A Short Trip Down South for the Chapter “Elite”
Saturday 9th November saw some of the Elite of Somerset Royal Arch heading down to the Devonshire
Riviera. They had a good trip to Torquay apart from the prevailing “Dunkelflaute” and parked up in the
Riviera Centre where parking spaces are wide enough for “family cars” as long as you’re driving an
Austin A30, a Ford Prefect or something similar.
After checking in, they were soon among old friends from Devon and many other Masonic Provinces.
My thanks go to John Reid of Wiltshire for taking our group picture of, from left to right, myself, David
Parslow, Graham Puddy, Charles Barker and David Maddern
Having partaken of Coffee and Biscuits it was soon time to change into Regalia and make our way back
upstairs to find our appropriate positions in the entry processions. The Provincial Chapter was duly
opened and business was soon under way. I have no doubt that a fuller report on the days proceedings
will soon appear on the Devonshire Royal Arch Web-site.
One of the main points of the Grand Superintendent’s Address was the Aspiration to develop a new
central modern Masonic Centre in Plymouth into which all the existing Lodges, Chapters etc., scattered
around a number of locations, could be brought. The aim was that a similar course of action could be
taken in Torquay. He brought the Devonshire Provincial Grand Master forward as part of this address and
then made a presentation to him from the Royal Arch to help fund these initiatives.
With the meeting completed the Provincial Team and then the Official Visitors were processed out. It was
now time to pack regalia away, abate one’s thirst and, eventually, move on to the dining room. Lots of
chatter persisted between Companion friends old and new. Once the Chief Officers had been processed in and Grace taken the catering staff soon had the first course distributed. In the lull between the main
course and dessert, I was able to take the following pictures of Somerset’s Official Visitors at their respective places. It just happened that I caught the one of David Maddern with Devonshire’s current and
a past Grand Superintendent and their PGM present.
Article submitted by Arthur Rowe
