Depending upon the vagaries of the calendar the traditional curtain-raiser to the Kent Mark season is a meeting of either the Kent Mark Stewards’ or Kent Installed Commanders’ Lodge.
With September beginning on a Sunday this year the baton, in this special and exciting year for the Province, was passed to the Stewards’ Lodge who met on the first Wednesday of the month at Gillingham’s Franklin Rooms.
With more than 100 Brethren in attendance, the Worshipful Master, W. Bro. Clive Manuel presided over a busy meeting, which included the presentation of more than 30 MBF 2020 Festival Awards, namely:
MBF Awards
6 MBF Grand Patron
14 MBF Patron
1 MBF Vice Patron
2020 Festival Certificates
6 Platinum
5 Silver
3 Bronze
The newly published Roll of Honour will be updated in due course.
Also on the agenda was to elect the Worshipful Master for the ensuing year. With only one nomination being made to the Secretary and in accordance with Rule 97 Book of Constitutions as no member present called for a ballot, RW. Bro. Archibald Iain Torrance was declared as Master Elect! A fitting honour for the Province’s service Lodge in the year of our 2020 Festival in favour of The Mark Benevolent Fund.
At the culmination of the meeting 85 Brethren dined at the Festive Board, where the Provincial Grand Master received a generous donation from Bro. Nick Alder, Intendant-General for the Kent Division of the Red Cross of Constantine towards the 2020 Festival.