The evening was a double celebration, firstly to herald the end of the 5 year MCF Devonshire Masonic Festival and secondly the retirement of our dearly beloved Provincial Grand Master Rt. W. Bro. Ian Kingsbury…
There were over 500 Freemasons and their wives, partners and friends gathered at Sandy Park in Exeter, the home to the Exeter Chiefs Rugby Club. The evening was for a double celebration, firstly to herald the end of the 5 year MCF Devonshire Masonic Festival and secondly the retirement after 10 years of our dearly beloved Provincial Grand Master Rt. W. Bro. Ian Kingsbury.
Sat at the top table were Ian Kingsbury, his daughter Natalie and her partner Russell, Vice Lord Lieutenant of Devonshire the Countess of Arron, the Dean of Exeter Cathedral Jonathan Greener and his wife, the Assistant Grand Master David Medlock, the Grand Secretary Adrian Marsh, the Past Grand Director of Ceremonies Pail Grier, Les Hutchinson CEO of the MCF and W. Bro. Rick Wakeman, they together with all those present sat down to a superb meal provided by the catering and waiting staff who considering the numbers coped very well.
Following the meal, as is tradition on these occasions there were several toasts given.
Loyal Toast. Rt. W. Bro. David Medlock
Toast to the Grand Master. Rt. W. Bro. Ian Kingsbury. PGM
Toast to the MCF. W. Bro. Peter Keaty. Asst. PGM
Then the most important announcement of the evening the Results and Grand Reveal by Rt. W. Bro. Les Hutchinson which showed that the Province of Devonshire had raised £2,200,558
The Response to the Result. V. W. Bro James Long.
Toast to the Festival President. Rt. W. Bro. David Medlock.
Response by the Festival President. Rt. W. Bro. Ian Kingsbury.
V. W. Bro. Nicky Ball Deputy Provincial Grand Master then called the PGM to the stage where he presented him with a framed rugby shirt which had been signed by all the Exeter Chiefs team.
Following on from the toasts, we were entertained by W. Bro. Rick Wakeman who amply lived up to his reputation of a superb pianist and grumpy old man, he regaled us with many amusing anecdotes and his own interpretations of many well known tunes even including some nursery rhymes for almost an hour.
Carriages were summoned for midnight and apart from the VIP’s who continued the celebration back at the Courtyard Hotel everyone travelled home safely, with many happy memories and hopefully a few dreams of the wonderful night they had just experienced.