Friday 21st February saw the Grand Master, M. W. Bro. Thomas Firth Jackson, and his team consecrate the District of London's 12th Council - the culmination of at least 2 years' work by the Secretary Designate Scott Cargill.
At 10:45 the founders and guests were asked to take their seats in Grand Temple and at 11:00 precisely, the Grand Master and his team were announced and processed into Grand Temple. The Grand Master then proceeded to open the Council with the assistance of his officers and then conducted the consecration of the new Council; a particular highlight was the oration given by the Grand Chaplain V. W. Bro. Rev. Justin Parker who eloquently conveyed the significance of the new Council.
Consecration completed, the Grand Master invited the District Grand Prefect for London - R.W. Bro. Colin Woodcock MBE to take the chair to install the Primus Master V. W. Bro. Brian Sarre P.G.Reg. The Worshipful Master then appointed and invested his officers, following which the Grand Master then presented the warrant of Universal Council No.286 into the keeping of the Worshipful Master. The Worshipful Master then proposed that the Grand Master and his team be made honorary members of the Council, which was seconded and approved by the members.
Before retiring from the new Council with his team, the Grand Master requested his DC to conduct W. Bro. Scott Cargill P.G.J.D. Dep.Dist.G.Pref. to him. The Grand Master then conferred a field promotion and promoted Scott to Past Grand Registrar, which of course means that our Primus Secretary becomes a Very Worshipful brother.
After the Council closed, there was a very pleasant 2-course luncheon at which the Worshipful Master toasted the Grand Master and presented him with a gift from the members of Universal Council. The gift was a timepiece of which the Grand Master is a keen collector. The Grand Master thanked the Worshipful Master and the members of Universal Council No.286 for the gift, commenting that he was extremely pleased that it wasn’t just another bottle of gin!!
Festivities over most retired to the bar to chat about the day’s events and the consensus seemed to be that it all went very smoothly and was a great day for the new Council and for the District. V.W. Bro. Scott Cargill received many congratulations on his promotion, which was well deserved and the day as a whole was a great tribute to the amount of work that Scott had put in over the last 2 years to bring the Council to fruition.