2009 Address to Provincial Grand Conclave by the Provincial Grand Supreme Ruler

Right Worthy Deputy Grand Supreme Ruler, Distinguished Guests and Princes and brethren of the Province of Hampshire & Isle of Wight. It is my opportunity to address you for the first time as your Prov.G.S.R. an honour conferred officially this morning in a wonderful ceremony.

As the third PGSR of this Masonic Province, I am following two very distinguished brethren. The first, Bro Bernard, I paid tribute to earlier and I sadly regret his passing as I know he would have loved to have witnessed my Installation. He was a great friend and mentor. Second was Bro Malcolm, who held this office for ten years and whose patent expired last night. Today he is in Yorkshire at a KT meeting, but promised to raise his glass and wish his Province good fortune. He will be exercising due protocol, but he will continue to support this Order and very much will involve himself in the future development of the Scarlet Cord. As his Recorder for five years I know that he has placed this Province in good standing and has given me a springboard to grow this Province and strengthen the Conclaves.   I have set myself targets in my five years which are challenging but I believe doable. I have shared these with the Executive and I have their support.

I want to grow this Province to 250 individuals in the next five years, a 12.5% increase, and when you take in resignations and deaths that will be a challenge, but if everyone had a single candidate we would exceed that target with no difficulties. I want to ensure Conclaves are viable and have sustainable numbers and to allocate teams to support them. I want to better utilise Don Olleson Conclave of PSR to work with other Conclaves to undertake Princes ceremonies and assist wherever possible. It was encouraging that seven new PSR were proposed at their last meeting. I want to improve communication, make better use of our website, interact with the other Orders in the Province and most importantly listen to the brethren. I will therefore be visiting Conclaves, not only officially, but whenever possible in an informal capacity, so please Secretaries continue to send me your Summons direct so I can visit if diary permits.

I am blessed with a Team of Provincial Officers who is dedicated to this Order, a Deputy who has vast experience in ceremony and committed to this Order. With all this talent behind me my job is to focus and direct it to the benefit of this Province, but at the same time to make it enjoyable and inclusive for all, family and friends. A social is an important element and a Sunday luncheon will be on the agenda but also any suggestions warmly welcomed.

The development of the Scarlet Cord and its probable separation to a standalone Order requires our Province to have a Scarlet Cord Conclave sooner rather than later. Bro Ron Bentley is seeking Founders for a Conclave, probably located in Botley and to be named the Bernard Miles Conclave, which it is hoped to be consecrated in the first three months of 2010. With one Conclave this will entitle us to be an Inspectorate, with the aim of growing to three and becoming a Province with all that goes with it. Can we do it, yes we can. I do, however, wish to ensure that our Dorset brethren are supported through 450 for the foreseeable future until they have more brethren joining. To that aim I am pleased that R Wy Bro Malcolm is to be the next SR of the Conclave and we can support him during his year in Office.

I congratulate all the Officers I have appointed to Active Rank and promoted to Past Rank today. I look forward to the occasions you will attend to support me officially and I hope you have an enjoyable year. To the Arch of Steel I thank you for your commitment and again please come out whenever you can.  I was a member for several years and the spirit engendered is special.

I also congratulate Very Worthy Brother David Clare who will be promoted to Past Grand Guide as a Right Worthy Brother in November. To Ian Campbell promoted to Grand Visitor and Brian Rowe to Past Grand Visitor, Very Worthy Brethren. To Clive Milford promoted to PAGDC. To Paul Fenwick as Past Grand Standard Bearer and David Newman as Past Grand Bow Bearer, first appointments, all well deserved appointments in Grand Conclave and I look forward to witness them receiving their honours in Birmingham next month.

We will be looking at making Charity an important element and I am minded to look at causes that focus on the treatment and research in cancer, which has a devastating effect but also can be treated with high success.

Lastly my thanks to everybody who has made this whole day possible, the administration team led by Worthy Brother Alan Thompson, the Operations Team under Worthy Brother Alan Flux and aided by our Deputy and I am only sorry worthy Brother Richard Batchelor was unable to be here but pleased he is making progress. But most importantly, to all those who have attended to make it a very special day.  Have a safe journey home and God Bless.