West Wales Mason Magazine Autumn 2011

Autumn 2011 Volume XXXI

Well, what do you know; a bear and a giant rabbit

Story Grand Charity

Scolton Manor a Success

Connect Music in Masonry Scolton Manor

Page 4/5/6 14 20/21 26/27/28

Royal Arch Appeal

33

Candlewick Makers

40/41

Offas Dyke Walk

42/43

Grand Officers

59/60/61

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West Wales Mason

The summer recess seems to get shorter each year, and before I know it we are back in harness again and off on another Masonic Year. I must admit that I look forward to it each year, and wonder what challenges lay ahead.

I thank everyone for their messages of goodwill after my illness at the end of June. It is most heart-warming to know that there are brethren who care out there. I have now recovered (I think) but I have taken heed of the warnings.

I also thank those brethren who helped me personally over the two days of the Provincial Meetings in July. Their assistance made it possible for me to attend and do my part of the proceedings. The Provincial Meetings were a great success, and I thank and congratulate all those brethren who contributed to the success of the day. Particular mention must be made of the brethren of Old Priory Lodge and the companions of Kensington Chapter who worked hard and diligently on both days. After the event I received many letters of thanks and congratulations from visitors, which was most gratifying and shows that we made a very good impression.

On that day, of course, the new teams of Provincial Officers were duly invested, and having enjoyed a relaxing recess, they are keen to start getting around the circuit. I too am looking forward to seeing them all again and being in their company, and to being in your lodges and chapters sharing in your enjoyment of Freemasonry.

The annual Provincial Meetings is one of two events each year at which the Province seeks your attendance and support. The other is the Church Service, which this year will be held at St Peter’s Church, Carmarthen on Sunday 16th October 2011, starting at 3.00 p.m. The service this year will again be interdenominational. We need to fill the Church and therefore need a lot of Masons, and their families and friends, to be there. Please make every effort to be there, not only to celebrate our Freemasonry but also to support the Provincial Grand Master, and the brethren of the Carmarthen Lodges who are organising the occasion.

We are now over half way in our progress to the 2015 Festival, and I know that the Chairman of the Festival Committee, W Bro Brian Hilling, has written to every lodge seeking a redoubling of effort to reach the target that we would like to achieve. The Provincial Grand Master thanks all of those brethren who do contribute regularly and those who put in extra effort through fundraising events, and he urges those who do not make a regular contribution to start doing so now. This is a message that will be repeated often in the coming year.

However, I am reliably advised that we will stop banging on about it when the message gets home and the vast majority of brethren do give on a regular basis.

And finally..............

I can find no different way of saying this so I shall continue to use it as my sign-off paragraph.

May we all continue to enjoy our Freemasonry, and please remember – whilst we all have slightly different reasons for being Freemasons, we should all be doing it for fun as well.

Be assured that the Provincial Officers are all here to help. All you have to do is ask. If we do not know the answers we will soon find someone who does.

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West Wales Mason

For every bear that ever there was...

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Teddy Bears galore, destined to help make a little child smile, were delivered recently to the four main A & E units at Bronglais (1); Withybush (2), Prince Phillip (3) and Glangwili (4).

The Appeal is now well established in the Province of West Wales. Fundraising amongst West Wales Freemasons and Lodges was started in April 2005, and A&E units have been using the TLC Teddies since October 2005. In that time more than 17,000 severely distressed children at A&E units Bronglais, Aberystwyth; West Wales General, Carmarthen; Withybush, Haverfordwest; and Prince Phillip, Llanelli; more recently

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2

Cardigan has been added to the list and have benefited from a TLC Teddy. That’s around 17,348 smiling faces and a potential 34,000+ parents, grandparents, siblings and friends of the families who have come into contact with Freemasonry in this particular way. The success of the Appeal is rightly attributed to them all.

For the young recipients it does not just end in hospital; they are encouraged to give their new cuddly toy a name and of course they will be taking it home. On every Teddy there is a small tag saying "Donated by Local Freemasons�.

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West Wales Mason

Siobhan McCarthy Supporting Freemasons in the local area One of the key priorities for The Freemasons’ Grand Charity is providing Masonic Relief Grants to assist Freemasons and their dependants in need. Grants are made towards: Essential daily living costs Unexpected needs (e.g. funeral bills, minor home repairs, or hardship faced following an accident, redundancy or other personal crisis).

In the first six months of this year, £17,000 was given to support Freemasons and their dependants in the West Wales area.

If you or someone you know would like to enquire about help available please contact The Freemasons’ Grand Charity on 020 7395 9391 / 9293 or visit www.grandcharity.org New national grant - £5,000 for a West Wales branch of Parkinson’s UK The 2011 Annual National Grant from The Freemasons’ Grand Charity has been awarded to Parkinson’s UK. Each of the 48 Metropolitan and Provincial Grand Lodges have been given £5,000 to donate to a local Parkinson’s UK branch, and the money will be spent on helping to improve the lives of people affected by Parkinson’s. The aim of this grant is to support local branches, allowing them to decide how they spend their money. The branch allocation is being decided by Parkinson’s UK. Teresa Forgione, Major Gifts Manager at Parkinson’s UK, said:” We are delighted that The Freemasons’ Grand Charity are joining us and supporting our work with this generous donation. Our local groups run a wide range of activities and support for people affected by Parkinson’s, including Pilates classes, education days or day trips for members. The money may also go towards part funding a new Parkinson’s nurse or a new minibus.”

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurological condition, which affects 120,000 people in the UK. People with Parkinson’s don’t have enough of a chemical called dopamine because some nerve cells in their brain have died. Without dopamine people can find that their movements become slower so it takes longer to do things. The loss of nerve cells in the brain causes the symptoms of Parkinson’s to appear. There’s currently no cure for Parkinson’s and we don’t yet know why people get the condition.

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The main symptoms of Parkinson’s are tremor, rigidity and slowness of movement. As well as affecting movement, people with Parkinson’s can find that other issues, such as tiredness, pain, depression and constipation, can have an impact on their day-to-day lives. The symptoms someone has and how quickly the condition develops will differ from one person to the next. The symptoms can be controlled using a combination of drugs, therapies and occasionally surgery.

The Freemasons’ Grand Charity has funded Parkinson’s UK since 1981 and in 2010, finished funding £177,056 for a three-year study into a gene involved in Parkinson’s called PINK1. The research was carried out by Professor Nick Wood at University College London. The research team aimed to find out more about how mutations in the PINK1 gene might be linked to the death of specific nerve cells within the brain.

The PINK1 gene gives rise to a protein that usually keeps nerve cells healthy, but the protein needs to be changed from its original form before it can work.

Through their research, Professor Wood’s group have discovered new factors that work with PINK1 to alter it to allow it to work correctly. Mutations in the PINK1 gene prevent that interaction, and this eventually leads to nerve cell death. But scientists still need to understand more about how this happens and how they can prevent the death of nerve cells occurring. However, the team’s discovery is a significant step towards understanding how the nerve cells die in Parkinson’s and to finding out whether and how the cells can be rescued.

Major grants from the Grand Charity – over £1 million donated so far in 2011 The Major Grants programme provides funding for national charities in support of medical research, vulnerable people and youth opportunities. So far this year more than £1 million has been given to support over thirty organisations. Examples of some recent grants: £50,000 for St Dunstan’s in Llandudno £50,000 has been donated by The Freemasons’ Grand Charity to St Dunstan’s, the national charity supporting blind ex-Service men and women. The donation is helping to build a new Training and Rehabilitation Centre in Llandudno. The new Centre will provide state-of-the art rehabilitation, training and respite support for blind ex-Service men and women from all over the United Kingdom, but particularly those from Wales and North West of England. The vast renovation and expansion project which began on the former North Wales Medical Centre is due to complete this Autumn.

The 40 bedroom Centre will also house a rehabilitation sports gym, arts and crafts room, training kitchens and specially adapted dining and accommodation facilities catering for everything from residential training weeks, to nursing and respite care. The new facility will enable St Dunstan’s to help even more ex-Service men and women to discover a life beyond blindness.

Continued over page......

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West Wales Mason

Robert Leader, Chief Executive of St Dunstan’s, said “We are honoured to accept the £50,000 donation from The Freemasons’ Grand Charity, which will help towards St Dunstan’s mission to enable ex-Service men and women overcome the challenges of blindness so they can live independent, full lives. £35,000 for Catch22 The Freemasons’ Grand Charity recently donated £35,000 to a vocational skills centre, run by young people’s charity Catch22. The much needed money will be ploughed into continuing the work that Catch22’s Vocational Skills Centre has been doing for the last 16 years. The purpose-built training centre reflects the set up of a motor vehicle garage; the upper level containing a PC suite for classroom learning and offers young people vocational related qualification Level 1 in car mechanics.

Mick McCarthy, Catch22’s area manager says “This donation really will make a difference to the lives of the young people that use the Centre. Our work with young people shows that they need the right support and proper preparation if they are to make the most of real job opportunities. It takes time and effort to get young people job-ready and this means giving them access to the right training that will equip them for the workplace” The Centre works closely with the young people it trains to find out how best to meet their individual learning needs and help them obtain the skills they need. This might involve help with numeracy and literacy skills and an onsite tutor helps with exam preparation methods. £50,000 for immediate help following disaster in Japan On 11 March a massive earthquake struck Japan, triggering a tsunami that swept across the east coast, leaving a trail of destruction. Thousands of people were killed and whole towns destroyed. Red Cross © British Red Cross/Claire Durham The President of the Grand Charity approved an emergency grant of £50,000 to the British Red Cross, to assist with its Japan Tsunami Appeal. In the weeks following the earthquake, there were repeated earthquakes, with magnitudes of 6.6, every 30 to 60 minutes. The tsunami alert has remained active. Landslides were reported in 37 areas.

Roads, bridges, railroads, dykes and buildings were damaged in about 460 places and many roads remained impassable for weeks. 15,400 people have been confirmed dead and some 7,400 were missing following the disaster.

The Japanese Red Cross mobilised 14,000 volunteers who provided mobile kitchens, distributed food and relief items and directed people to evacuation centres, helping people to recover homes that have been buried in mud.

The Grand Charity donation helped to purchase: 131,500 blankets; 183,000 items of clothing;; 28,000 emergency relief kits; 12,500 sleeping mats; 15,500 household tools; 4,900 buckets; 30,000 towels and other hygiene items; 61,000 instant meals.

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West Wales Mason

On Saturday June 4th the Provincial Grand Master Rt.W.Bro. Eric Mock accompanied by his wife Helen hosted the annual Provincial Officers dinner at the Royal Ivy Bush Hotel in Carmarthen.

There was a good attendance of Provincial Officers and Grand Officers accompanied by their Ladies. A most pleasant and convivial evening ensued with everybody enjoying the good food and excellent company. All this contributed to a very successful celebration for a Provincial team of Officers who had really enjoyed their year.

The evening was organised by the Provincial Senior Warden W. Bro. Syd Smith who provided a superb finale when he introduced Alwyn Evans a young tenor from Machynlleth and his pianist Elenid Thomas who enthralled us with a wonderfully balanced and crafted programme of traditional music.

The Provincial Grand Master expressed his thanks to all his Officers for their support throughout the year and said how much he was looking forward to the Provincial Meeting at Trinity College on July 7th.

