Berkshire well represented at Surrey Provincial meeting

The Annual Surrey Provincial Mark meeting held at Croydon on Saturday 21st March was the usual great occasion and Berkshire brethren were out in force to support our neighbouring Province.

The Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master, Graham Seeman and W.Bro. David Reeves, the Provincial Grand Junior Warden, were the official representatives, but they were joined by many other Berkshire brethren.

The picture shows (l to r) W.Bro. Paul Ackland-Snow, P.A.G.D.C.; W.Bro. Anthony Howlett-Bolton, G.S.D.; W.Bro. Kevin Dodd, P.Prov.G.J.W.; W. Bro. David Emonds, W.Bro. David Reeves, Prov.G.J.W. and Bro. John de Lara.

The strong turnout from Berkshire just might have had something to with the fact that our own V.W.Bro Steve Berkshire, P.G.J.O was being Installed as an Assitant Provincial Grand Master for Surrey!  Congratulations to Steve and many thanks to the visiting Berkshire brethren for their support.

This weeks newsletter from Mark Masons Hall

This weeks newsletter from Mark Masons Hall can be viewed by clicking on the image above.

 

November’s Newsletter from Mark Masons Hall

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PGM’s Address to Provincial RAM Assembly

Mark Masons hit the streets of London for Charity!!

What a fantastic team effort, as always, we are delighted to see our very own Provincial Grand Charity Steward of Mark Master Masons – Berkshire W Bro Brian McCormack involved in this wonderful fundraising event.

On 16 May, a team from Mark Province of London set off to visit the London cabmen’s shelters, spread all over London, in aid of the Cabmen’s Shelter Fund in their 150th anniversary.

The 4-man team led up by R.W.Bro. David Ashbolt P.ProvG.M. and consisting of W.Bro. Marios Styliandes A.Prov.G.M., W.Bros Stacy Harman and Brian McCormack (Provincial Charity Stewards) headed off on an unusually sunny day from the St John’s Wood shelter – the oldest functioning shelter in London. Before we set off, we had the honour of being allowed inside the shelter, with the permission of the Trustees, which is normally strictly reserved for licenced taxi drivers only.
The team managed to catch a lift off the Widows Sons on the first leg, with the bikers turning up in numbers to support the challenge and whisked the team to the second shelter of the day, where we were met with what was the common theme of the day – a big smile and appreciation for what the Mark Province of London was doing for the shelters.
After a quick photo, we headed off to the next shelter where David and Marios were given a mop and bucket for a cleaning job! Once the floors were mopped, we the made our way across London, battling the traffic any way we could. After taxi rides, walking and pulling Marios around in a wheelchair – due to him trying to get the sympathy vote – the team marched on ticking off each visit as we went.
With a long day under our belts, lots of photos, fun and stories from all the shelter’s operators, the team finished off the challenge with quick dart over to Mark Masons’ Hall, where we were met by our Provincial Grand Master and the Trustees of the CSF and sat down to a celebratory meal by the team at MMH

Royal Ark Mariners – A wonderful order!!

Our Royal Ark Mariner (RAM) lodges continue to thrive. The Royal Ark Mariner degree is a lovely degree and very different from every other order. We all know the connection between the Craft and Royal Arch Freemasonry. A similar connection exists between Mark Master Masons and Royal Ark Mariner Freemasons. Once you have become a Mark Master Mason, you are welcome to join any of our Royal Ark Mariner Lodges. It is a wonderful extension of your Mark membership. For further information, please click on the link below.
https://berksmark.org.uk/…/about-the-royal-ark-mariner…/

Meet the new Deputy Provincial Grand Master

James Etienne Payen (Jim) was Initiated into Freemasonry on the16th April 1984 in Rupert Patterson Lodge No: 3646 meeting at Freemasons Hall, Great Queen Street.  He is a Lewis and his uncle was in the Chair and his father took him round as Junior Deacon. Truly a family affair.

He was Exalted into Chapter in February 1986 in the Temple Of Twickenham Chapter no: 7829 meeting at Cole Court in Twickenham, Middlesex.  On that evening his father was Principal Sojourner.  Another family affair!

On the 12th July 1988 Jim was Advanced into the Hungerford Lodge of Mark Master Masons, No: 1342 in Newbury in this Province and served as Master in 2003 and again in 2023.  He was Elevated into the Porchester Lodge of Royal Ark Mariners No: 27, also in Newbury, on 7th February 2007, serving as Commander in 2009.

Jim is also a member of the Order of Royal and Select Masters in Wantage Council No: 282 which he greatly enjoys as it links the Mark, Craft and Chapter together.  As part of that Order Jim was Anointed in the Order of the Silver Trowel on 11th January 2022.

In his business life, Jim has been employed in the General Insurance Industry since 1984, starting in motor insurance, then moving to Commercial Insurance where he became a Branch Manager and soon afterwards the Area Manager for Bennetts Insurance.  In 2007 he joined insurance brokers Heath Lambert in their IT department as an Application Specialist.  Heath Lambert were acquired by Arthur J Gallagher in 2011 where he still works, and since 2018 he has been involved in Mergers and Acquisitions where he leads a team of 50 people completing IT integrations for companies Gallagher have bought all over the EMEA region.

Jim is married to Julia and has a son, Luke, who works at Aldermaston and a daughter, Sophie, who is completing her training as a midwife in Norwich.

In this Mark Province, Jim served in the active rank of Provincial Grand Junior Warden in 2009, received Grand Rank in 2012, and has been our Provincial Grand Treasurer since 2019.

Provincial Grand Master’s Address to Provincial Grand Lodge