Oh, what a night it was, it really was such a night, over 500 freemasons and their Wives, Partners and Friends gathered at Sandy Park in Exeter, the home to the Exeter Chiefs Rugby Club for a double celebration.
The evening was planned to herald the end of the 5 year MCF Devonshire Masonic 2023 Festival and also to commemorate the retirement, after 10 years, of our dearly beloved and well respected Provincial Grand Master Ian Kingsbury.
Among those sat at the top table were Ian Kingsbury, his daughter Natalie along with her partner Russell, Vice Lord Lieutenant of Devonshire the Countess of Arron, the Dean of Exeter Cathedral Jonathan Greener and 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 Masonic Charitable Foundation and 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 extremely well.
The Toasts
Following the meal, as is tradition on these occasions there were several toasts given.
Loyal Toast. David Medlock
Toast to the Grand Master. Ian Kingsbury. Provincial Grand Master.
Toast to the Masonic Charitable Foundation. Peter Keaty. Assistant Provincial Grand Master.
Then the most important announcement of the evening the Results and Grand Reveal by Les Hutchinson which showed that the Province of Devonshire had raised £2,200,558
The Response to the Result. James Long.
Toast to the Festival President. David Medlock.
Response by the Festival President. Ian Kingsbury.
Nicky Ball. Deputy Provincial Grand Master then called the Provincial Grand Master to the stage where he presented him with a framed rugby shirt which had been signed by all the Exeter Chiefs Rugby team.
Live Entertainment
Following on from the toasts, the assembled guests were entertained by Rick Wakeman who 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, this lasted for almost an hour and everybody listening wished he had continued well into the night.
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 experience.