Box 32 Cefn Esgair E R Hughes Consultancy Services Llanbadarn Fawr Aberystwyth SY23 3JG

Agricultural Consultant

Tel/Fax 01970 615 3054 Mobile 07831 391 841

Emyr Rh Hughes F.S.Ag.S., A.I.Ag.S.A. Email: emyrrhughes@btinternet.com.

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West Wales Mason

The photograph shows, back row: Ill. Bro. Tom Place 32° [North Wales]; Ill. Bro. D Keith Davies 32° [District Recorder, South Wales & Monmouthshire]; Ill. Bro. Michael Nelson 18° MWS; Ill. Bro. Colin Fisher 32°; Front row: V. Ill. Bro. David Edwards 33° [Inspector General, South Wales & Monmouthshire] ; Ill. Bro. Colin James 32°; V. Ill. Bro. Dr. John Lloyd 33° Inspector General the District of Dyfed.

At a meeting of Ceredigion Chapter Rose Croix on 25th March 2011, Ill Bro Colin James 32nd Degree was presented with a certificate celebrating his 50 years as a Rose Croix Mason. He was perfected in the Ledbury Chapter on 23rd March 1961 and spent much of his Masonic career in South Wales before returning to Cardiganshire on his retirement from the teaching profession. The certificate was presented to him by V Ill Bro Dr John Lloyd, Inspector General for the District of Dyfed and the Chapter was further honoured by the presence of V Ill Bro David Edwards, Inspector General for South Wales and Monmouthshire. We congratulate Ill Bro James on attaining this milestone in Masonry and we wish him good health and every other blessing so that we can continue to enjoy his company for many to come.

Colin’s Rose Croix History: Perfected in Ledbury Chapter [April 1961]; Founder of Maesyfyd Chapter [February 1963 and its Sovereign 1969]; Member of Sir Frederick J Alban Chapter [Sovereign 1989]; Founder Recorder of Wye Vally Chapter; Founder D.C. Of Sarn Helen Chapter [1983]; Founder D.C. Of St Mary’s Priory Chapter [1980]; Founder member of Cornelius Chapter [1998] and last but not least a joining member of Ceredigion Chapter.

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West Wales Mason

Comment None reading this needs to be told we are living in austere times, and there appears to be no end in sight. We all know that inflation figures are poppycock. There have been massive increases in the call for our income and pensions through higher costs of necessities and increased taxation, stealth or otherwise.

All this has an inevitable reduction in our deposable income. One of the causalities of this is the ability to give to charities and good causes. Having given you the doom and gloom, and it’s very real, we see from from the pages of the West Wales Mason that many thousands of pounds have been donated to worthy causes.

We are now half way through our Festival 2015 appeal and it is our duty to support the Province and with it our Provincial Grand Master. We now need to pull out all the stops to make the Festival the success it merits.

The Scolton Manor event was a success, although Saturday was a tad damp! Sunday turned out to be a perfect day with the sun shining and hardly a cloud in sight.

Seven Lodges had stands which helped to raise additional monies for the Festival.

Perhaps next time more Lodges could see their way to have a stand. If it’s difficult for individual Lodges to have a stand possibly the Lodges that meet in the same Masonic Hall could organise a joint stand.

The Province and its members owes a well deserved thanks to all those Masons who helped and made the event a pleasure for the rest of us. Against all rules that say you should not name names, one name does come to mind and surely all members of the Province appreciate the hard work that Bob Darkins and his team have done to organise the event.

We have had two cracking shows. Will there be another?

This comment page is being written in an hostelry, with the obligatory ale when a text request for information received the reply of, ‘Yes’.

So let the West Wales Mason be the first to encourage everyone to make it an even greater success.

Let’s go for it...

Our Deputy PGM took this photo [you’d think the bear could have taken it!] at the Masonic stand at the Pembrokeshire Agricultural Show.

This event was organised by Iwan Jenkins, and yes he is the bear.

The photograph shows from left to right:- David Elsley, Bradley Davies, Iwan Jenkins, Gerald Taylor, Phillip Rimell and John Everett.

Is this the first of many?

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West Wales Mason

Masonic Samaritan Fund John Williams

The Masonic Samaritan Fund was established in 1990. It is a grant making charity that supports those who: HEALTH, DENTAL, MOBILITY, HOME ADAPTATION or RESPITE CARE need Authority And

Support is available to: Freemasons Their: Wives, Partners, Dependants and surviving dependants.

There are no age limits – to date applicants have ranged from 6 months to 104 years!

There is no qualifying period of membership and no requirement for the Freemason to still be active in the Craft.

Freemasonry Cares “It really does work” Dear Brethren, We as Freemasons have all heard the message that “Freemasonry Cares”. Indeed many of us will have the Leaflet, which tells us where we can readily get help.

I want to tell you about two instances where my wife and I have witnessed for ourselves that care which bind us together in the fraternity.

The first was when I needed urgent medical treatment for a debilitating condition, which left me unable, to walk and in a wheelchair. I was told I would have to wait at least eighteen months before I could have surgery on the NHS. This was devastating news because the pain was becoming unbearable.

This was when my Lodge Almoner advised me to apply to the Masonic Samaritan Fund for help. The application process was done in the strictest of confidence and within a short time I received the welcome news that the Fund would pay for my treatment. Everything was arranged with my comfort and convenience in mind. I had the operation in the private wing of a local hospital and the care I received was first class. I cannot thank my fellow Freemasons enough for the relief from pain and the freedom from the worry that I could not afford to pay for the treatment.

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West Wales Mason

This, Brethren, is what making a difference really means. My quality of life improved one hundred per cent in the years that followed and I shall always be grateful that the MSF came to my aid when I needed it most.

Little did I know that twelve years later I would be asking the Fund for help once again? Although my condition improved and walking became much easier, over the years it had become increasingly difficult to bathe or to shower. I applied to my local council for a Disability Grant but unfortunately did not qualify. Once again the Fund came to my assistance and paid for an adaptation to my bathroom. This has made such a difference to the quality of my life and is yet again a manifestation of the message that “Freemasonry Cares�.

These two examples have made such a difference to our lives. My wife no longer has to push me in a wheelchair and she also now receives the benefit of a walk-in shower.

My wife and I are both pensioners on a modest income. There is no way we could have afforded the medical treatment and the bathroom adaptation from our savings Brethren, this is Masonic Charity at its best. I cannot better praise the work of the Masonic Samaritan Fund than by recommending it to you and your loved ones in your time of need.

I cannot adequately express our admiration for and our appreciation of the Masonic Samaritan Fund in this short article, which I hope you will read with interest.

Sincerely and Fraternally A Grateful Brother

If you know someone who you think needs our help PLEASE tell them to contact the Fund on 0207 404 1550 or via Freemasonry Cares on 0800 035 60 90.

Masonic Samaritan Fund, a charitable company limited by guarantee, registered in England.

Company number 6876310, Charity Number 1130424

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West Wales Mason

Pictured below, looking on with keen interest and proudly savouring his Lodge's achievements at the inaugural playing of this precision instrument – a concert grand piano no less – is V W Bro Tom Evans, Deputy President of the West Wales Grand Charity. Seated, with his fingers almost magically moving at prestissimo speed over the ivories, is Mr Islwyn Evans, the Musical Director of Ysgol Gerdd Ceredigion.

Whether it was musical or bank notes – it mattered not; for the Brethren of the Peterwell Lodge were both pleased and proud to spearhead the response when the Province of West Wales heard the members of Ysgol Gerdd Ceredigion, a musical organisation for youngsters based at and from around Newcastle Emlyn, needed financial help to purchase their own concert grand piano.

It was the plaintiff tugs on the heartstrings of the Brethren rather than musical chords on this occasion that triggered the response when they, the members, heard the children were anxious to purchase their own precision musical instrument.

© Tony Beckingham

M. B. Samuel & Co.

Accountancy and Tax Services 1, Parc y Cwm Glan yr Afon Industrial Estate Aberystwyth, Ceredigion, SY23 3JQ Telephone: 01970 627 561 Fax: 01970 627 560 Email: maynardsamuel@aol.com Directors: M B Samuel M J Lawton Mrs K A Jones

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West Wales Mason

Having achieved major successes at such venues as St David's Hall, Cardiff, Llandaff Cathedral and the Royal Albert Hall, London, coupled with their outstanding wins at the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod and culminating with first overall at the National Eisteddfod, they were © Tony Beckingham finding they were much in demand – both locally in person and nationally on CD material.

Buying and installing their own precision musical instrument was the only way to offset the costs of long distance travelling to recording studios in Swansea, Cardiff and London – these venues generating the added disadvantage that the children could hardly be expected to be at their best after such tiring journeys.

Following an impassioned appeal by V W Bro Tom Evans at the October 2010 meeting, the members of the Appeals Committee of the West Wales Grand Charity were pleased to recommend the approval of the substantial award of £15,000. The Trustees, unanimously and without any hesitation whatsoever, endorsed the Committee's recommendation and immediately made the award.

Thus the children, and not forgetting the Musical Director of course, had the instrument of their dreams. One only has to look at the expressions on their faces in the group photograph shown above to realise their appreciation. Also shown are V W Bro

Tom Evans and the Charity Stewards of the local Lodges.

Wines from around the World Chris Samuel 07816 857 522 cjsamuel@hotmail.co.uk

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West Wales Mason

CONNECT

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Roy Leett, Provincial Grand Almoner

‘Freemasonry Cares’ Since the introduction of the Freemasonry Cares project in West Wales Province, initial results indicate that there has been an increase of 17% in inquiries for help. Not all have been successful but at least it shows that Brethren are becoming aware that help is available.

Brethren, I cannot remind you often enough how important it is to keep your wives/partners and close family fully informed of the Freemasonry Cares project and exactly what it does. God forbid but if anything happened to you, make sure that your loved ones know that help is at hand if they need it.

Remember:Grand Charity can help in providing financial help for Masons and their families who are experiencing hardship. Grants are made towards: essential daily living expenses; unexpected needs (e.g. urgent property repairs, funeral expenses, major household appliances) The Masonic Samaritan Fund. Provides support to those who have an identified health care need (Medical; Dental; Ophthalmic treatment and respite care.) and who are faced with a long wait for treatment on the NHS and cannot afford to go private without incurring financial hardship. Furthermore, in certain circumstances, mobility equipment (e.g. wheelchairs, stairlifts, electric scooters) can also be provided.

The Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys. Provides help for those who look after the children of Masons who are in difficulty through the death, disability or financial position of a parent. The trust aims to help beneficiaries to receive the education and training they need to achieve their potential and so succeed in life. Examples include providing assistance with the cost of academic study or with pursuing apprenticeships for practical trades. Support is available in a wide range of educational environments, including state and private schools, colleges and universities.

The Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution. Provides residential, nursing and dementia care for older Freemasons and their dependants. All of their 17 Homes can accommodate people who may be becoming a little confused, and where specialist care is needed. The R.M.B.I. can also offer short-stay breaks, including respite care. These are helpful both to those living alone, and for families that need a little respite from the demands of caring for an older relative.

Who Qualifies? All current and former Freemasons under the United Grand Lodge of England. Dependants of a Freemason, former Freemason or deceased Freemason, wives, widows, children and partner. (A partner is defined as someone who is living with a Freemason 'as if married or was doing so at the time of his death'. This applies equally to same sex partnerships.) A 'dependant' is someone who is physically or financially dependent on a Freemason. (In some cases, non-dependant relatives such as mothers, sisters will qualify) Finally, please remember that applications for all of the grants are means tested. However, that being said, the criteria between the charities do vary considerably.

