How often can a companion say that he has sat in all three Principals’ chairs in one evening?            E. Comp Bernard Foad did just that at the recent installation convocation of Greville Chapter.

A Worshipful Master must simply have served as a warden – it doesn’t matter which – but every MEZ must have previously been installed into the Third and Second Principals’ chairs.  As E. Comp Bernard was ‘jumping’ from Joshua to Zerubbabel, the BoC dictated that he must first be installed as Haggai, therefore allowing him the unusual boast of sitting in all three chairs during an evening.

And here he is with E. Comps Richard Lynes in the Chair of H and David Whitehead in the Chair of J

As the MEZ, E. Comp Paul Hollis, was unavoidably absent, E. Comp Frank Collier was called off the subs bench at short notice.  E. Comp Frank did an excellent job all under the watchful eye of the Presiding Officer, E. Comp Nigel Hawkins, the Third Provincial Grand Principal who was accompanied by E. Comps Peter James and Rod Hinton and they were carefully supervised by the escorting ProvAGDC, E. Comp John Kisbey.

The Provincial Grand Principals for the evening are here shown standing alongside the newly appointed Chapter Principals, from LtoR, E. Comp Peter James, E. Comp Nigel Hawkins and last put by no means least, E. Comp Rod Hinton.

The ceremony was performed with genuine sincerity and enjoyed by all present.  The evening then continued with a delightful Festive Board at which £200 was collected for the Myton Hospice.  E. Comp Rod Hinton, in his capacity as the ProvGAlm, was pleased to announce that that the Province would augment by around 50%!  A delightful way of concluding a special evening for Greville Chapter.

E. Comp John Kisbey is here shown standing between Richard Lynes and Bernard Foad.

And here they are again shown with the Chapters Companions and visitors at the Festive Board.

Simon Grove
Feb 2023