Special Occasion for Michael

On Wednesday 7th October 2020 with special permission from The Supreme Council our Inspector General conferred the 32nd Degree on Ill.Bro. Michael Clephan at his home.

Special arrangements were made to enable Mike to receive his preferment before Higher Degrees meetings in London can be resumed. Mike, a Founder of Vivat Chapter and a member of Toft Chapter was able to enjoy a socially distanced Rule of 6 lunch to celebrate the occasion in the company of The Inspector General, District Recorder, Past District Recorder and Ill.Bro. Robert Ashley.

Congratulations Mike and thank you for your unwavering support of this Order over so many years. A thoroughly well deserved 32nd Degree.

Everyday Hero in Our Midst

Geoff Perkin, a member of Vivat Chapter and a past Sovereign of Staveleigh Chapter and the immediate past Provincial Senior Grand Warden in the Craft in Cheshire describes himself as

having a slightly fuller than the average figure.

Everyone who knows Geoff in the East Cheshire District either as Almoner of Vivat Chapter or the District Demonstration Team in which he specliaises in the First Point knows he is an enthusiastic Mason who gives freely of his time and support.

So it is no surprise that when it was put to him to become an "Everyday Hero" and join a sponsored slim for the Cheshire Freemasons' Charity he was only too keen to go for it.

"I almost jumped at the chance but then thought better of it as I did not want to be responsible for the resulting tidal wave. I think I should be given a 4 lb head start as I shaved my beard off for CFC and lost at least 4 lb worth of hair", said Geoff embarking on his challenge.

Please feel free to sponsor this event as all the monies raised will go to our charity to help those in need, in and around Cheshire which is needed more than ever at the moment with the ongoing COVID pandemic.

To sponsor Geoff click here https://e0174.everydayhero.com/uk/geoff-perkin

Second Inspector General of East Cheshire to Receive New Patent.

Our Inspector General; Very Illustrious Brother Nigel Cooper 33rd Degree, was appointed in 2015 and succeeded Very Illustrious Brother Peter Chapman 33rd Degree as leader of the Rose Croix in East Cheshire.

Nigel and Peter are in fact the only two Inspectors General to have held the position in East Cheshire. Previously the District of Cheshire was led by Inspector General, Marsh Edwards, who was so successful in consecrating new chapters that in October 2005 The Supreme Council divided the District into East and West Cheshire.

Whilst Marsh was a Grand Officer in several Masonic Orders his great love was The Ancient and Accepted Rite in which he was fortunate enough to succeed Bro. Denis Kevan as Inspector General for the District of Cheshire, who had passed away suddenly in January 1996 after catching a virus following a holiday in China.

Marsh took to the task of leading his 30 or so chapters in the District of Cheshire with great enthusiasm and dedication. He was always ready to give advice to the chapter recorders and invariably visited all his chapters every 12 months.

Marsh took over the West while Peter Chapman was given the responsibility for the East. This division, although necessary, was unfortunate for Marsh as he had become a victim of his own success. Marsh never forgot the chapters he had relinquished, particularly as he had been made an Honorary Member of most of them. He even found time to visit some of the chapters in the East on special anniversaries or when certain members attained 50 years of service to the Order. Marsh finally relinquished his responsibilities in 2016 when he retired as Inspector General of West Cheshire. He had completed 20 years as an Inspector General, no mean feat!

Peter Chapman led the District of East Cheshire with the gentleness, wit and friendliness which were his defining charactericts for two terms of office from 2005 until 2015 when Nigel Cooper succeeded him.

Sadly, Peter passed away in 2018 and Marsh very recently in 2020, both senior Freemasons having held high office and both held with affection in the collective memory in Cheshire.

But, ever since its foundastion in 1717 Freemasry has, by necessity, been a progressive organisation, always appointing those to leadership who have earned the trust and respect of the members. Those who know Nigel know that he is a Rose Croix Mason through and through having been admitted a member of the Order after just twelve months after his becoming a Master Mason in the Craft and before even joining a Royal Arch Chapter.

Nigel is not only extremely knowledgeble on all matters Rose Croix and a superb ritualist in this Rite he is a Recorder of a London Chapter, a subscribing member of several Chapters and very enthusistic and passionate about this Order.

Since becoming Inspector General for East Cheshire Nigel has steadily brought deliberate change to the District. He has encouraged considrably more intervisiting between Chapters and a focus on friendship and fun.

That is not to say he takes a relaxed view on standards for his motto is "work hard and play hard" and he ensures the Chapters in the District takes this on board. Initiatives such as the travelling toby jug and Demonstration Team have underpinned both the play and work aspects of Chapter life in the District.

Not a micro manager, Nigel prefers to guide, encourage and enthuse the Chapters and members under his leadership to create a positivity which becomes a fertile recruiting ground for new members. A happy membership is naturally a recruiting force in its own right.

Nigel's leadership is being recognised by The Supreme Council who have determined to renew his Patent in October 2020 for a second term of five years. Under normal circumstances a member of The Supreme Council would travel from London to present the Patent in a ceremony carried out in a Chapter in the District attended by a substantial number of Brethren from the Chapters in the District.

Of course this is not currently possible and although celebrations will be necessarily muted the enthusiasm of the District and support for Nigel as its Inspector General will be as strong as ever with eyes on the continuation of the success Nigel has brought.