In need of Help?

Contact your Lodge Almoner, if this is difficult or embarrassing; try the Provincial Almoner or ring.

Freemasonry Cares 0800 035 60 90

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West Wales Mason

Laura Chapman If you needed financial, healthcare or family help would you remember Freemasonry Cares?

Many people only think about charity when fundraising for events like the 2015 Festival in support of The Grand Charity.

Through Freemasonry Cares, the central Masonic Charities are working with Provinces to remind Masons and their dependants that the first role of these Charities is offering support.

The Freemasonry Cares For You leaflets, which are currently being distributed by Almoners, give more information on what is available.

Freemasonry Cares is supported by a freephone number (0800 035 60 90), which puts individuals who are unable to speak to their Lodge Almoner in contact with the

appropriate Masonic Charity, and provides information on eligibility and how to apply.

For the Provincial Launch of Freemasonry Cares, Laura Chapman, Chief Executive of the Grand Charity, joined West Wales Masons. In the past year, The Grand Charity has supported nine people in West Wales with financial grants towards daily living costs and larger expenses, like essential home repairs. Freemasonry Cares aims to help many more eligible individuals benefit from the assistance of the Masonic Charities. Early signs are encouraging.

Freemasonry Cares has already received over 1,000 enquiries from across the country, many resulting in financial, healthcare or family support being given.

If you would like more information about the range of Masonic supports available for those in need please contact your Lodge Almoner or Freemasonry Cares.

At the meeting in Carmarthen W Bro John Watson R W Bro Eric Mock editorialwwm@hotmail.co.uk

Laura Chapman W Bro Roy Leett

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West Wales Mason

On Saturday 16th April 2011 the Assistant Provincial Grand Master, W. Bro. Brian Hilling accompanied by Strumble’s W.M., Charity Steward, Assistant Secretary and Bro. Joe Taylor of Tenby Lodge, together with their wives, attended a dinner at the Plas Hyfryd Hotel, Narberth, to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the H.O.P.E. Multiple Sclerosis Centre at Neyland.

Basil Phillips of Strumble Lodge Last year H.O.P.E. were presented with presented a cheque for £250 to mark the £2,000 from the Province together with 25th Anniversary. a total of £1,550 raised by various lodges.

On this occasion the Assistant Provincial Everyone wished the H.O.P.E. charity all Grand Master presented a cheque for the best for the future in continuing their £2,500 from the Province and the W. M. very important service to the community.

In the top photo, W Bro Brian Hilling, Asst.

Provincial Grand Master, presenting the Provincial cheque W Bro Dr Bryn Barton, and Ken Bramley, H.O.P.E. Chairman.

The lower photo, W Bro Basil Phillips, W.M. Strumble Lodge presenting the Lodge cheque.

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West Wales Mason

John Everett Earlier this year, VW Bro Mike Davies announced his retirement as the head of CAD for our Province after 8 years of energetic and dedicated leadership and I count myself as very fortunate to have been able to assist him during that period. Everyone who knows VW Bro Mike will be aware of his untiring energy and enthusiasm that he brings to any task that he undertakes and over the past eight years he has generated a great deal of goodwill and support for the CAD process which I hope will stand us in good stead for the future.

Following VW Bro Mikes announcement, I was pleased to accept the Provincial Grand Masters’ invitation to continue the programme for the next few years and I am absolutely delighted to announce that W Bro David Elsley has agreed to take over the duties of CAD secretary. W Bro David has been an enthusiastic and committed supporter of the system over the past eight years and has contributed much to the process in terms of talks and admin details and I know that there is more to come!

Now to the future – well I start from a position of two guiding principles that I believe are appropriate: anything too dramatic! need to respond to the needs of Lodges and individual members and not impose high ideals from above So we have an excellent opportunity to review a number of areas such as:-

the result we determine is appropriate and attainable.

But none of this can be achieved without the support and ideas coming from both Lodges and individual members. So if you have any constructive ideas for the future or suggestions of how the process can be improved please contribute when the opportunity arises - success or failure will surely be determined more by your active involvement and support than by any smart ideas that are imposed from above.

So I intend to make a start on the review of our current achievements early in the forthcoming Masonic year and once again I would encourage you al to participate in any way that you can – sometimes very small contributions can have a really dramatic impact on a sensitive programme such as CAD by ensuring that the members get what they need rather that what other think they need!

I look forward to working with you all in the coming months.

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West Wales Mason

Earlier this year, I spent a delightful afternoon in the company of young, Welsh, talented musicians at the Brangwyn Hall, Swansea. It was one day of a weeklong Swansea Festival for young musicians, sponsored for the next five years by our Province of West Wales Grand Charity.

I was present at two of the classes in particular (a) Instrumental soloists in contemporary music, aged 13 years and above, and (b) a piano master class

conducted by Frank Wibaut, Prof. of Piano and Head of Post Grad Performance studies at the Royal Academy of Music.

Both the competition and master class were enthralling and delighted a large and appreciative audience. During the weeklong Festival there were 70 competitions as well as master classes, recitals and concerts.

The Festival organisers were extremely grateful for our Masonic contribution and emphasised our sponsorship during the classes as well as in the programme of the week.

Despite my protests, I was occasionally referred to as the P.G.M., and thoroughly enjoyed the experience!!!

The photo shows; Robert Codd (adjudicator), Joshua Xerri (winner), Frank Wibaut (adjudicator), Kate Thompson (second), Elizabeth Silverberg (third), Anna Jenkins (fourth) and Hywel Lewis is somewhere in there!

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For all your insurance needs contact Adrian Hallett www.quote4cover.co.uk editorialwwm@hotmail.co.uk

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Sensory Garden at Bush School On Friday 24th June the Provincial Grand Master Rt. W. Bro. Eric Mock visited the Bush Comprehensive School in Pembroke to attend the opening of the Sensory garden, which had been created with funds donated by Castle Martin Lodge and the West Wales Province. This project has taken several years to complete and was undertaken by the Green Links organisation, which was set up in 2006 to provide practical vocational training for children who are at risk of exclusion from conventional learning paths. The £12,000 pounds donated by West Wales Masons has not only given the Autistic department of Bush School a haven of peace and quiet to help with their demanding work but has also offered other pupils the opportunity to develop their skills and create a beautiful and tranquil garden. The Provincial Grand Master congratulated everyone that had been associated with the project and wished them every success in the future.

Also present was Sharon Grange the mother of Liam. Liam is an 11-year-old boy who has been seriously ill since birth with multiple disabilities. Liam’s dream is to lead a pain free and active life but as he suffers from spastic cerebral diplegia that affects the lower limbs his dream appeared unobtainable. His parents discovered that there was treatment available in America and set about raising the money to have Liam treated.

However, during the fund raising they found out that this pioneering treatment is now available at Frenchay hospital in Bristol. Sharon told the Provincial Grand Master that the fund raising was progressing well towards the £32,000 goal with £28,000 raised.

She was completely overwhelmed when Tim Mable, Worshipful Master of Castle Martin Lodge presented her with a cheque for £500 closely followed by the Provincial Grand Master with a cheque for £5,000 from the Provincial Charity. This means that Liam’s dream is about to become a reality.

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West Wales Mason

On Thursday 12th November 2010, the Regular Meeting of Richard Warburton Lodge No.9767 met at the Masonic Hall in Carmarthen, at which the Provincial Grand Secretary and Scribe E, W. Bro. Stephen D. Hookey, held his annual meeting of Secretaries and Scribes E. However, both these meetings were shortened to accommodate a visit by W. Bro. Wayne Buffett Warlow S.B.St.J., B.Mus. M.A. P.G.Org. (South Wales), the 2010 Prestonian Lecturer, who gave his lecture on ‘Music in Masonry and Beyond’.

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The lecture was somewhat of a surprise to those present as it was very interesting and informative and delivered with the style and humour to that

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of Denis Norden, presenter of ‘It’ll Be Alright on the Night’ fame. The evening was punctuated with musical extracts of varying genres throughout the years of Masonry, starting with the Overture to (Bro.) Mozart’s last opera, Die Zauberflote (The Magic Flute) and ending with (Bro.) Thomas Arne’s archetypal manifestation of national pride, Rule Britannia.

The lecture and musical extracts were interspersed with audience participation and it was highly amusing to see various Brothers being dragged from their seats to assist in a vocal demonstration.

This was rounded off with a participation in the closing ritual of Auld Land Syne, which was written by (Bro.) Robert Burns to an old Ayrshire folk melody.

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West Wales Mason

principles in Masonry of Brotherly Love, Relief and Truth.

W. Bro. Wayne also delivered the Lecture to Aeron Lodge which was equally well attended. And, equally, members of the audience were prepared to demonstrate their ability to abandon all embarrassment.

4 The Provincial Grand Master, R. W. Bro. Eric G.S. Mock, nine Grand Lodge Officers and fifty-seven Brethren, who contributed generously to the Lecturer’s chosen Charities by purchasing booklets and musical compact discs, attended the meeting.

The four listed Charities were DebRA (Dystrophic Epidermolysis Nullosa Research Association, The Royal Society for Musicians, The Freemason’s Grand Charity and The Royal Masonic Benevolent Fund.

The evening was a success for W. Bro. Warlow, as everyone left the Lodge enriched with music in their hearts and minds reminding them of the three great

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The photographs show: [1] W. Bro. Wayne Buffett Warlow; [2] Richard Warburton Lodge with, W.M. Omri Davies, Wayne Warlow and the P.G.M. [3] Aeron Lodge with, W.M. David Parry, Wayne Warlow and Nigel Adams. [4] Mike Cross and David Rees, à la 633 Squadron. [5] Mike Cross’ interpretation of Brahms’ Lullaby.

[6] David Rees’ finest flamenco of ‘Espana Cani.

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Learn, Enjoy and Support Charities If you would like to purchase the book and the CD (£5 each), contact; Wayne Warlow through The West Wales Mason On editorialwwm@hotmail.co.uk Enjoy reading the Lecture, relax listening to the music and help support worthy causes.

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West Wales Mason

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West Wales Mason

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The Grand Charity Concert held on Festival. The Province has agreed to the 26th March 2011 at the Sir Thomas provide a further £1,000 each year for Picton School, Haverfordwest and the next five years. The Provincial organised by the Brethren of Grand Master presented the first Strumble Lodge with help from instalment to their conductor, Kemes Lodge, turned out to be a Matthew Jenkins after the Concert. great success.

The Goodwick Brass Band together with the Tenby Male Voice Choir and the Welsh tenor, Trystan Llyr Griffiths with the compère the Reverend Hugh George, performed to an audience of over 400. Many congratulating messages and letters have been received which indicates how much everyone enjoyed Concert.

The Band again won their group in the Welsh Championships in March and is going to Cheltenham in September to compete in the National Championships. The Province wishes them every success.

Thanks are given to the ladies of Strumble Lodge who provided a superb tea for the performers, helpers and all those who helped in the organising and stewarding the event.

The Goodwick Brass Band were given £1,000 from the Province last The Concert raised £3785 (after year and volunteered to give a expenses), which will be put towards concert to raise money for the 2015 the 2015 Festival.

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West Wales Mason

The Province of West Wales has granted Luke Sterio ÂŁ1000 to help him with travelling and accommodation expenses for his many activities. Luke is a very talented young man who broke previous records at Cwrt Sart Community Comprehensive School when he sat his GCSE examinations.

