On Wednesday 25 January, the Provincial Grand Master and Most Excellent Grand Superintendent of the Province of Bedfordshire, Right Worshipful Brother Anthony P Henderson joined the Royal & Select Masters Order at Dunstable.
The Charles Herbert Perram Council meets at Dunstable three times a year and is the only unit in the Order that meets in Bedfordshire.
On the evening there were 48 members of the Order in attendance to welcome the new Companion to the Order.
Companions had travelled from all over the District which covers three Craft masonic Provinces (Bedfordshire, Leicestershire & Rutland and Northamptonshire & Huntingdonshire). To witness the ceremony, the District Grand Master, Deputy District Grand Master and the District Grand Principal Conductor of the Work were present escorted by the District Grand Director of Ceremonies. Also present was the Grand Standard Bearer, Ill Comp Jeff Chambers and a Grand Manciple, Illustrious Companion Mark Constant.
There were six Heads of Orders attending along with four Past Heads, pictured above. (LtoR Martin Wilson DistGM, Graham Dearing MEGS Bucks, Julian Townsend MEGS Nottinghamshire, Barrie Hall Past PGM Northants & Hunts, Jim Field Past GSupt KTP Essex, Nick Edwards Inspector General Rose Croix Beds & Herts, Paul Gower PPGM Herts, Mike Jolley PDistGM, Mark Constant PGM Northants & Hunts, Tony Henderson PGM/MEGS Beds)
There were also four members of the Craft / Royal Arch Executive from Bedfordshire in attendance (LtoR Bob Curson DepGSupt, Martin Wilson 2ndPrGPrin, Tony Henderson PGM/MEGS, Clive Walsh DepPGM, Tony Green PrGSec)
Companion Tony Henderson undertook two of the four degrees in the evening, Select Master and Royal Master. The perambulations in the Royal Master were undertaken by Ill. Comp. Nick Edawards, P.Dep.G.D.C. and the history in both degrees was shared amongst seven different companions.
After the formalities were over the Companions adjourned to the bar and being as it was Burns night started the meal in traditional form with haggis.
