On Thursday 13th March Eaton Socon was a hive of activity when Huntingdon Council No. 130 welcomed the District Grand Master, Rt Ill Comp Martin Wilson and his escorting DC Ill Comp Mark Thompson O’Connor, a delegation from Charles Herbert Perram Council No. 66 with the Travelling Trowel …

… two new Members; Comp Richard Reynolds and Comp Rob McGowan …

.. and still found time to Install Comp Ian Phillips as Thrice Illustrious Master!

An extremely busy but very memorable evening of Cryptic Masonry capped off with a fine Festive Board full of good cheer and laughter.

The Travelling Trowel will continue its journey around the District and is due to be delivered to Corby Council No. 195 on Friday 11^th April.

On Wednesday 19th February Peterborough Council No. 243 welcomed the District Grand Master, Rt Ill Comp Martin Wilson and his escorting DC Ill Comp Kyle Whitbread to Peterborough for a busy evening of Cryptic Masonry.

After opening the Council, the Thrice Illustrious Master, Ill Comp Mick Smith, handed the gavel to Ill Comp Tony Elsey who conferred the degree of Super Excellent Master on Comp Alex Thurlow in a exemplary manner ably assisted by Ill Comp Leo McCormick, Ill Comp David Hilton and Comp Paul Hoffmann explaining the Ark, the Secrets and the History respectively.

The Thrice Illustrious Master then took the gavel and installed Comp Paul Hoffmann as Thrice Illustrious Master with a great deal of warmth and sincerity, Ill Comp Jeff Chambers assisting with a consummate explanation of the Sign and Word of an Installed Master.

After over 17 years of commendable service as the Treasurer, Chaplain and a Founder Member it was proposed that V Ill Comp Phil Collins be made an Honorary Member of Peterborough Council. A distinction that V Ill Comp Collins was delighted to accept.

The Council retired to a festive board of soup, pie and good humour all round.

_{The District Grand Master, Rt Ill Comp Martin Wilson with V Ill Comp Phil Collins along with the members and guest in attendance.}

Charles Herbert Perram Council had a bumper evening on Wednesday 22 January undertaking the Most Excellent Master and Super Excellent Master Ceremonies on three candidates, two from the Council and the other from Towcester Council.

The evening also saw a delegation of six Companions from Towcester Council bearing the traveling Trowel which will be taken by Charles Herbert Perram members to Huntingdon Council on Thursday 13 March.

The District Grand Master was present (his own Council) plus the District Grand Principal Conductor of the Work escorted by the District Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies.

A total of 32 Companions in attendance.

On Sunday 15th December the annual East Midlands District Pre-Christmas lunch was held at The Boat Inn, Stoke Bruerne. Every Council in the District was well represented with over 90 guests in attendance, all treated to a fine Christmas menu in beautiful surroundings and well looked after by Illustrious Companion Andrew Woodward and his team. In between courses the merriment continued with carols being heartily sung, orchestrated throughout by Illustrious Companion Geoff Phipps and culminating with the traditional Twelve Days of Christmas, each table taking up the mantle of singing one verse including suitable, yet sometimes questionable, actions!

^{< Members of Olney Council and bearers of the five gold rings ^ The main dining room}

Having raised the bar on a number of occasions, given the generosity of both the members of the District and the three Craft and Holy Royal Arch Provinces of Bedfordshire, Leicestershire & Rutland and Northants & Hunts from which the Royal & Select Masters District of East Midlands draws its membership, the District Grand Master was pleased to announce that the District had surpassed the self-imposed target set for the Grand Master’s 150th Anniversary Celebration Appeal and more pleasingly, the District had applied for grants for local charities that exceeded the amount that the District had raised. A fine effort all round.

As always, a wonderful afternoon of friendship and merriment, all are looking forward to next years’ event that will take place on Sunday 21st December 2025 at the The Boat Inn.

Book early to avoid disappointment, get in touch with the Deputy District Grand Master, Illustrious Companion Ian Knox on ian@theknoxes.com for further details.

On Wednesday 20^th November Charles Herbert Perram Council No. 66 welcomed the District Grand Master Right Illustrious Companion Martin Wilson accompanied by nine Officers of the East Midlands District to the Masonic Centre in Dunstable.

The District Team were treated to a memorable evening of Cryptic Masonry including the District Grand Master presenting Companion Paul Hogan with his Grand Council Certificate after which Companion Anthony Bandy was chosen as a Select Master and honoured as a Royal Master, the Companions of Charles Herbert Perram Council ensuring that every aspect of the ceremony was executed with precision and reverence. The meeting was followed by an excellent and happy festive board enjoying a menu of roast pork and syrup sponge, a perfect foil for the cold weather on the evening.

The meeting was also a reminder of the close and important bonds that tie all the various masonic orders together being attended by a number of distinguished Brethren and Companions of the East Midlands District.

Left to Right: Ill. Comp. Nicholas Edwards (PGM & MEGS Bedfordshire), Ill. Comp. Jim Boughton (MEGS Northants & Hunts), Comp. Clive Walsh (DepPGM Bedfordshire), R. Ill. Comp. Martin Wilson DGM (2ndPrGP Bedfordshire), Comp. Tony Green (Provincial Grand Secretary and Scribe E Bedfordshire), Ill. Comp. Philip Marshall (PGM Nottinghamshire), Comp. Robert Curson (Deputy Grand Superintendent Bedfordshire)