He is also a fine trumpet player and has gained a place on the National Youth Wind Band and National Youth Jazz Access Course. He has a reserve place on the National Youth Orchestra of Wales as well.

Luke's achievement is even more remarkable as he has successfully battled cancer during his A level course. He is in complete remission and is hoping to read medicine next year. We all wish him well in his future endeavours and trust that the grant will enable him to take full advantage of the places he has earned in national musical ensembles.

Pictured presenting the cheque is Prince of Wales' Master, W. Bro. Peter Emlyn Williams. Also pictured left to right are Luke's music teacher, W. Bro John Jones, Lodge Secretary W. Bro. Jim Drummond, Lodge Charity Steward W. Bro. Hywel Lewis and Master Elect Bro. Paul Mann.

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West Wales Mason

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West Wales Mason

The Romans and Celts weekend event at Scolton Manor proved to be successful in achieving our three aims: (1) Promoting Freemasonry, (2) Putting on a fun filled family show, (3) Raise money for the 2015 Festival.

Promoting Freemasonry - we distributed 20,000 leaflets, had Radio advertising several times a day for a week, had an article printed in the Western Telegraph, had a stall at the Cardigan, Nevern and Haverfordwest Agricultural shows plus banners and Posters all over the place, and of course a stall at our own show at Scolton Manor featuring TLC Teddy Bears.

All these media outlets clearly identified ‘Presented by the Freemasons of West Wales'.

The first three photographs show the Collegiate Knights Templar. A Medieval Re-enactment group demonstrating a living history of Knights Templar. The Collegiate of Knights Templar was formed some 17 years ago by three enthusiasts and now has 18 members.

The last picture of this set is inside the ‘Crimson Moon Tavern’ run by Susie and Iain Sewell and is decorated in medieval fashion. You can sample fruit wines, mead and Black Rat Cider.

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Putting on a fun filled family show that was evident by the amount of young families present at the show, there were three times more young children this year than last year and several comments were received thanking us for a brilliant show.

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The photographs on this page are of ‘VICUS’ an Iron Age and early Roman re-enactment society that interprets history through the media of experimental archaeology, reconstruction and living history.

A Vicus is a settlement that grows outside of Roman military bases to cater to the needs of the soldiers (and their money).

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West Wales Mason

Raise money for the 2015 FestivalAgain this year preliminary analysis of the accounts show we are able to pay a 25% dividend on each £10 ticket bought through a Lodge. We were hoping to achieve more but were beaten by rain, which came down all day Saturday. It is encouraging to know that the two events we have organized, we have helped Lodges to raise around £35,000 towards their Festival sums.

My little organizing committee and I sincerely thank all the Lodges for their support and those who came to help.

The first 3 photographs are of the ‘Black Mountain Falconry’ demonstration in the main ring. This was very popular with the children who were encouraged to take part in some of the demonstrations. The were truly magnificent birds of prey, well trained and entertaining with educational and humorous cometary from their owners, Roger and June. In one picture you can see children laying down with an owl swooping low over them.

The last picture is of our own Don Mallams showing off his ‘Lister’ (I think) engines.

He is dedicated to keeping these find old engines in working order.

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West Wales Mason

Right Worthy Brother David Nigel Adams the Provincial Grand Supreme Ruler for the Province of West Wales in the Order of “The Secret Monitor or Brotherhood of David and Jonathan” presented a cheque for £2000 to Dr.Urfi Respiratory Consultant at the CardioRespiratory Department of Bronglais Hospital to purchase a new Spirolink Portable Spirometer together with network access Software for 5 users. This will allow detailed and portable testing of patients Lung Function both in the Hospital and in the Community and enable the results of such lung function tests to be viewed on a shared database, a considerable improvement on the current system. Also present were Sheila Pugh Lead Respiratory Therapist and other members of the Masonic Order.

The Order also made a donation of £2000 for the purchase of new equipment for Withybush General Hospital.

Withybush General Hospital has been able to purchase new monitoring equipment for The Children’s ward 9. Ward staff accepted a cheque for £2000 from R Wy Bro Nigel Adams towards this important piece of monitoring equipment.

Jenny Philips of Withybush said, “We would like to thank the members of the Order of the Secret Monitor who came to visit the ward staff to present this very generous donation.

The P.G.S.R., Nigel Said: “A major part of Freemasonry is to give to charity. Supporting our local hospitals is a necessary cause, which we are more than happy to assist. As part of the scheme, the Conclaves in the Province were asked to raise £1000, and this has been match funded by the Grand Conclave in London. It was an absolute pleasure to present the cheques to purchase vital equipment that will help patients throughout the Province of West Wales.

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West Wales Mason

30

At the Masonic Hall, Llanelli, on 23rdJune, 2011, Mrs Yvonne Heath, wife of Worshipful Master of the Trevor Kelway Lodge, W.Bro Ken Heath, presented a cheque to the value of ÂŁ500to Mrs Enid Rosser, Chairperson and Secretary of the CefnSidan Branch Local Committee of the British Heart Foundation.

This sum was mainly the result of monies raised during the Trevor Kelway Lodge Ladies’ Evening held on 9th April.

Also included in the photograph, along with the Worshipful Master and members of the Trevor Kelway Lodge are CefnSidan Branch members Eirwen Morgan, Pat Rees, Mair Roberts, Sally Davies and Jayne Lewis, Fund Raising Manager for West Wales.

This was followed up by the presentation of a personal cheque by W.Bro Peter Davie (extreme left of photograph), who had recently undergone a triple by-pass operation. W.Bro Peter became a Joining Member of the Trevor Kelway Lodge in January this year, his Mother Lodge being the Chantry Lodge No. 4065 in the Province of Yorkshire, West Riding.

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West Wales Mason

Picture shows John Mycroft, the W.M. of Narberth Lodge presenting the cheque to Scouts in the 1st Narberth Scout Group in the presence of Scout Leaders and officials together with Narberth Lodge members Narberth Scouts have received a cash boost of £2,500.00 from Narberth Freemasons.

The gift will enable the progressive scout leaders to purchase much needed camping equipment for this year’s summer camp initially, but it will also be used in extending the range of facilities and experiences which can be offered to the new Beaver and Scout sections at Narberth.

John Mycroft, the Worshipful Master of the Narberth Masonic Lodge Number 2001, made the presentation said, “It is great to be able to donate a substantial amount of money to an enthusiastic and worthy organization based in Narberth. We hope that the donation will buy all of the essential equipment that the Scouts had on their vast shopping list, enabling them to partake in their varied outdoor activities properly equipped for the job.

It would also be a good public relations exercise if the leaders could inform us of what has been purchased with the donation, and what they have been able to achieve as a result of the donation.

If we had this information before the Celtic Festival in Scolton Manor in August, it could be displayed for all to see, especially the general public, and it may then assist in promoting Freemasonry in a different light to the General Public.”

The W. M. was supported by a number of Past Masters of the Lodge, including Ronald Hurst, Anthony Morgan (Charity Steward), Patrick Wadia (Secretary), Ray Cartwright and David Gibbs.

Upon receiving the gift, William Silverstone the Scout leader of the 1st Narberth Scout Group said “Thank you once again for the cheque. The money will enable us to offer fantastic scouting experiences regardless of the background of the children concerned.”

Other Scout leaders and officials had turned out in force for the presentation, which indicated the importance of the gift to the 1st Narberth Scout Group. These included Sue Benbow (Area Commissioner for Pembrokeshire) together with Narberth Scout leaders and officials, Steve Goymer (Assistant Scout Leader), Clare Staniland (Assistant Cup leader), Emma Underwood (Secretary) and Adrian Clague (Quarter Master).

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West Wales Mason

`The club was started about 9 years ago and has been meeting continuously since then. There are now three groups running each evening from 4.30 to 8.30 catering for different age groups and abilities with the seniors and most proficient last. The group has had lots of success at both local, national and international levels with many gold medals being won and continues to have many members who are at the top level of the special needs gymnastics. The group has a long waiting list and since the younger members require one to one coaching are always looking for more volunteers to assist with the training. I have already done so and will hopefully start in September when the group start after the summer break. The atmosphere in the hall is fantastic and all the participants really seem to enjoy themselves whatever level they are working at. All in all a very worthwhile organisation that is providing a valuable service to the community.

STEADMAN JONES & BELL SOLICITORS CYFREITHWYR 12 College Street, Ammandford, Carmarthenshire, SA18 3AF Tel: 01269 592 306

S. Elfan Bell LL.B.

Fax: 01269 596 127

Simon P. Morris B.A.

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West Wales Mason

Reproduced by kind permission of Supreme Grand Chapter I am delighted that we will mark our 200th anniversary in 2013 by working with The Royal College of Surgeons of England to establish The Royal Arch Masons 2013 Bicentenary Appeal. Freemasonry has had a long and close association with the College through the 250th Anniversary Fund established in 1967, and we are delighted to have supported so many important research projects.

This campaign gives us an excellent opportunity to contribute further towards something that is helping to save lives and improve the quality of life for us, our children and grandchildren.

HRH The Duke of Kent First Grand Principal

We are all justly proud to be the major benefactor to The Royal College of Surgeons of England for their surgical research funds.

In order to provide a valuable donation to the College our target is to raise a minimum ÂŁ10 plus gift aid from every Companion. We are using a Grand Charity Relief Chest and there are no administrative costs.

Please fill in a donation form. You will find the form on the Supreme Grand Chapter website at www.grandchapter.org.uk and the Grand Charity website at www.grandcharity.org This is a wonderful way to mark The Royal Arch Masons 2013 Bicentenary Appeal and any contribution you may wish to make will be gratefully received.

Nigel Brown Grand Scribe E

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West Wales Mason

Front Row: J Lewis (Treasurer): S D Hookey (Scribe E): J K Davies (Deputy Grand Superintendent): E G Sinnett (Second Provincial Grand Principal): E G S Mock (Most Excellent Grand Superintendent): N L Murphy Third Provincial Grand Principle): F M Williams (Scribe N): R S Darkins (Registrar): W J L R Jones (Sword Bearer): Middle Row: R A Jenkins (Director of Ceremonies): D E Rayson (Deputy Director of Ceremonies): I L Murphy (Charity Steward): R L Leett (Almoner): P Walkden (Sojourner): P R Evans (Assistant Sojourner): B D J Barrat (Second Assistant Sojourner): P R Scoble (Assistant Scribe E): G Crane (Assistant Director of Ceremonies): Back Row: D G R Davies (Steward): I W Sewell (Organist): A Hallett (Standard Bearer): D A R Isaac Standard Bearer): S E Bell (Janitor).

Front Row: L C Hughes (Director of Ceremonies): S D Hookey (Secretary): B G W Davies: D J Elsley (Senior Warden): V W Bro T Evans (Deputy Provincial Grand Master): R W Bro E G S Mock (Provincial Grand Master): B C Hilling (Assistant Provincial Grand Master): R E Roberts (Junior Warden): J K Davies (Chaplain): J Lewis (Treasurer): D E Hughes Deputy Director of Ceremonies): Middle Row: P W Jones Assistant Director of Ceremonies): A Hallett (Senior Deacon): W Allen Junior Deacon): P Walkden (Sword Bearer): R L Leett (Almoner): N R Leah (Mentor): I L Murphy (Charity Steward): T S Thomas (Senior Deacon): R H Cartwright (Junior Deacon): C J Samuel (Superintendent of Works): C R Webb (Assistant Director of Ceremonies): Back Row: P R Scoble (Assistant Secretary): A C Barton (Steward): D E Jones (Steward): W Hale (Pursuivant): T A Evans (Standard Bearer): C D Hann (Standard Bearer): G R Gealy (Tyler): M Manship (Steward).

