On behalf of the Grand Superintendent and myself, I would like to extend a very warm welcome to you all to Cardiff Masonic Hall for our inaugural Fellowship Dinner.
I would like to thank all the team at CMH for the splendid way in which the hall has been prepared this evening and of course for the hospitality that we have enjoyed, both tonight and on so many other occasions throughout the years. We are extremely grateful to the whole team for making this evening possible. As some of you will know, we have previously held a luncheon to welcome new Active Provincial Grand Officers and to thank those retiring for their service. Naturally, with a Province of our size and geographical area, there are many more Brethren and Companions outside of the Active Officers who contribute a significant amount of time, energy and resource in support of our Province. It was with that in mind that the Fellowship Dinner was conceived.
This evening gives us a very special opportunity to pause, to reflect and to recognise the dedication of those who have served the Province of South Wales, while also looking forward with confidence, optimism and enthusiasm to the Masonic year ahead. First and foremost, I would like to pay tribute to those Active Provincial Grand Lodge Officers who retired from their posts in June.
With 229 ceremonies to install Lodge Masters and Chapter Principals across our Province each year, the commitment required from our Active Officers is considerable. So, to all those who have served over the last 12 months, Paul and I offer our sincere thanks. Brethren and Companions, your service has been invaluable. Behind every successful Province are individuals who quietly give their time, their energy, their knowledge and, above all, their commitment. You have been those individuals. Whether attending meetings, visiting Lodges, offering guidance and encouragement, supporting our members, or simply being there when you were needed, you have each played an important part in strengthening the Province of South Wales.
Your contribution has not simply been measured by the number of meetings attended or the duties carried out. It has been measured by the difference you have made to the Lodges and Chapters you have supported, and to the Brethren and Companions whose Masonic journeys you have helped along the way. You have represented the Province with dignity, enthusiasm and pride, and you have helped to uphold the traditions and values that make Freemasonry so special. So, thank you for your time. Thank you for your loyalty. Thank you for your patience, your friendship and your commitment. And, most importantly, thank you for everything you have done to support the Province of South Wales. Although you may have retired from your Provincial appointments, I am sure that your experience, wisdom and friendship will continue to be valued by us all.
You remain an important part of our Masonic family and I very much hope that you will continue to enjoy your Masonry and contribute to our Province for many years to come.
Brethren, while we look back with gratitude, we must also look forward with optimism and ambition. It is therefore a great pleasure to welcome those Brethren and Companions who have been newly appointed as Provincial Grand Lodge Officers. To each of you, Paul and I offer our most sincere congratulations. Your appointment is not simply an honour; it is an opportunity; an opportunity to serve, to lead, to encourage and to make a positive difference. You now become part of the team that will help shape the coming Masonic year. With that appointment comes responsibility, but it also brings the privilege of meeting Brethren and Companions from across our Province, sharing experiences, supporting our Lodges and Chapters, and helping to ensure that Freemasonry in South Wales continues to flourish. You will bring your own skills, experiences and ideas to your new roles, and we have every confidence that you will approach your responsibilities with the same enthusiasm and dedication demonstrated by those who have gone before you.
The strength of the Province of South Wales has always been found in its people – Brethren and Companions who are willing to give their time, support one another and work together towards a common purpose.
This evening, we see that strength continuing. We thank those who have completed their Provincial service, and we welcome those who now take up that responsibility.
To our retiring officers: you leave with our gratitude and our respect. To our newly appointed officers: you begin with our congratulations, our confidence and our full support. May the example of those who have served before you inspire you, and may your own service leave an equally positive legacy for those who follow.
I would equally like to mention some of the teams who are so well represented here this evening.
I would particularly like to commend our Provincial Secretariat, who work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure that our Province is administered and run with the highest levels of efficiency and professionalism. Whether arranging our 229 installations, organising Provincial events, or coordinating our official visits to other Provinces, the work is undertaken with remarkable precision, dedication and commitment. To every member of the Secretariat, thank you for the vital work that you do.
