On this occasion I start my report with a series of thanks. It was October of last year that I was first informed of a problem with my heart. At first, I understood that it was a slight murmur and nothing to worry about but the matter would be referred to hospital. The position became more serious in January of this year. Two days before we were due to leave for Portugal I was at the local hospital when I undertook tests. As a result of those tests we were warned to cancel the holiday, not to attempt to go to Portugal as, if I did, I would probably not return because of the seriousness of the condition of the heart. This was 2 days before the lunch in Hampshire to recognise the retirement of Brian Barfoot then the District Grand Master for Dorset, Hampshire and I.O.W. Could I have missed such an event
After discussing the situation with Shirley, I made the decision that we would still go to Portugal, Shirley's comments were do as you are told and we will make it. As you all know I did return and ultimately, in May this year I had major heart surgery. That seems to be going well although it seems as though it might be another 6 months before I am completely fit.
I would like to place on record my thanks to the Councils within this District, the individual members, friends from around the Country all of whom have been in contact to enquiry as to my health and to express best wishes for a recovery. I also need to thank the surgeon and nursing staff at Bristol Heart Institute for their professionalism in getting me back on the right track. At this stage I would want to particularly thank my Deputy, Michael Burridge, for his support during this difficult time. He visited me in the hospital, organised a rota of visitors to cover those visiting times in the evening, to enable Shirley to travel home after visiting in the afternoons. Upon my return home he weekly travelled from Bristol to Taunton to keep me up to date with news and to enable Shirley to get out of the house to go shopping and other things she needed to do. Above all I need to thank my wife Shirley, our two daughters and families. Shirley has born the brunt of looking after me for a period of just over a year. During a lot of the time I was unable to look after myself and she has been a terrific support. I do not believe that I would be in as fit a state as I am now in without that help from her and I would certainly want to put on record my appreciation and love for her. The wedding ceremony refers to "in sickness & health" Shirley has certainly looked up to that. Should she ever be in the same state I hope that I can return the favours, but she is not so sure
Looking to activity during the last 12 months it is gratifying to hear the membership statistics as explained by the District Recorder earlier in the meeting. In what is a very difficult time economically it is pleasing that we have retained our numbers with a reduction of one looking at the multiple memberships but a gain of one in actual individuals. Two of the Councils had no new candidates but I am sure that the whole District will continue efforts to attract the right quality members into the Order.
At the Annual Grand Council Meeting in April, once again we were able to congratulate some of our members who received initial Grand Collars or obtained promotions.
On behalf of the District I congratulate each one of these and hope that these appointments will encourage them to work even harder in promoting the Order of Royal and Select Masters. The Silver Trowel was held in Taunton for the first time. We are restricted to one candidate per council and therefore limited to 5 members each year. In June most of our 5 attended at Taunton and I understand that the meeting went off very successfully. At this stage I would ask the recorder to place in the minutes our thanks to the members from the District of Devon and Cornwall who came to Taunton and performed the ceremony. This co-operation between 2 districts helps to cement the friendship between us and I suspect that we should be able to continue to work together particularly with the Silver Trowel ceremony.
Each year, during the period that I have held this office the District Team have visited one of the Councils and undertaken the ceremony. During this last year the District Team visited Nailsea Council and performed the ceremony of Select Master. Again, I have to thank the Deputy District Grand Master Michael Burridge for taking the chair on that occasion and undertaking the work. This leads me on to thank all the officers who have supported me during this last 12 months. A year ago the then District Director of Ceremonies vacated his position as the District D.C. after many years service. This year we are losing 2 more of our long service officers namely Rex Trollope as the District Chaplain and Colin Scull as the District Treasurer. Both of them have served this District well over many years and I would ask the District Recorder to record in the minutes our grateful thanks for the help and assistance they have given during that period of time. To other officers who are also standing down today I thank you for your support and I am sure that you will continue to help the District specifically and the order generally in the future.
This next year will again be active. Subject to getting the approval from Taunton Council I am hoping that the Silver Trowel will again be held in Taunton at the beginning of June in 2012 and that Devon & Cornwall will again produce a team. In addition they are holding the Silver Trowel in South Brent early in May so that if any of our members cannot make the June meeting then they should be able to attend South Brent the month before. Once again we are restricted to 5 names and, as I said last year don't blame me if you are not included. The Grand Master makes the final decision. Our District Recorder George Paskins is coming up towards the end of his year in office in North Bristol Council. His last meeting is on the 1st of March and the Council will be doing the M.E.M, S.E.M & the Installation. George is a very hard working mason but I have insisted, yes insisted, that he should not do the 3 ceremonies. It has therefore been agreed that the District Team will do the M.E.M. ceremony at North Bristol on the 1st March and therefore those officers who have taken District rank today try to make sure that the 1st March is kept free in your diary. Letters will be sent out by the District Recorder in the near future to those who are being invited to take part in that ceremony.
As I mentioned earlier in my report we continue to look for suitable candidates for the order. The Grand Master has recently been emphasising the need to cultivate Royal Arch Masons as he feels there are many Royal Arch Masons who do not get sufficient information regarding the order of Royal & Select Master.
In this regard a couple of years ago we started exploring the possibility of a new council in the city of Bristol in Park Street. At first, there appeared to be support for this but it gradually faded away mainly on grounds of finance holding meetings in Park Street. However, I have been approached to see whether we could support that idea being resurrected again. I have therefore indicated that we would welcome the founding of another council in Bristol. It is in a very early stage and I would purely say at this stage that anyone who is interested in supporting that venture should contact me and we will see what progress we can make in this regard probably early in the New Year.
One idea which has also been explored by the executive is to consider ways in which councils can visit each other. I am aware of the distances which are travelled when visiting for example between Taunton and Devises it is something like 160 miles return journey. One or two districts have now introduced a Travelling Trowel. In Somerset the Royal Arch, the Mark, the Royal Ark Mariner and now the Craft are introducing items to pass between different lodges within the Province. I know of two Districts who have introduced a Travelling Trowel. I have given consideration to the same here in Somerset & Wiltshire. It has met with support from members of the executive and I have therefore presented a Travelling Trowel which can pass between councils. There may be some slight confusion as I understand the Craft in Somerset are also introducing a Travelling Trowel. I am not quite sure why a Trowel in the Craft.
I would therefore now ask the District Director of Ceremonies if he would present the Thrice Illustrious Master for Nailsea Council to me. The District Recorder will be sending out a short summary on procedure and form of words to be used when presenting the Trowel from one council to another and will also be sending out dates when it should be passed from one to other.
A Trowel is an instrument used by operative masons to spread the cement that unites the building in to one common mass. Visiting, we are frequently reminded during the visitors toast at the festive board, is one of the great pleasures of Freemasonry and a uniting influence that is central to its continued success. By combining visiting and the Trowel we hope that a new generation of Cryptic Masons will be introduced to the pleasures of visiting and that all those will be able to make new friendships and strength existing ones.
Will you Thrice Illustrious Master and as many of your companions as possible take the trowel to the Taunton Council on the last Saturday in January 2012 where I am sure amity will prevail and you will all enjoy a special evening.
I will now conclude this report with extending my thanks to all those who have helped to organise to days event particularly the District Grand Recorder, the Deputy Director of Ceremonies and anyone else who has made it such a success. Let us hope that we have a successful year ahead and may I, with my wife Shirley thank you all again and extend our best wishes for Christmas and a healthy New Year.
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District of Somerset and Wiltshire
of the Order of Royal and Select Masters 2009