Happy Birthday Forest of Mendip – 60 years old!
The Provincial Team received a very warm welcome at the Forest of Mendip Lodge on Friday night. It was the third team visit of the season, and the purpose of the meeting was to raise Brother’s Oliver Broad and Jeff Stevens and to celebrate 60 years of the lodge. It was a particularly special night for three members of the Provincial team Russ Woodland, Garry Sharp and Damien Pick as they are members of FOM.
After the PGM and his team paraded in WM ‘Bubbs’ proffered the gavel to Ray who gratefully accepted it and took the chair, all be it briefly to update the brethern on the MCV challenge. He then perfectly demonstrated the art of delegation and passed the gavel onto his APGM Russ Woodland who took the chair and placed the Provincial Officer’s in their places.
The ceremony was conducted in exemplary fashion, led by Russ with all the Provincial officers performing superbly. It was almost a word-perfect ceremony with every one of the team performing brilliantly to give the two candidates an experience they wouldn’t forget.
After the ceremony Russ said how honoured he was to have taken the chair especially as he had seconded Bro Ollie into the lodge.
Bro Ollie when asked to comment said “The ceremony was great and I feel honoured to have been raised by the Provincial team, I really enjoyed the evening, and it was nice to see so many masons in attendance.”
The atmosphere at the festive board was also excellent with many other guests attending and enjoying the sumptuous festive board including a number from the Adair club with their new Chair Tom Beasley responding to the visitor’s toast in splendid fashion and giving us an update on their planned events. The raffle was good fun too.
The next team visit will be on Saturday 7th June to Uno Corde in Keynsham where the team will again perform a double third-degree ceremony. You will be most welcome to attend.