To our Membership Team, our Learning and Development Team and our Ritual Support Team, your work has been outstanding over the last 12 months. I was personally delighted to recognise more than 60 members who achieved their Solomon Diplomas in June this year.
That achievement is a wonderful demonstration of the commitment that exists within our Province to improving our knowledge, developing our skills and maintaining the highest standards of ritual.
To our Communications Team, who ensure that our message reaches our members and the wider community through our website, social media, Yearbook and Y Dalaith magazine, thank you for ensuring that the quality and professionalism of our communication, reflects the quality and professionalism that exists throughout our membership.
Looking ahead, we also have an exciting opportunity to expand and forge new links and partnerships within our communities. Whether through local charities, foodbanks, sports teams, or other community organisations, we can and we will make a positive contribution and demonstrate, through our actions, the difference that Freemasonry can make in South Wales.
I would also like to thank the Masonic Benevolent Fund team for all the vital work they do in supporting our members and their families in times of need, as well as their excellent work supporting local charities across the whole of the Province.
To our Festival Team, thank you for your exceptional work in promoting and encouraging our members to engage with and support the work of the Freemasons Charity. It is particularly encouraging to see so many people here this evening who have already committed to supporting our 2032 Festival. And the impact of that support is already being felt. In just the last five months, since April, we have been able to support 43 Brethren across our Province with £132,000, together with major charitable grants of £50,000 to Bloomspace in Swansea and £60,000 to Vale Domestic Abuse Services in Barry. With a further two grants of £60,000 and £15,000 now proceeding, the scale of what we are collectively achieving is truly remarkable. These are not simply numbers on a page. Behind every figure is a person, a family or a community whose life has been made a little better because Freemasonry chose to help. So please continue to support our Festival and help us achieve our £4 million target by 2032.
By doing so, we will give the Freemasons Charity the resources it needs to continue providing invaluable support to our members, their families and the communities in which we live. We also have a wide range of new merchandise available through our Festival Shop, with 100% of the profit going towards supporting the Festival. And, of course, it is a new season, which generally means new gloves and I am pleased to say that they are in stock!
Brethren, this is a particularly exciting time for the Province. It is our Tercentenary Year ; As you can see, there is a significant amount happening across South Wales, all with one clear objective: to ensure that we enjoy our Freemasonry, strengthen our Lodges and Chapters, support our members and, at the same time, continue to make a positive difference to those in our communities who have fallen on hard times.
Finally, to all the wives and partners, thank you for the support, encouragement and understanding that you provide. Your support allows our members to give so much of their time and energy to Freemasonry and to the wider community. Quite simply, without your support, much of what we achieve would not be possible. So, on behalf of us all, please accept my sincere and grateful thanks.
I have deliberately tried to avoid mentioning individual names this evening, because there would simply be too many to list and there is always the danger of unintentionally leaving someone out. However, there is one person I must mention. My Deputy, Huw.
Huw took charge of the Province last June and continued to lead until February. Huw, I want to place on record my personal and heartfelt thanks to you for everything you did in leading and directing this Province through an exceptionally difficult period following Gerald’s passing. You carried an enormous responsibility at a very challenging time, and you did so with calmness, dignity, loyalty and commitment. I know that I speak for the whole Province when I say that we will always be immensely grateful to you for the way in which you stepped forward when you were needed most.
So, Brethren and Companions, as we come towards the end of this evening, let us celebrate not only what has been achieved, but also the people who have made those achievements possible. Let us celebrate those who have served the Province of South Wales so faithfully and let us warmly welcome those who now join the Provincial team. May the coming Masonic year be one of friendship, fellowship, achievement and continued progress. To our retiring Provincial Officers, thank you. To our newly appointed Provincial Officers; welcome, congratulations and every success. And to the Province of South Wales; may we continue to work together, support one another, strengthen our Lodges and Chapters, and uphold the finest traditions of Freemasonry. Because ultimately, our Province is not defined by its buildings, its ceremonies or its titles. It is defined by its people; and tonight, we have seen once again just how strong those people are. Thank you, Brethren.