On an extremely hot 21st June in Alcester, the Travelling Loving Cup was delivered to yet another RA chapter, and at a new venue which it had not previously visited.
Guys Cliffe Chapter No 8874 had only received the cup on the 12th June and here it was being passed over to Apollo Chapter No 301.
Pictured above with the Cup following the handover are: E Comp Mike Littler, IPZ of Apollo Chapter, E Comp David Graham, DGSupt, E Comp Geoff Walker, 3rd Provincial Principal, E Comp Rod Hinton, ProvGAlmoner, E Comp Nigel Hawkins, MEZ of both Guy’s Cliffe Chapter and Apollo Chapter, and the 2nd Provincial Principal..
The speed of the cup moving around the province has certainly heated up of late and continues to fulfil its primary purpose of encouraging visiting between Warwickshire chapters.
The Province was superbly represented at the changeover as Apollo Chapter finally on the night completed its Installation ceremony – having had its previous meeting somewhat curtailed due to an unfortunate double booking of the Town Hall by a comedy club (no pun intended).
The Deputy Grand Superintendent and virtually the whole team, who had been present at the previous Apollo meeting, were gracious enough to return and complete the installation ceremony with their usual aplomb. The meeting was further enhanced by the election as a joining member of E Comp Andrew Dobbins the new craft Prov JGW. The new craft Provincial SGW, E Comp John Kisbey, was also in attendance and acted in his previous RA capacity as Prov AGDC.
The final highlight for the chapter was to have the company of E Comp John Saint our much-loved and respected Past Grand Superintendent. The companions enjoyed a superb festive board afterwards at the Arrow Mill – with the cooling benefit of a number of very welcome open double doors overlooking the mill pond (in addition to the customary selection of various cold drinks).
E Comp Nigel Hawkins
To follow the rules governing the Cup’s travels, the Holding Chapter must select another
Chapter, at another Warwickshire centre, with at least three members taking the cup to
its destination. The holding Chapter must not keep it for long, so that it continues its
journey throughout the Province, and encourages visiting between Chapters. The cup is
now kept in a box to protect it on its travels, together with a record of its movements to
date. See the Royal Arch website for more information.
Past holders:-
Shakespeare Chapter No.284 – 6 July 2019 to 25 July 2019
Leigh Chapter No 887 – 25 July 2019 to 6 September 2019
Athol Chapter No 74 – 6 September 2019 to 16 September 2019
Leigh Chapter No 887 – 16 September 2019 to 19 th January 2022
(Pandemic Restrictions period and rule change in July 2020)
Bedeword Chapter No 7274 – 19 th January 2022 to 16 th May 2022
Athelstan Chapter No 1333 – 16 th May 2022 to 17 th October 2022
Chapter of Faith and Hope No 4772 – 17 th October 2022 to 7 th February 2023
Forest of Arden Chapter No 3826 – 7 th February 2023 to 16 th May 2023
Fletcher Chapter 1031 – 16 th May 2023 to 12 th June 2023
Guy’s Cliffe Chapter – 12 th June 2023 to 21 st June 2023
Apollo Chapter – 21 st June 2023 to ?