FFOORRUUMM The Suffolk Freemasons Newsletter Summer 2013 Our new PGM Right Worshipful Brother Ian Yeldham pictured with the Deputy Grand Master Right Worshipful Brother Jonathan Spence following the Installation meeting JOTTINGS FROM THE P.G. Secretary Welcome to the Summer On 11 July 2013 at the Special supported these memorable occasions. edition of Forum. Meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge at The Province has received many The Province has been through a the Trinity Rooms, Suffolk Showground. letters and e-mails commenting on the very busy few months. RWBro Ian John Yeldham was installed excellent organization and success of The Annual Meeting at Holbrook as the new Provincial Grand Master for the meetings from our Provincial on 31 May 2013, the last to be the Masonic Province of Suffolk by the guests, many of whom travel a great presided over by RWBro IBJ Ross Deputy Grand Master, RWBro distance to be with us. after nine very successful and Jonathan Spence. WBro Andrew Sleath is retiring dedicated years as Provincial Grand VWBro David Hugh Harries, after 12 years as Editor of the Year Master resulted in a tremendous send PGSwdB was re-appointed as Deputy Book and I am sure you will join me in off from both the brethren of the Provincial Grand Master and WBro John thanking him for his diligent and Province and our invited guests from Stuart Rice, PAGDC was appointed dedicated service. The new Editor is other Provinces with an excellent Assistant Provincial Grand Master. to be WBro Graham Saward of atmosphere for both the Meeting and The 360 brethren and distinguished Colneis Lodge No 8298. the Festive Board. guests attending the Installation The Suffolk Provincial Clay Pigeon RWBro Barry has asked me on his followed by a most acceptable Shoot was held at High Lodge behalf to thank the brethren of the Luncheon enjoyed both the special Shooting School on 15 June 2013 and Province for his farewell gifts in a day and the fine weather. with 76 entries proved yet again a very thank you letter which included the On behalf of the Province I would like successful event raising in the order of following wording. ‘I have very much to thank WBro David Deal the £2,000.00 for the East Anglian enjoyed my tenure of nine years as Provincial Grand Director of Children’s Hospice. your Provincial Grand Master and Ceremonies, WBro Ralph Robertson, Finally, I would like to thank all have greatly appreciated your Secretary of Provincial Grand Stewards members of the Provincial Executive companionship. Suffolk is a very strong and his team of Stewards for all of their and Provincial Office including the Province through your ever present hard work and attention to detail before Editor of Forum and the Information commitment and enthusiasm and I am and on the days of the meetings, Officer who continue to do so much sure we will continue to go from ensuring the success of both of the work behind the scenes. strength to strength under my above events and of course the brethren I wish you all a very enjoyable successor RWBro Ian John Yeldham’. of the Province who attended and Summer break. Edit or Festival launched at Send your news items to: H Spindler, PGM’s Installation 12 St Mary’s Close, Bramford, Ipswich IP8 4DL ver 350 Brethren freemasonry offers so much to us all. we [email protected] attended the In stal - protect our masonic centres as we protect OlatIOn meetIng Of Our our homes and we look after our Brethren new PrOvIncIal grand master, as we do our families. the ultimate yield Editor: Ian Yeldham, when It was held from our hobby was written down many WBro H Spindler 01473 740882 In JulY at the trInItY rOOms years ago which is to bring satisfaction to Information Officer: at the suffOlk shOwgrOund. yourself and advantage to your lodge. WBro T J White 01473 622580 the deputy grand master right whilst every potential candidate sees us Editorial news to: worshipful Brother Jonathan spence smile, enjoy and enthuse about our WBro Harvey Spindler, conducted the ceremony assisted by a freemasonry they will be proud and 12 St Mary’s Close, team from grand lodge. honoured to join us” Bramford, the Pgm re-appointed david harries “Brethren, it’s a great big chain and it’s Ipswich IP8 4DL as deputy, and appointed John rice as a great big office, but with your support assistant Provincial grand master. we can strive to make sure that suffolk has Layout Design: In his speech our new Pgm informed the a great big future”. WBro Colin Barber Brethren of a new challenge which we the deputy grand master reminded Old Newton Graphics would all need to embrace. he together with the Brethren that the Province was not a 01449 675548 his new team would be officially launching one-man act and to succeed it needed [email protected] the next Provincial festival in september of enthusiasm from all it’s members. www.codge.com this year, when the next five years will be at the festive Board the Pgm paid a Printed by: spent raising funds for the royal masonic special tribute to his father John Yeldham Boswells Printers, Ipswich Benevolent Institution, who are responsible and thanked him for his many years of Website: for our care homes across the country. guidance and help. www.suffolkfreemason.org.uk he went on to say: “I think that 2 RepoRt on Suffolk pRovincial GRand lodGe MeetinG - 31 st May he annual PrOvIncIal believe purely reflects the general economic grand lOdge meetIng turndown. On the resignations front, we have at the rOYal hOsPItal seen the total number reduce by 9% – a schOOl at hOlBrOOk positive improvement.” was held On 31st maY on he reported that mentoring and almoner wthat was reported to be the hottest day of the initiatives under, respectively, wBros keith year so far continuing the fine weather tradition. huxley and mac speake, continue to make It was a meeting, however, tinged with some solid contributions to the well being of the sadness as it marked the final meeting to be members. mentoring is now well established presided over by rwBro Barry ross retiring across the Province, providing a far more after nine years as Provincial grand master. positive approach in maintaining the interest and enthusiasm of our members, particularly those who have just recently joined. the Provincial almoner has just concluded a series of workshops for almoners focussed on the recent changes in state benefits affecting us all particularly those in greatest need and ensuring The Deputy Provincial Grand Master presents a cheque to our lodge almoners are in a far better position the PGM on behalf of all the Suffolk Lodges. to offer helpful advice and support. following the outstanding success of our last John rice, Provincial group representative festival in 2009 for the masonic samaritan fund for sudbury, retired this month after a very followed in 2011 by the raising of £175,000 successful 7 years in Office and I am delighted towards the new each hospice in Ipswich he he has recently accepted becoming aPgm recommended that we endeavour to step up our and will be installed and invested in July. wBro support for maintaining and improving the 20 John sharp, Past Provincial grand treasurer, masonic centres across the Province – ‘the has succeeded him. wBro andrew sleath, essential fabric for our masonry.’ he was editor of the suffolk annual Year Book, is also delighted to report some very real advances and retiring following the publication of the said: “ earlier this month, I saw, first hand, the 2013/14 edition. he has served in this Office emergence of a new centre in Bury st for some 12 years – and has given tremendous edmunds. the previous commercial premises service and achieved such a high standard of are dramatically changing with the construction accuracy in this invaluable publication. his of two new temples -one seating an audience of successor will be announced shortly.” 100, the other 200 - with ancillary support rooms concluding, he thanked the deputy and for receptions and dining. felixstowe’s new assistant Pgms for their invaluable support dining hall is becoming more and more and commitment over the year, the Provincial popular with both lodges and outside grand secretary and Provincial grand organisations. coupling these with significant director of ceremonies and their respective The PGM making final preparations for his last meeting as developments at both lowestoft and teams for organising today’s meeting not head of Freemasonry in Suffolk. framlingham centres I am confident we are forgetting the very significant contribution making inroads into this important challenge.” given by the members of the suffolk Provincial he went on to list the suffolk Brethren who grand stewards’ lodge, in the detailed after welcoming the distinguished visitors received grand honours: wBros Phillip arrangements for the meeting. and the initial business of the meeting the Pgm covell (Provincial group representative for finally, he thanked the Brethren for the presented the suffolk Provincial Order of merit group 7) and david deal (Provincial gdc) support they had given him over the last nine to wBros wP clayton and ga dixon. the both appointed Past assistant grand director years as Provincial grand master. he added: third recipient, wBro wJ curtis, was not able to of ceremonies. Promotions were vwBro “I have enjoyed every moment of it and have attend and the Pgm announced his intention to david harries (deputy Pgm) Past grand made so many good friends. they say: ‘small is make the presentation at a later date.