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First image is a presentation of a cheque for £440.00 to Withybush Hospital Cancer Day Unit (CDU Appeal). Pictured are back row, Bernard George & W. Bro. John Prior, seated, W. Bro Steve McGarvie Worshipful Master of Old Priory Lodge No. 4331, Trish George and Margaret Prior.

Mrs Trish George said, "This wonderful donation will help us to make a real difference for those who need the support of the Oncology Team" . This money was raised following the raffle at Old Priory's Ladies Night held at Cleddau Bridge Hotel Second image is following a donation of £520.00 to Ward 10 Withybush Hospital Haverfordwest. Pictured are, left to right, Dr. Anne Barnes, W. Bro. Steve McGarvie, Worshipful Master of Old Priory Lodge No. 4331, Nurse Janet Richards and SR Fiona Lordan. This money was raised following the raffle at the Installation of W. Bro. Steve McGarvie

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The second and final Provincial Golf society meeting of the 2010/2011 Masonic year, was held at the Milford Haven Golf Club on Friday 6th, May 2011 and although the projected weather forecast was not good All players did manage to complete their golf before the expected rain arrived.

Some 21 Golfers who after their game enjoyed a first class dinner provided by the Milford haven Golf Club Caterer had an enjoyable day.

The course was in good condition and some creditable scores were recorded.

Meeting result were as follows..

Nearest the Pin

( 6th) Paul Watson. Tenby Lodge (16th) Chris Hine

Guests Competition.

1. Justin Webb 2. Simon Wilkie 3. Peter Harris

Cambrian Lodge

33 Points Tenby 32 Points Cardiff 29 Points Pembroke Dock.

Masonic golfers.

With the results being aggregated with the September meeting, the competition was indeed very close for both the Individual and the Champion Lodge trophies.

The individual Trophy was closely contested with a number of golfers being in contention after the first round (September meeting).

The individual winner on the Day was: (Milford meeting) was: Results and Scores 1. Chris Harding 2. Chris Hine 3. Brian Williams

36Pts (BB9) 36Pts 32Pts

Cambrian Lodge Cambrian Lodge Castlemartin Lodge

The overall Individual Champion was ;1. Chris Hine, of Cambrian lodge -- 68Pts (Col. Trevor Kelway Trophy) 2. Brian Williams of Castlemartin Lodge – 67Pts (runner Up Trophy) A number of Lodges were in contention for the Sydney Hughes Trophy after the first meeting but because of withdrawals by some lodges, the competition was contested mainly between the Cambrian lodge 464, The Tenby lodge 1177 and Castlemartin Lodge 1748 (With the best three cards counting).

Champion Lodge 1. Castlemartin Lodge. ---183 points (Sydney Hughes memorial Cup) 2. Cambrian Lodge --- 182 points (runners up) 3. Tenby Lodge ---168 Pts

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West Wales Mason

37 The Provincial Grand Master will formerly present the Trophies at the Provincial meeting in Carmarthen on July 7th. 2011

The retiring Captain and joint secretary Mike Bradney told members that they would try to hold costs down to a maximum of ÂŁ30.00 for each day but this was becoming more difficult given the economic climate. He emphasised that it was costly to the society when members dropped out after making a booking as numbers affected the Group Green-Fee rates and that Caterers expected meals booked to be paid for.

He stated that we had to pay for an additional three meals today.

He asked members if they were happy with Fridays being our competition days. The general consensus was that we should keep to Friday for the meetings as they also suited Masonic commitments.

It was proposed that Paul Watson (Tenby lodge) should take on the society Captaincy for the next two years. Watson stated that he would be honoured to take on the role.

It was suggested that all Provincial Golf society-meeting details would be passed to an individual golfing member responsible for each lodge that would be prepared to take on the role of organising his own lodge team/ members and then liase with the Society secretary. This would reduce postage and telephone costs considerably.

Those interested please contact Mike Bradney or Clive Pitten with your details The Secretary then thanked his co- secretary and helpers on the day for their assistance and announced that the next meeting would be on Friday 2nd, September 2011. He closed by thanking all who had turned up.

The Provincial Grand Master then rose and thanked the organisers for an enjoyable day. He also congratulated Paul Watson the new society Captain on his appointment and stated, that it was very apt that Paul Watson, who is a Professional Golfer, should take on the role of Captain of the society for the next two years. He concluded by thanking the retiring Captain for his efforts and reminded members that he was anxious that members should treat these days as an opportunity to enjoy each others company rather than raise funds.

The next meeting will be held at, Glyn Abbey golf club, Near Trimsaran, on Friday 2nd, September 2011. (First Meeting of 2011/12 year) Cost will be ÂŁ28.00 (inclusive of Prizes, Bacon Roll/Tea-coffee and a meal on completion. (Buggies are available for those who wish to book them- recommended that you book these early).

Please book early. Tee times are booked from 11.30 noon until 1300..

Please make every effort to attend the two days to make the 2011/2012 competitions even more competitive than this year.

May we close the report by thanking all who supported the society, in whatever way., during the year and we hope that the new Masonic year will produce even more competition amongst the provinces’ golfers..

A Copy of the accounts will be forwarded to The Provincial Treasurer at the end of each Golfing year. (May 2011)

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West Wales Mason

The official start to the Masonic summer was on Friday 16 April when 10 caravans from SWWMCC gathered in Dare Country Park, Aberdare for the first rally of the year.

This rally was organised by John and Carol Edmunds and Ivor and Marion Rivers. John and Ivor are members of South Wales Province and they and their wives organised an excellent weekend, even down to the glorious weather we enjoyed. Dare Country Park has many excellent facilities, which included the fully equipped Caravan Site which is alongside the central reception area. There are plenty of walks amidst the lovely scenery.

On Saturday evening, Ivor arranged for us to all meet for dinner at Aberdare Golf Club of which he is a recent Captain. All enjoyed a lively and enjoyable evening and the ‘ralliers’ made their way home after an excellent start to the 2011 programme.

The second Rally of the year was held at the lovely town of Aberaeron on the weekend of 13 May, which happily coincided with the Installation meeting of Loventium Mark Lodge, which was attended by a number of brethren with a delightful and memorable evening had by all.

The Rally, held at Aeron Coast Caravan Site, was enjoyed by all, with the excellent clubhouse facilities enabling us all to enjoy the usual Saturday dinner in convivial surroundings, having had a day of enjoying the local sights and each other’s company over a cup of tea (or whatever other libation suited them). Our thanks go to Mansel and Linda Hughes who organised the rally for us.

The June Rally saw the Club travelling to Lucksall Caravan Park, alongside the River Wye just south of Hereford. This is a delightful area with plenty of places to visit. We had 11 units attending and many of our members took the opportunity of extending their stay beyond the weekend.

We had wonderful weather over the weekend and on Saturday evening we were able to hold one of our traditional barbeques and there really is nothing better to provoke lively and convivial conversation amongst so many good friends. Such is Freemasonry.

This Rally was organised by Mansel and Linda Hughes and our July meeting is at Dolaucothi.

The fourth Rally saw us visiting the National Trust site at Dolaucothi. This has seen some memorable rallies in the past, but it has been some years since the Club has visited this beautiful and peaceful site.

The pleasures of this site have certainly not diminished over the years and despite occasional showers, we all had a thoroughly enjoyable time and were able to have our traditional BBQ, following which we all gathered together in an awning to chat and enjoy each other’s company over a pleasurable drink or two. This rally was organised by Tony and Evana Trumper and we now look forward to our annual rally at Sophia Gardens, Cardiff.

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West Wales Mason

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TK Turks no show hands trophy to Loyal Welsh We had heard it was raining in Llanelli and that the golf course at Carmarthen bore a strong resemblance to the Serpentine. So perhaps the Trevor Kelway boys have been exposed as fair weather golfers (I don’t blame them, mind!) but if they had ventured into God’s County they would have found a beautiful day awaiting them.

A different name would be on the trophy this year.

I had a wonderful picture of the legs and the golf trolleys of the great and the good of West Wales but I managed to loose it not being a digitally educated cameraman, which was a shame. It was the sort of picture that wins prizes and could have made me a few bob on the side if I didn’t have it printed in this illustrious publication.

Looking at the various people that were in that shot, first prize for the celebrity look -a -like must go to W. Bro. Tim Bourne for his wonderful impression of Don Estelle (Lofty) in ‘It Ain’t Half Hot Mum’. We must find him a pith helmet for next year.

As the tournament got underway it was obvious a couple of minutes on the practise greens would have been a good idea. Much wandering around the rough looking for a ball (any ball?) was evident from the first. The PGM said he was helping his team find their balls and I thought better of asking where his was. Lofty skied his tee shot, which, unfortunately for him, set the pattern for his day.

Mike Bradney’s Castlemartin team were the most confident and appeared to have the bit between their teeth. Even the eventual winners said they would take a lot of catching when I ran into them at the eighth. But it’s a funny old game and a good back nine and a superb display by Danny Overend (Loyal Welsh ringer, course specialist and probable future candidate), who managed to claim the longest drive and the nearest the pin trophies, eventually swung the match. However, if the Turks had been there and played anything like they did last year they would have retained the trophy. Oh dear. How sad. Never mind. (BSM Williams - Windsor Davies - It Ain’t Half Hot Mum.) The Provincial Grand Master presented the trophies, which for the first time all went to the same team, after a good meal in the club. One day he will win something and then we’ll have the problem of finding someone to make the presentations.

Our thanks go to the South Pembrokeshire Golf Club for allowing us to use their facilities and Janet Norrie and her staff in the restaurant for their hospitality and making our day such an enjoyable one. Finally, of course, thanks to all who took part in this, the seventh Atlantic Trophy tournament to be held.

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Turned over by Edgar Jones The Candlewick Makers Lodge: Butcher’s Lane, Bow from The Secretary’s Diary 1869 Well we’ve had our fair share of ups and downs in our beloved Lodge, the Candlewick Makers, down the years – more downs than ups, to tell the truth – but tonight, diary, was little short of a disaster.

The Candidate, a Professor Richard Dworkins, came to us pretty highly recommended from outside, though who his proposer and seconder into the Candlewick Makers were I haven’t been able to discover. I do recall though the glowing character reference he presented from a Mr Darwin, who unfortunately was unable to speak for him in person, he busily hunting turtles off the shores of somewhere called the Galapagos Islands, their shells to be used for decorative hair-combs for Ladies of Fashion. A very lucrative business, so I’m told.

It all started off so well too; no disaster such as has happened in the none-too-distant past: the fellow Heep in particular. Until, that is, our Worshipful Master, W Bro Bracegirdle Tuddenhall, bassooned out: ‘In all cases of difficulty and danger, in whom do you put your trust?’

No answer forthcoming, though our Junior Deacon fairly shrieked into the Candidate’s ear what he had to say, ‘Tell the damn’ feller to speak up!’ tromboned our short-fuseed lantern-jawed Director of Ceremonies, W Bro Coffin, he who had taken great umbrage at our last Installation when W Bro Tuddenhall had accidentally come out with, ‘Worshipful Brother Coffin, I hereby appoint you my Director of Cemeteries.’

