G.D.C., who coped extremely well with all those salutations.

The Meeting was followed by a delicious roast beef dinner tastefully prepared and served by the Ladies who do such a good job for us.

The wonderful occasion was thoroughly enjoyed by Brethren travelling from Lincolnshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire and all parts of Nottinghamshire. Indeed this was one of those memorable occasions, which truly exemplified what this ‘Happy Degree’ stands for.

If your appetite has been ‘whetted’ we meet on the fourth Thursday in the months of September, November, February and April.

Geoff. Tindall. P.Pr.G.J.O Secretary.