Installation of Very Illustrious Brother Robert Bramley 33rd Degree as Inspector General
The Installation of our new Inspector General took place at an especial meeting of Toft Chapter No. 897; the Past Sovereigns' Chapter of East Cheshire District at Oaklands Hall in Hyde on Tuesday 7 October 2025.
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In a ceremony witnessed by representatives of every chapter in the District as well as a large contingent from West Cheshire District and the Provincial Grand Masters of both the Craft and Mark Degrees in Cheshire the Installation was conducted superbly by the Supreme Council.
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The Sovereign Grand Commander, Most Puissant Brother John Boyington CBE Thirty Third Degree took the throne with Most Illustrious Brother Gareth Jones Thirty Third Degree, the Grand Treasurer General acting as First General and our past Inspector General, Very Illustrious Brother Nigel Cooper Thirty Third Degree acting as second General to open a Supreme Council Chapter.
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The District Recorder confirmed to the Sovereign Grand Commander that every Chapter in the District was represented and the ceremony could proceed.
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The Inspector General Designate, Rob Bramley Thirty Third Degree was led into the temple by his personal escort of Illustrious Brothers Peter Tucker, Simon Hay, Howard Waddell, Robert Ashley and Paul Bradley representing De Tabley, Good Shepherd, Cheshire St. Thomas, Vivat and Branxholm Chapters.​​​
Left to Right:
Gareth Jones (Grand Treasurer General), David Dyson (Provincial Grand Master), Rob Bramley (Inspector General), John Boyington (Sovereign Grand Commander), Simon Thorn (Grand Prior).
The Grand Prior, Most Illustrious Brother Simon Thorn Thirty Third Degree ​​​led the Brethren in Prayer and The Grand Secretary General, Most Illustrious Brother Giles Shilson Thirty Third Degree conducted a roll call of all the chapters in the District.
Rob Bramley was installed before addressing the meeting with recruitment, growth and above all enjoyment being his immediate ambitions for the District.
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The Third Point was conducted by the Grand Treasurer General before the members of Supreme Council retired and Toft Chapter was closed by the acting Most Wise Sovereign, Illustrious Brother Fraser McCord Thirty First Degree.
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The whole proceedings were overseen by the Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies, Illustrious Brother Gabriel Hilu Thirty Second Degree assisted by the Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies, Illustrious Brother Matthew Christmas.​​
The meeting was followed by a convivial lunch which was also attended by the Inspectors General for West Cheshire, South East Lancashire, Derbyshire, Yorkshire West Riding and North Wales together with the Past Inspector General for North Wales and District Recorders from West Cheshire, South West Lancashire, South East Lancashire, Yorkshire West Riding and Derbyshire.​​​
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​A well known and popular Cheshire Freemason having held office as Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies in the Craft and Royal Arch, Deputy Grand Superintendent in the Royal Arch and, Provincial Sub-Prior in the Knights Templar, Rob Bramley is a popular choice to take the Ancient & Accepted Rite forward as Inspector General of East Cheshire over the coming years.
To mark his Installation he was presented with a silver trinket box bearing the emblem of the Supreme Council by the Sovereign Grand Commander who in turn was presented with a bottle of Kummel and a vintage gin glass by Rob Bramley.
The District of East Cheshire expresses grateful thanks to all those who contributed to the success of the day. Not least the Supreme Council for conducting the ceremony and the team at 10 Duke Street led by Dawn Boyle who organised their attendance.​​​
This includes the management and staff of Oaklands Hall especially the front of house and kitchen teams, the members of Toft Chapter who provided the chapter furniture and equipment as well as acting as host chapter and all those volunteers from chapters around the District who acted as event stewards to ensure the smooth running of the day.
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It is not every day a ceremony of this scale takes place in a Rose Croix District and the attendance of the Supreme Council in a District outside of London goes to emphasie not only the kindness with which this Order is synonymous but the closeness between the Supreme Council and the membership as a whole.