Still no answer from our Candidate, upon which W Bro Tuddenhall stepped in loud enough to wake the dead with, ‘Sir, it was explained to you, when you appeared before us, that an essential for belonging to our Brotherhood was a belief in a Supreme Being.

Now all you have to do is simply reply to the question: Do you believe in one or not?’

Well the two words Supreme Being appeared to galvanise the Candidate, who started into frenzied life just as if the Junior Deacon beside him had wound up his clockwork.

Indeed I would swear his eyes behind their blindfold glowed like carriage-lamps on a pitch-dark night.

‘Ah! Supreme Being!’ he sopranoed reflectively in his somewhat scrapy voice. ‘In full agreement with you there! Yes indeed, yes indeed! A phrase though that has to be considered in the context of two parameters. Take the first. Yes, I do indeed believe in a Supreme Being – Myself! Highly educated, enormously intelligent. Oxford man and all that. Professor of Biological Detergence’ (that at least is what it sounded like) ‘at this new

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place, University of London. Back at me old College of course in a year or two. Civilised life from there on. Decent port for a change. Now as to the second parameter –’ Well on he went and on, and honestly there was no stopping him. Poor Bracegirdle Tuddenhall was the first to nod off – he had been up half the night learning his words – and before long his snores fairly shook the canopy above our Chair of King Solomon; while of course they communicated themselves on the instant to all those sitting at the east end. After half an hour not one of us was awake, and a rhythmic zzzz zzzz gently pulsated the air.

Exactly one hour on I was awakened by a kerfuffle at the door.

By this time the wretched Dworkins was well into his stride; and itemising the thousand and one supposed iniquities inflicted by one religion on another since Day One, he had now got as far as the Thirty Years’ War (1618 to 1648; Catholics versus Protestants, so I discovered later).

The noise outside rose to a crescendo, drowning even Dworkins!

It was – it could be none other than – our celebrated cook, Jiulio Cesare, the envy of every Lodge in the Province.

Thrusting his bushy black beard and side-whiskers round the door he now full-orchestraed out, ‘When you are-a going to come-a down to dinner, hey? I am-a waiting! My Beef-a Wellington will-a be done to old-a ropes!’

Well at this, W Bro Bracegirdle Tuddenhall, perhaps the most devoted trencherman of us all, awoke with a start, thundered his gavel down with such force that splinters were sent flying everywhere, and announced the immediate end of the proceedings. The whole Lodge woke, shook itself, and pretended to have heard every word. The two Deacons however, who though as sound asleep as the rest of us had been kept upright by their wands, lost balance and collapsed, bringing Candidate Dworkins down with them.

The first to extricate himself from the threshing arms and legs on the floor, he ripped off and cast down his blindfold and made hot-foot for the door. The last we heard before it slammed behind him was him trilling: ‘Disrespect . . . damn cheek if you ask me . . . most famous scientist the world has ever seen . . . Oxford man too . . . religious maniacs the whole pack of ‘em . . . Revenge is mine! Wait a minute – I can’t say that:_ it’s in the Bible! O lor’ – oh but I can’t say that either!’

Well in five minutes, no more, we were all sitting at Jiulio Cesare’s tables and enjoying our well-earned dinner. Yes, his Beef Wellington did turn out to be a bit fibrous; but he’d bought in a trial dozen or so bottles of a very amiable Gigondas. Delicious!

Of course I was a trifle late home again, and as usual found myself locked out of our bedroom. A note in ‘her majesty’s’ handwriting was pinned to the door: If you want a respectable wife, come back at a respectable hour!

Do not disturb! I am in here with the England Cricket Team!

She was, like our beloved Queen, always one for exclamation marks!

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Day one started bright and warm at Sedbury Cliffs by Chepstow with my walking companion Andy Darlington another Milford Pilot walking to raise money for ME, it was a bit of a false start because you cannot get the car to the official start so you have to walk from the road and then back again which adds an extra mile to the already daunting 177 miles to go! Still all was well and we were off to Prestatyn via ten Blisters, what blisters! other places in between.

The ladies were stopping at Pandy for the first three days and Sue would pick us up and drop us off at the start and finish of each day. I’m afraid I like a nice shower, good food and a comfy bed when I walk so camping was a non-starter for us. Bit of a softy!

The walking was quite reasonable but some of the construction work of the Dyke was amazing, some was built up slopes of at least 1:3 and how they managed to keep the soil on it when building was gravity defying to say the least and very hard to walk up and down. A construction engineer was asked how much it would cost to build today and he said, tell me the amount of material to be shifted in m3 and I will give you a cost, needless to say it would be astronomical.

So the halfway was reached on target between Knighton and Montgomery and as the sign says only 88.5 miles to go! By now all the aches and pains were well established and we had become used to them, feet and shoulders are the worst! Everything was downhill from here psychologically speaking.

The four days in the middle we had decided to B&B until we met up again with Sue just South of Llangollen, lucky for us my sister lives there so we had some home comforts again.

Continued next page... Phew!

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The walk takes you over the aqueduct at Froncysyllte, which is always a joy to traverse and a little bit scary.

From Llangollen we went over the top of the mountains and had some spectacular views but the best was on the last day when on cresting the last hill we could se the sea and the finishing post another 2 hours and we had made it on time in 11 days not bad for 180 miles counting a few wrong turns on the way.

All in all a very enjoyable time but I think my last long distance walk, however fit you are it does take it out of you and none of us are getting any younger.

I raised just over £400 which wasn’t bad but a bit disappointing as Andy raised £1200 for his charity, still times are hard and I do understand, but I will not be doing another one.

Thanks very much to Brethren who did sponsor me it was very much appreciated and thanks to my wife Sue for supporting Made it! us so well.

Morgan

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Time after time I have been asked to cover a function to provide the write up and photographic coverage for this magazine – but rarely, if ever twice, is such an event so enjoyable as the day I was invited to join the Narberth Lodge boys and girls for a Sunday Lunch at the Wiseman's Bridge Hotel. That day, Sunday 13th June 2011, was and always will be a day for me to remember.

The Sunday lunch was the brainchild of W Bro Patrick Wadia, whose father – W Bro John – is a resident at the Albert Edward Prince of Wales Court at Porthcawl. Musing over the idea with the Master, W Bro John Mycroft, Patrick was given the go ahead to progress his plan and then, with equal enthusiasm, John organised and presided over an excellent meal in a most relaxed and friendly atmosphere. © Tony Beckingham 61 sat down to enjoy cuisine second to none; melon, pate or leek & potato soup for starters; this followed by a traditional Sunday Roast of beef, pork or turkey and ending – if you could manage to eat any more that is – with a selection of gateaux's, trifles, ice creams and fresh fruit salads. Oh – I almost forgot – with tea and coffee as well. The raffle, with 21 prizes no less and the tickets being sold

by W Bro Graham Thomas, raised well over £500 – with every penny being earmarked for the Friends of the AEPOWC. That figure will surely increase even further, as with the blessing of Patrick, John and W Bro Brian Hilling [Provincial Representative for the Friends] every donation, by those so requiring in lieu of charging for photo sales, will be added to the pot for the benefit of the residents.

With the almost magical words of "Narberth Lodge" and "Wiseman's Bridge Hotel" being uttered, there never was a shadow of a doubt about the day being a roaring success. The Assistant PGM's Lodge, the Tenby Lodge, was represented by W Bro Bob and Mrs Lewis [whose mother is another AEPOWC resident] the Deputy PGM's Lodge, the Peterwell Lodge, was represented by W Bro Ray and Mrs Band. © Tony Beckingham I started this piece by saying this was a day to remember. With cuisine second to none, calorie counting abandoned and with company one could not better, the hours sped by and far too soon it was time to head northwards and return home. So I now conclude this piece by saying this was a day to cherish and long may the Narberth Lodge run such social functions.

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On Saturday 20th April 2011 the wives of the officers of Prince of Wales Lodge No 671 decided to hold a party to celebrate the wedding of William & Kate, the Son of the Prince of Wales.

The party took place at the Selwyn Samuel Centre Llanelli and was billed as a night of Fun and entertainment with a 3 course hot meal buffet – and it certainly turned out to be a most enjoyable event with almost 80 attending including next year’s two initiates and their wives. The entertainment on the evening was provided by a local fun group called “Pluck, Rattle & Squeeze” a comedy show band that proved to be most entertaining.

The wives had decided to donate the proceeds of the night to the Lodge 2015 festival appeal and the event, together with a raffle held at a recent social function for the ladies, raised the magnificent sum of £811 which has been presented to the Charity Steward of the Lodge.

The Ladies have already booked the same venue for June 9th 2012 to celebrate the Queens Diamond Jubilee and anyone wishing to join us on that occasion are asked to contact any member of Prince of Wales Lodge. Once again the proceeds will go to the 2015 Festival

The staff, far too numerous to individually mention by name here, total 28; with every one of them working extremely enthusiastically to ensure all the residents and every guest [over 130] had a meal to salivate over, company to enjoy and an occasion to remember. Look at the arithmetic and appreciate the RMBI high standards; 130 sitting down to dine and with 28 looking after their needs – that equating roughly to 1 member of staff being present for every 5 attendees. With the mixed aromas of lit charcoal and cooked food wafting through the air and tantalising the taste buds, no one could fail to have an energetic appetite. The head barbecuer, clad in Hawaiian beachwear, laid on baps, beef burgers, sausage, chicken drumsticks, onions, rice, pasta, roast potato wedges and crushed potato salad accompanied by vegetable peels in Thousand Island Dressing. Then, for good measure, or rather only for those with "Desperate Dan" type appetites, strawberry gateaux, sherry trifle and Black Forest type chocolate desserts; naturally with a glass or 3

© Tony Beckingham

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Almost 25 years have passed since the day this popular event was first planned by the members as a way to top up the Lodge's building fund; however, now run for charitable purposes - this year the final figure nudging the thousand pound mark.

Firstly located at the home of W Bro Brian Hilling, then moving on to W Bro Roger Sheldon's and, for the last 20 or so years, held on the spa- © Tony Beckingham cious patio area of W Bro Don Mallams' bungalow – the lower lawned area being perfect for children to play and, then later [much later when the wine had flowed], for welly wanging.

With some 80 people attending, the cooks, or should they be called barbecuers, were kept hard at work and being led by W Bro Dougie Waters, who provided freshly caught mackerel, chicken, beef burgers, sausage, king prawn, Chinese spiced chicken, salads, rice and pasta – to be complimented later with a mouth watering strawberry pavlova and, of course, the ever popular chocolate cake delight. The bar, as usual, being ably run by W Bro Ian Lucas, and the quiz organised by W Bro Simon Toy. However, this team of regulars were outshone. © T Beckingham Who outshone the regulars? None other than the newcomers, the "el supremo" raffle ticket sellers, Ella and Jay Brace [W Bro Simon Toy's grandchildren], who accounted for over half the total money changing hands that evening. Very well done the two of you.

Charity Stewards of old should take note and learn a lesson or two, or even three, from these talented youngsters who used every trick in the book to extract money from the members and guests – and the winning ticket you sold me seen the bottle of whisky heading to W Bro John Wadia, resident © Tony Beckingham at the Albert Edward.

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This year’s annual church service will be held at

St Peter’s Church. Carmarthen On Sunday 16th October at 3.00pm

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Don’t hire any old coach for your excursions, Ffoshelig Coaches have a fleet of modern, clean, reliable coaches with uniformed drivers to make your well deserved excursion a pleasant one.

