SPECIAL NEWS FEATURE

On the evening of Friday 10th September 2021, where full safety measures were observed, a small but distinguished deputation from the Grand Lodge of Scotland, headed by the Most Worshipful Grand Master Mason Bro. William Ramsay McGhee, accompanied by The, Grand Secretary,  The Grand Senior Warden , Bro. G .R. J. Donnelly Past P. G. M., Acting Junior Grand Warden and  The Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies, visited the Tait Hall in Kelso on the occasion of The Installation of Bro. Andrew E. Forsyth, Past Master of Lodge Kelso & Tweed No. 58, as  Provincial Grand Master of the Provincial Grand Lodge of the Scottish Borders.  Bro. Andrew was appointed Provincial Grand Master of our Province on 11 June 2020, however, due to the COVID-19 Crisis, his installation had been understandably delayed.

The Commission were also invested.  Bro. James Thom (IPM The Lodge of Melrose St. John No. 1bis) as Worshipful Depute Provincial Grand Master, Bro. J. Stewart Clark (PM Lodge St. John Coldstream No. 280 ) as Worshipful Substitute Provincial Grand Master, Bro. Alistair W. Little (PM The Lodge of Melrose St . John No. 1bis) as Provincial Grand Secretary and Bro. Michael Laidlaw (PM The Hawick Lodge No. 111) as Provincial Grand Chaplain.

A collection taken at the close of the meeting on behalf of the Benevolent Funds of Grand Lodge realised the sum £251.30.   This was rounded up to £500.00 by Provincial Grand Lodge and a cheque for this amount was presented by the Provincial Grand Master to the Grand Master Mason, for which he expressed his thanks.

A raffle was held in aid of Grand Lodge’s chosen charity Prostate Scotland and realised the sum of £400.00, a cheque for which was presented to the Grand Master Mason.

Bro. McGhee, on behalf of Lodge Kelso and Tweed No.58, presented Bro. J. Sykes P .M., representing the Hawick Dementia Café, with a cheque for £2,000.00, being the proceeds of a raffle and donation from the Lodge. Bro. Sykes, in thanking all those who had purchased tickets and Lodge Kelso and Tweed No.58 for doubling the amount raised from the raffle, extended a personal invitation to the Grand Master Mason to visit the Hawick Dementia Café to witness the good work that was carried out.

Photos below kindly  provided with thanks by: Bro. James Thom, Bro. David Campbell & Bro. Stewart Donaldson