On Saturday, 21 March, the District Grand Council of Allied Masonic Degrees of Sussex held its Annual District Meeting at East Brighton Masonic Centre, Peacehaven, it was a VERY sunny Sussex by the Sea.
R.W.Bro. ER (Gene) Earland, District Grand Prefect, opened the meeting in due form and then received his salutation led by the Dist.G.D.C. W.Bro. Greg Shackelton, P.G.J.D.
The Dep.Dist.G.D.C. W.Bro. Steven Davies, then headed the salutation to the other R.W.Brethren. present; R.W.Bro. Ron Slater, Dist.G.Pref. for District of Severn replied appropriately on behalf of the seven visiting Dist.G.Prefs. and other R.W.Brethren.
V.W.Bro. WJT (Toby) Pratt,P.G.Reg. then entered and stated that the Deputy Grand Master, R.W.Bro. Colin R Woodcock was in attendance and demanded admittance. R.W.Bro. Gene greeted V.W.Bro. Toby, a Sussex Brother, (Grafton Council No.26), who then escorted the Deputy Grand Master, R.W.Bro. Colin R Woodcock, into the meeting.
R.W.Bro. Gene was delighted to welcome the Deputy Grand Master, R.W.Bro. Colin R Woodcock, (also a member of Sussex Ashdown Council No.86). V.W.Bro. Toby then called the Brethren to order and the Deputy Grand Master was saluted with nine. R.W.Bro. Woodcock replied appropriately.
The brethren then paid their respects to departed Sussex Brethren.
R.W.Bro. Gene greeted all the guests in his own inimitable and humorous fashion, receiving similar responses from the Dist.G.Prefs. and other guests.
Following the business items, R.W.Bro. Gene re-appointed W.Bro. Ivor MH Bennett as Deputy District Grand Prefect and then continued by appointing and investing his Team of District Officers.
Before closing the District Meeting, R.W.Bro. Gene addressed the Brethren in a somewhat (for him) subdued manner. When he had greeted the guests earlier, he had informed all the brethren that he had spoken to the Grand Master M.W.Bro. Thomas F Jackson informing him that he (Gene) intended to retire as Dist.G.Pref. before the next District Annual meeting and, consequently, this would be his last District Meeting as Dist.G.Pref.
R.W.Bro. Gene stated that holding the office of Dist.G.Pref. for District Grand Council of Sussex has been the pinnacle of his masonic career and that he had been proud both to lead and represent the District of Sussex for the last 6 years and that it was his intention to visit all the Councils of Sussex and various other Districts during the remainder of his tenure.
After a very enjoyable festive board, R.W.Bro. Gene. was toasted by W.Bro. Ivor Bennett P.G.Swd.B, Dep.Dist.G.M.. The Toast was humorous and especially when he regaled a few attributes of R.W.Bro. Gene especially his Legendary Navigation skill.
R.W.Bro. Gene replied particularly mentioning the presence of the previous two Dist.G.Prefs. of Sussex R.W.Bro. C Martin Wilson and R.W.Bro. Roger F Richardson. R.W.Bro. Gene then informed the brethren that it was in fact R.W.Bro. Roger F Richardson's birthday and the brethren uproariously sang Happy Birthday.
The remainder of R.W.Bro. Gene's response whilst thanking the Brethren for their presents both for himself and for his wife Sandra, he further stated how proud he was to have represented Sussex as the Dist.G.Pref. Then while wishing all present the very best for the future, he became quite emotional.
Content Credits: Ivor Bennett