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Not reflections in the glazing of the window but rather reflecting on his past achievements during his school days [when woodwork was one of his best subjects]; this part of his life continuing with his present day enjoyment of woodworking is W Bro Brian C Hilling during one of his many visits as the Provincial Representative for the Friends of the Albert Edward Prince of Wales Court. The Home, as the full name is often and affectionately abbreviated to, is situated in the delightful seaside town of Porthcawl – conveniently midway to the many between Cardiff and Swansea.

Elsewhere in the magazine you will have read of the day out enjoyed by many of us from West Wales when W Bro Brian, accompanied by W Bro Patrick Wadia, Brethren from the Narberth and © Tony Beckingham Fishguard Lodges together the writer, visited The Home to celebrate the 90th birthday party of one of The Home's newest residents; that being W Bro John Wadia of the Narberth Lodge, who has very quickly likened himself to his fellow home mates. When reminiscing with W Bro John of their past years – both being self employed electricians [often sub contracting to each other at times of peak business and with the two of them being in the Royal Air Force [John in WW2 and Brian with National Service] – W Bro Brian's eyes latched on to the model of a four-engined Lancaster Bomber sitting in front of a wooden platter. He quickly concentrated his focus on that platter – it was the Saskatchewan Plate. A most convivial and nostalgic conversation followed.

Just what is this Saskatchewan Plate you may well be asking yourself. In short – if you look at the photos, you will see the plate together with its beautiful timbers, their characteristic grain patterns and the richness of their colours. The plate is made up from the natural timbers as found in the Canadian Province of Saskatchewan.

John has three half sisters living in Canada but because of one reason or another did not meet up with them until he visited in 1973. Further family reunions followed and during one of these occasions John's half sisters presented him with the Plate. © Tony Beckingham

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© Tony Beckingham Saturday 20th November 2010 started off for myself and, as I suspect, likewise for the majority of my readers as being a crisp autumnal morning, complete with the sun shining brightly and just a tingling of frost in the air. However, for W Bro John Aston Wadia of the Narberth Lodge it was far more exiting – it was his 90th birthday no less. The occasion was further enhanced for John by the presence of our ever smiling, constantly happy and very popular Assistant Provincial Grand Master, W Bro Brian C Hilling, who was there, not only to congratulate John but, to present him with his certificate for 50 years of continuous membership of the Holy Royal Arch. Pictured above, left to right, at the presentation of the 50th Anniversary Certificate are W Bro Patrick Wadia, John's son, John Wadia and Brian C Hilling.

John's Masonic career is both well documented and generally known to all; suffice it to say here, John, having been Initiated in Narberth Lodge on the 24th April 1953, was Exalted in Arberth Chapter on the 26th May 1954. However, not so well known or perhaps not appreciated enough is that, as well as attaining the Chair of the Narberth Lodge in 1965 and that of Arberth Chapter in 1968, John was instrumental – if, indeed, not the prime motivator – of the Narberth Lodge moving to its present and well known home. Before then Narberth Lodge had met at the De-Reutzen Hotel in the town centre.

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John, an electrician by profession, was born on the 20th November 1920 in Bournemouth, Dorset. Both for family reasons and appreciating the delightful area of Pembrokeshire was far more homely than the South Coast, John was quickly moved to Pentlepoir; where he spent his formative years, firstly, at Pentlepoir Junior School and then, until 1938, at Narberth Secondary. After he finished his school days, John commenced his working years at Trecwn – would you believe it – driving a very slow "chuff-chuff" train! Quickly realising sparks from cables were brighter and certainly far more exciting than sooty smuts from a coal fired locomotive, John trained, subsequently qualifying, as an electrician.

Called to service with his country in 1943, John was a flight engineer in the Royal Air Force; serving firstly with 77 Squadron before joining the newly formed 578 Squadron based at RAF Burn, between Selby and York. There he soon learned and quickly appreciated his much loved flying of four-engine Halifax bombers was far more adrenalin inducing than driving the Trecwn train. However, we must deliberately return to John's school days; for when he was idling his time at Narberth Secondary, he, no doubt already futuristically utilizing the RAF's legendary 20-20 vision, had spotted the sparkling eyes of a very pretty girl by the name of Ceinwen. It was, as they say, love at first sight and in 1950 they were married. Patrick, usually but not always being "the apple of their eyes", for he was rather prone to getting in mischief, arrived in 1960; later following in his father's footsteps as an electrician. Penultimately, when John was sure that Patrick could correctly remember the colour codes for both cable and flex and, further, could successfully change a fuse, John – at the age of 70 – retired. Finally, after many happy years at Laverock, John moved to the Albert Edward Home in 2010.

© Tony Beckingham editorialwwm@hotmail.co.uk

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Aberystwyth Cliff Railway ‘Y Consti’ Restaurant The new restaurant ‘Y Consti’ provides a breathtaking setting for visitors to enjoy.

The restaurant was designed as a replica of the Summerhouse Tearooms café.

If you are seeking a venue for a private function we have the facilities to cater for most occasions.

To discus holding a function in the unique venue please contact the manager.

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07971 042 422 Email: alunregalia@hotmail.co.uk

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The Mark Master Masons of Dyfed have been sponsoring their Provincial Grand Master R W Bro Nigel Adams in a 'Slimathon' since June last year which culminated in raising £6,000 for local Children’s Charities and the Provincial Grand Master loosing 14lbs in weight, a winning combination.

The first of the Children’s Charities to profit from the Slimathon was DASH who cater for disadvantaged and children with special needs in Aberaeron, who were in need of a 'Ball Pool' and other safe soft play equipment for their centre to provide leisure activities for the children.

On Monday the 18th April the Provincial Grand Master R W Bro Nigel Adams together with the Deputy Grand Master W.Bro Ron Jones, Provincial Charity Steward W.Bro Bob Darkins, Samuel Page from Teifi Mark Lodge and Robert Davies from Aberystwyth Mark Lodge visited the centre and presented a cheque for £2,000 to DASH Trustee Non Jenkins and Jo Kennaugh, to pay for the equipment which was bought a week earlier.

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At the Masonic Hall, Llanelli, on 5th May, 2011, Worshipful Master of the Trevor Kelway Lodge, W.Bro Ken Heath, presented Corporal Cory Hardy (Firstaider) of 2227 (Mid Gwendraeth) Squadron Air Training Corps with a cheque for £640 as a donation to help support 17 teenagers attend an overseas diving expedition due to take place in Gibraltar during August / September, 2011.

In the photograph (front row) are Worshipful Master, W.Bro Ken Heath – Corporal Cory Hardy (Firstaider) – Cadet Steffan Davies (Firstaider) – Corporal Celt Flint (RAH Marksman) – Corporal Kieron Spain (ATC Marksman) – Flight Lieutenant L.D. Brace, RAF Volunteer Reserve (Training), Officer Commanding 2227 (Mid Gwendraeth) Squadron Air Training Corps, Ponthenri, Llanelli, Carmarthenshire.

Also in the photograph are members of the Trevor Kelway Lodge.

The Squadron is working towards a ten-day overseas adventurous training camp in Gibraltar during August / September 2011.

It is proposed that the key activity during this camp will be a four-day open water Professional Association of Diving Instructors Course (PADI), the course being split into the three areas of theory, confined water and open water diving.

Working through the course, the cadets will get the opportunity to learn about various

pieces of equipment as well as a variety of skills that will help them enjoy the scuba diving experience. On completion of this course, the cadets will be certified to dive with a qualification that is globally recognised.

Flight Lieutenant Brace said that the total end cost of this project would be £8,456 (£604 per head), to include travel insurance, flights, accommodation and participation in scuba diving PADI. Unfortunately,

financial support for this venture would not be received from either the Air Cadet Organisation or the Royal Air Force.

In the run up to this trip, the Squadron will be self-funding various training sessions locally in Swansea. These sessions will prepare participants for the task ahead, and, at the same time, will be used to support those cadets currently working towards both the Silver and Gold levels of the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme and BTEC in Public Services.

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The Court of Hywel Dda, in the Province of Magonsætan and based in Aberystwyth, is Court number 27 from 100 Courts in the Masonic Order of Athelstan. At their June meeting they hosted an Official Visit of the Grand Master, M W Bro Michael Henry Roalfe, accompanied by many Grand Officers from Wales and England.

The candidate on the evening was Bro Adrian Thomas, who received very special attention and a ceremony that was second to none. Adrian will remember this special day for a long time to come.

David Morgan, (W.M.) is flanked on his right by The Grand Master and on his left by R W Bro Dr John Lloyd, Provincial Grand Master. Seat at their pedestals are Senior Warden, Lt Col Stanley Simms and Junior Warden Alfred Spencer. They are ‘surrounded’ by Grand Officers and Active Provincial Officers. A truly memorable day.

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The annual Knight Templar church service was held at the Masonic Hall, Llanelli on the 16th April. Due to ‘health & safety’ issues it could not be held in All Saints Church. The format worked very well, and a lot of hard work went into setting up the Temple.

The following is a synopsis of the address given by Eminent Knight Rev. J. Keith Davies, Provincial Prelate.

St Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, chapter 6, verses 10-17, enjoins the people to put on the whole armour of God in their battle against opponents of the Christian faith. The Templars of old fought their battles in the Crusades, in defence of the faith and the Holy City of Jerusalem. The battle still goes on today and we, as followers of Christ, are called upon to play

our part and to stand tall in the Christian battle of our age.

A traditional phrase describing the Christian battle is ‘spiritual warfare’.

However, Christian warfare is concerned with a battle against spirits of evil as well as against materialism, although spiritual wickedness is very much a fact in our world today. If we are to defend the Christian faith, as the early Templars did in their crusades, St Paul tells us to put on the whole armour of God. Paul, a prisoner at the time, was thinking of the huge struggle facing the people, and for him the whole universe was a battleground. Paul, chained to a Roman soldier, saw before him, in the armour of the soldier, a ready-made picture, and part by part, he translates the armour into Christian terms.

First, we have ‘the belt of truth’. The belt

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around a soldier’s tunic, from which his sword hung, gave him freedom of movement. Other people may guess or grope their way through life, but the Christian moves freely and quietly because he knows the ‘truth’ - God’s truth as revealed in Christ.

Next, we have the ‘breastplate of righteousness’. It has been said that when a man is clothed with righteousness he is impregnable. Words are no defence against accusations, but a good life is. The only way to meet accusations against Christianity is to show how good a Christian life can be.

Then come the words ‘...and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace’. Sandals were the normal footwear in those days and were the sign of one equipped and ready to move. The sign of a Christian is that he is eager to be on the way to share the Gospel with others who have not heard it.

Next, we are told to put on the ‘shield of faith’. The heavily armed warrior wore a heavy oblong shield to protect him from the fiery darts which were dipped in tar and set alight.. When the darts sank into the wood the flames were put out. The ‘shield of faith’ can quench all the flaming darts of evil which are thrown at us. Orthodox Christianity is right in its assertion that the root of evil is not weakness but unbelief.

Faith is the only cure - faith and obedience to the Word of God. The Christian Church could perform no greater service to the people of our disturbed and despairing age than to extend to them, once again, the grace of faith.

Next we come to ‘the helmet of salvation’. The salvation, which is in Christ, gives us forgiveness for the sins of the past and strength to conquer s in in the days

57 to come. Christian faith, if it means anything, must mean a trust in a God of forgiving love and the drama of forgiveness seen in the cross of Christ is our proof.

