On Thursday, 22nd October, Bro. Alexander Laurie Birchley, a member of Earl of Euston Conclave No. 7, was admitted to the 1st Grade of our Order. The ceremony was ably led in an exemplary manner by the President, Dist. Comp. Hosey Davoudian, Prov.G.Lect. Following the ceremony, the Provincial Grand Summus welcomed Bro. Birchley into the Order and the Province, providing an explanation of the regalia worn across the various Grades, as well as at Provincial and Grand Rank.

The meeting also marked the annual election, during which Em. Comp. David John Frederick Rawlins, Past PGM for the Mark Degree in Warwickshire, was elected as President for the ensuing year to great acclaim.

The Conclave was honoured by the presence of a distinguished delegation, including:

• R. Dist. Comp. Andrew Christopher Sweeney, Supreme Ruler of the Order of the Secret Monitor and Past Grand Summus;
• R. Dist. Comp. Paul Mycock, 1st GMM and Head of Operative Masons;
• Dist. Comp. Dennis Andrew Freshwater, Provincial Grand Supreme Ruler of the OSM for Warwickshire;
• Dist. Comp. Joseph P. A. McCollum, District Grand Prefect for the Allied Masonic Degrees, West Midlands; and
• R. Dist. Comp. John Stafford Stevens, Past Provincial Grand Summus for the Midland Counties.

Their presence provided a wonderful show of support to welcome Comp. Alexander Laurie Birchley into our ranks.

During the meeting, the Provincial Grand Summus highlighted that this was the first official outing for Dist. Comp. Gavin John Cumberland as Assistant Provincial Grand Summus for the Midland Counties, and Dist. Comp. Simon David Evans as Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies. Special recognition was also given to R. Dist. Comp. Paul Mycock, who received his 6th Grade in our Order earlier this year.

It was, quite truly, a memorable night.