Provincial honours for Trafford Group Royal Arch members

The month of May saw written communications from Provincial Grand Chapter arriving through a number of letter boxes for a select number of members of the Royal Arch in Trafford Group. Those communications were transmuted into reality at Provincial Grand Chapter in Blackpool.

Pictured from left to right, are: Stuart Boyd, Mark Matthews and group chairman Patrick Walsh.

Early on Wednesday morning, a group of the recipients and supporters gathered at Urmston Masonic Hall for a trip to Blackpool for a grand day out and to attend the 2024 Provincial Grand Chapter meeting at Blackpool Winter Gardens.

The day went well for all concerned, with even the weather being relatively cheerful for a change with the companions meeting up for breakfast followed by a little light refreshment. Everyone enjoyed the sights and sounds that Blackpool had to offer before once more returning to the Conference Centre for the start of a well-attended Provincial Grand Chapter convocation.

The meeting opened with the usual pomp and ceremony with the various officers parading in led by Provincial Grand Superintendent Mark Matthews, followed by an assortment of officers including Trafford Group AProvGM Stuart Boyd. Mark Matthews who, having declared the meeting open, then proceeded to invest the recipients with their honours starting first with acting ranks, followed by first appointments and concluding with promotions.

Below is a list of the recipients from the Trafford Group:

Pictured left form left to right, are: David Benson, Sylvester During and Darren Gregory awaiting presentation of their honours. Pictured right: Darren Gregory (left) about to be paraded up for his honour.

Receiving acting rank:

Sylvester During Architect Chapter No 1375 ProvGStdB
Darren Gregory Foundation Chapter No 5394 ProvGStwd

Promotions:

Patrick Walsh Lynsey Chapter No 1335 PPGSN
Ian Edge Monton Victoria Chapter No 1345 PPGSwdB
Alan Astin Swinton Chapter No 6100 PPGSoj
David Benson Architect Chapter No 1375 PPGSoj
Richard Walters Swinton Chapter No 6100 PPGSoj

Once all had received their rewards and the Grand Chapter convocation had concluded, the local party returned once more to Urmston and indulged in a celebratory meal and a few more ‘light’ refreshments, concluding what had been a rather tiring but never the less enjoyable and rewarding day by the sea!

Article by Ian Wood.