Peckham Chapter No. 1475, Makes a spectacular return
W Bro Tony Shepherd reports
On Monday 19th July at Freemasons’ Hall, the hottest day of the year, over 40 members and guests of Peckham Chapter No 1475, Metropolitan’s Royal Arch Escorting Officers’ Chapter, celebrated being able to meet once more.
Following the easing of Government Social Distancing restrictions, the Chapter was able to warmly welcome the Chapter’s Honorary Member, E Comp Timothy L’Estrange PGSN, the Deputy Metropolitan Grand Superintendent. E Comp Timothy’s Escorting Officer for his visit was our new Metropolitan Grand Director of Ceremonies E Comp Guy Foster, PGStB.
Not content with just the Deputy Metropolitan Grand Superintendent, also present for this auspicious occasion were the Second and Third Metropolitan Grand Principals, E Comps Patrick Penny PGStB and Chris Head PGSoj respectively and former Deputy Metropolitan Grand Superintendent, E Comp Chris Frankland PGSN.
This rather special Chapter has Royal Arch Assistant Metropolitan Grand Superintendents as members – E Comps Ian Clark (Chapter Treasurer) and Simon White (Chapter First Principal), and also present were nine out of ten of the current Royal Arch Metropolitan Grand Inspectors. The absent Inspector being on Active Duty in the adjacent temple room!
With so many rulers and former Escorting Officer as members and/or as guests, the procedure to ballot for four Joining Members was carried out exactly per the book, and having been successfully approved, the Chapter was closed in peace and harmony.
The now thirsty companions retired downstairs for a rather sumptuous Festive Board, beautifully provided for them by and within the Freemasons’ Hall’s recently unveiled Café & Bar facility. Peckham Chapter is immensely proud to boast that they were first ever Chapter to dine at this venue.
Formalities over, many Companions stayed to ensure that the facilities of the new Café & Bar were thoroughly tested.
Peckham Chapter No 1475 is the Escorting Officers’ Chapter of Metropolitan Grand Chapter and membership is open to any present or former Royal Arch Escorting Officer who has, or will undertake at least one escorting duty.