A minister was once challenged with the question, “Are you saved?” “Yes,” he replied, “and I can name the day and the hour. The day was Good Friday and the hour three o’clock in the afternoon.”

Forgiveness through the cross of Christ is a weapon with which to confront the power of evil.

Finally we come to the ‘sword’ which is the word of God and it is both our weapon of defence and our weapon of attack against the evil of the world.. Oliver Cromwell’s Ironsides fought with a sword in one hand and a Bible in the other. We can never win God’s battle without God’s book.

Trust in God is never easy. The act of faith must be endlessly repeated. There is no demobilization in the Christian life. The words ‘watch’ and ‘beware’ were often on the lips of Christ which emphasises that the Christian life is one of disciplined and continual remembrance.

Paul spent his life battling against opponents of the Good News in Christ.

What Christians of today can do, and must do, is to witness to their faith and to the drama of salvation on which that faith rests.

Let us therefore take these words of Paul to heart; let us put on the whole armour of God. Let us, like Paul, be ambassadors in chains - chained to the love of god as shown in his Son Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Saviour.

The picture; E. Kt. Bob Darkins, E. Kt. Gareth Gait (Provincial Sub-Prior), R. E. Kt. Gordon France (Provincial Prior), R. E. Kt. Paul Clement (Grand Marshal), E. Kt. Keith Davies, E. Kt. Colin Fielder (Prov. Marshal), E. Kt. Harry Randell (Prov. Deputy Marshal).

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At the Installation of Wy Bro Iwan Jenkins in Rheidol Conclave on the 14th April in an address to the P.G.S.R., the Dep P.G.S.R. V. Wy Bro Lyndon Hughson noted that it was the last installation that R. Wy Bro Nigel would attend in his present capacity.

R. Wy Bro Nigel had been P.G.S.R. for the Province of West Wales since its consecration in 2006 and under his leadership the Province has gone from strength to strength, increasing in size from 4 to 6 Conclaves. R. Wy Bro Nigel has also been a 1st class ambassador for the order, attending meetings from as far afield as Northumberland and the Channel Islands.

Following his address V. Wy Bro Lyndon presented a photo album to R. Wy Bro Nigel charting the previous 5 years including official and informal photographs of the many weekends attending Provincial meetings throughout the country in the hope that it would provide R. Wy Bro Nigel and Nesta with a record of some very happy memories.

An impressive ceremony to Install R Wy Bro Lyndon Hughson as the new Provincial Grand Supreme Ruler in the Order of the Secret Monitor was held at Carmarthen Masonic Hall on 13th July 2011.

The ceremony was conducted by the Grand Supreme Ruler, M Wy Bro Michael Guest and a team of Grand Officers chosen by him. All ran well under the direction of the Grand D.C., R Wy Bro Paul Clement.

After being Installed the new P.G.S.R. Installed V Wy Bro James Doyle as his Deputy.

The meeting was well represented by the six Conclaves in the Province, Dyfed, Rheidol, Gwili,Bwa Dur Tirion, Cynghordy and Stongbow.

The Grand Supreme Ruler wished Lyndon and the Province well for the future.

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In Craft Masonry W Bro Donald was initiated into the Liddell Lodge No 3616 in the Province of Durham by his father W. Bro. Richard Mallams (PAGDC) in June 1968.

In 1973 he joined the Sabrina Lodge No 4158 in the Province of Shropshire and became their Master in Nov.1984. In 1985 he joined the Tenby Lodge No 1177 and became their Master in 1991. In the Tenby Lodge, he held the office of Lodge Almoner from 1993 to 2001.

The then Pr Gr Master was pleased to invest W Bro Donald with the rank of Past Provincial Grand Sword Bearer in 1997; later, in 2001, promoting him to Past Provincial Senior Grand Warden. W Bro Donald held the office of Provincial Grand Almoner from January 2001 until July 2009 and was appointed Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies in The United Grand Lodge of England in 2002. He is also an active member of the Kensington Lodge of Installed Masters.

W. Bro. Donald was exalted into Pengwerne Royal Arch Chapter No 3229 (Province of Shropshire) in 1974 and became a joining member of Dinbych Chapter in 1985. After serving as MEZ in 1990, he was appointed Provincial Grand Sword Bearer in 1991and promoted to Past Grand Scribe Nehemiah in 2002.

Born in 1941 W Bro Syd Smith hails from Hereford, educated at St Pauls Church School Tupsley and White Cross Secondary, he did his City and Guilds in TV servicing at Gloucester Technical College, married to Joan Syd has three children and three grandchildren.

Syd and Joan moved to Aberystwyth in 1964 to become manager of a TV and electrical shop at the tender age of 23. When the company sold out to a national multiple Syd bought his own business in 1973, which he ran for 35 years until he sold up and retired in 2008.

A regular churchgoer Syd is Vicars Warden at his local church and amongst his many interests Syd lists Caravanning fishing DIY Charity work and is a classic car buff, on retirement set about the rebuild of his beloved Daimler SP250 sports car and the pictures say it all.

W Bro Syd was initiated into the Aberystwyth Lodge No 1072 in February 1977 and installed as Worshipful Master of the Lodge in 1988.

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Having been initiated into Freemasonry in February 1971, he had the good fortune to be initially tutored, in the Craft, by such knowledgeable Masonic Elders as W Bro Wynford Mabe and W Bro Jack Webb. The lessons learnt in such an apprenticeship were demonstrated as with his characteristic thoroughness, he progressed through the various offices of the lodge, before being Installed as Worshipful Master in January 1981.

W Bro Davies is a member of a long established Tenby family and actually lives in the family home, which has been occupied by his family since 1742.

Educated, firstly, in Tenby and, later, aboard the Training Ship Arethusa in Rochester, Kent, W Bro Davies joined the Royal Navy, in which he served for thirteen years and attained the rank of Petty Officer. During this time, he served in the Far East, the Persian Gulf, Mediterranean and Home Fleets. After completion of his naval service, he successfully ran his own business in the Tenby area for six years and then, on selling the business, joined the Prudential Assurance Company in which he served for twenty years, before eventually retiring in 1991.

E. Comp Tom Evans was exalted into Aberystwyth Chapter No.1072 in January 1999, and in the July of that year was one of the founder members of the Aeron and Peterwell Chapter No.7208, being installed as its MEZ in October 2006. In the Annual Convocation of Provincial Grand Chapter of July 2008, the Grand Superintendent, Most Excellent Companion Eric G.S. Mock, appointed him Past Provincial Grand Sojourner.

At the Annual Investiture of the Supreme Grand Chapter of England held on the 28th of April 2011 he was honoured to be appointed as Past Assistant Grand Sojourner by the Most Excellent Pro Grand Master, Peter Geoffrey Lowndes.

In Mark Masonry he was advanced in Loventium Lodge in 2000 and was Installed as Worshipful Master in 2010. A Past Master of Peterwell Lodge and the Kensington Lodge of Past Masters his curriculum vitae in Craft Masonry has already been well documented.

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West Wales Mason

E Companion Teifion Evans is a native of North Pembrokeshire, and has spent most of his life in the Llan-y-chaer area; he still lives in the same house that he was born in with his wife Hannah. They have two grown up children, and two grandchildren Rhys and Cerys.

Apart from his Masonic interest, his other passions are Fishing, Collecting old Agricultural memorabilia which is displayed on land in front of the house, The gardens around the house is looked after by himself, and his wife and they are both very proud of the garden railway which runs around and through it In summer they are very happy to let people enjoy it with them. Visitors come from far and near even from overseas to look around and to watch as many as five trains chasing each other. They also have a river Bank and a large are of grass to look after EX Companion Teifion has been a member of the Abergwaun Chapter for over 40 years.

E Comp Stephen was exalted into Hwlffordd Chapter No 464 on 5th April 1993, and was installed as First Principal of that Chapter in 2005. He is well known throughout the Province as our Provincial Grand Scribe E, and of course as our Provincial Grand Secretary in Craft Masonry. In the Craft he is a Past Master of Cleddau Lodge, and a member of the Kensington Lodge of Installed Masters, the Richard Warburton Lodge and the Peter Drewett Daylight Lodge of Progress. He also holds the rank of Past Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies in the United Grand Lodge of England.

In the Other Orders, he is a Past Preceptor of the St David’s Preceptory (Order of the Temple), a Past Sovereign of the St Brides Chapter (Rose Croix), and a member of the Dewi Sant Tabernacle (Knight Templar Priests).

His appointment was well received by the members of his Chapter, and by Companions throughout the Province.

We wish him many years of good health to continue to enjoy his high office and to be of service to the Province.

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West Wales Mason

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West Wales Mason

63

W. Bro. George Eric Meredith Evans W. Bro. George Eric Meredith Evans was born on the 11th January 1931 in the Cottage Hospital in Tenby.

Bro. Eric, as he is usually known, spent his formative years attending school at the local primary school in Newchapel followed by a period in Cardigan Grammar School.

On leaving school at the age of 15 he undertook an apprenticeship in carpentry and joinery with W.J. Lewis in Cardigan. It is interesting to note that he was paid the princely sum of 2s 6d (12 1/2p) per week which was all spent on his bus fare to and from home.

Having completed his 5-year apprenticeship he joined the Royal Navy in December 1950 with the sole ambition of seeing the world at somebody else’s expense. He became an aircraft engineer in the Fleet Air Arm’s 800 squadron but, unfortunately, spent most of his time based in Northern Ireland and at the naval base at Brawdy in Pembrokeshire so his hopes of seeing the world were thwarted.

In 1954 he met Miss Dilys Rees and they were married in 1959. Having been married for only six months Eric decided to go to Nigeria to work with Costain’s the construction company who were building a large dam outside Lagos.

Returning to Wales in 1961 he worked for various construction companies eventually settling in Saundersfoot where he and his wife purchased a dilapidated house. Eric, being Eric, virtually pulled it to pieces before restoring into quality bed and breakfast accommodation.

In 1976 Eric was initiated into the Narberth Lodge No. 2001 and became Master in 1989.

Eric joined the Arberth Chapter in 1979, becoming 1st Principal in 1996.

At the time when Eric was Master the Lodge meetings were held in an old Methodist Chapel, which had been purchased in the sixties, and which had an old tower that leaked like a sieve. During his year in the Chair he decided that the tower had to be removed and a roof constructed in its place. A quotation from a building firm stated that this would cost £25,000. Eric working in his spare time, sometimes until 4.00 in the morning, did the work for £10,000.

In 1986 his carpentry skills had been brought to the attention of the Province. At that time we had to construct our own staging for these two meetings and take it down afterwards. Two days of hard intensive work. Over the years Eric has used his skills to simplify the work. And whilst we no longer have to construct the stage, Eric was here yesterday and this morning making sure that the Brethren of the host Lodge and Chapter carried out all necessary work to his high standards. After 25 years of overseeing the layout of this building for these Provincial meetings Eric has decided that he has, at last found, a suitable replacement and can now hand over the responsibilities to someone younger.

In the words of his very dear friend W. Bro. Cyril Bowen, Eric is a true stalwart with great enthusiasm for Freemasonry, totally determined and committed to any project he takes on. Cyril goes on to suggest that Eric was cut from the same mould as the steeplejack Fred Dibnah.

We count ourselves very fortunate in having had W Bro Eric as a true and loyal member of this Province, and we wish him many more years of good health so that he may continue to enjoy his Freemasonry, and that we may continue to enjoy his company.

DH

DH

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