Boasting a membership of well over fifty Companions, Roman Way Chapter is one of the most successful in the Province of Buckinghamshire.
A distinguishing feature of this thriving and enthusiastic Chapter is that it is a daylight Chapter that meets on a Saturday at the Eliot Hall in Winslow.
At their installation meeting held on Saturday 12th March 2016, the Chapter had the privilege of hosting an inter-provincial visit between the Province of Buckinghamshire and the combined Province of Gloucestershire and Herefordshire. The Grand Superintendent of Gloucestershire and Herefordshire, Graham King, his executive and acting officers were most cordially welcomed by the Grand Superintendent of Buckinghamshire, John Keeble on behalf of the Province and members of his Provincial team. The Installation ceremony was conducted by the installing Principal, E. Comp Mike Lockie, who installed James Campbell as First Principal. In their turn Dave Vallis and Ian Broatch were respectively inducted as Second and Third Principals. There were over ninety companions in attendance and not a vacant seat to be found.
After closing the Chapter, the companions of the Roman Way Chapter and their esteemed visitors then retired to the Bell Hotel for a most enjoyable festive board. The long established custom of the Chapter is to partake of a well provisioned carvery, which is always popular amongst the members. In replying to the toast to the visitors, Graham King thanked the members of Roman Way Chapter and the Buckinghamshire Provincial team for the wonderful reception and promised that such visits should continue in the future.
John Keeble commented: “Our visit was most enjoyable and it was pleasing to see everyone having a good time. The Roman Way Chapter is a prime example of a Chapter that knows very well how to welcome visitors and how best to please its members and encourage them to attend their convocations.
John continued: “It is self-evident throughout Freemasonry that truly enjoyable meetings rely to a great extent upon the commitment of members to attend as many meetings as possible. Likewise, for those members to have the ambition and courage to progress through the offices so that they are able to make a daily advancement in their Masonic knowledge. By so doing, they are able to bring pleasure to others as well as maximising their own personal enjoyment.”
The next Buckinghamshire Provincial team visit is programmed to be to be at the convocation of the Denham Chapter in April 2016, when the chapter will be celebrating its twenty-fifth anniversary.
The picture shows the Grand Superintendents of Buckinghamshire, John Keeble (on the right) and of Gloucestershire and Herefordshire, Graham King, at the recent Roman Way convocation.