The 28th November 2025 once again saw the Provincial Officers of the Province make their way to Hutton Masonic Centre for the annual Mess.

In attendance, the Provincial Grand Master R.W.Bro. John Finlay, the Deputy Provincial Grand Master V.W.Bro. Richard Goodwin as well as both Assistant Provincial Grand Masters and the whole Provincial Executive together with the Mess President W.Bro. Paul Thurgood and last year’s President, W.Bro. Andrew Hurrel.
As is the normal at this event the Senior & Junior Wardens of the Province together with the nomination for Grand Steward are announced by the Provincial Grand Master.  Sadly for some, their bets on whom will be announced as the recipients of these awards will not give them the bragging-rights of “I told you so!” but nonetheless, those proudly ordering the new regalia of their Offices will be most worthy recipients.  But that happened later in the Festivities.

Firstly, the Brethren began to arrive at the Centre which began to fill with the 95 Brothers booked in to the event, chatting in the manner of the Mark degree, friendly, happily & and in anticipation of the agenda of the evening amongst friends.

At 7.30pm the Brethren took their places and dinner was served, readily consumed with the air thick with laughter and friendly banter particularly when the wandering photographers arrived at the tables which peculiarly made those in focus adjust ties, straighten collars and ask “get my best side please”, a plea not always heard, or able to be made by the trusty snappers as they went about their task with consummate professionalism!  

The dinner being very well received and as usual the centre staff looking after us with their usual attention to detail, an interspersing of toasts breaking chatter as respect was paid to due merit.

Speaking of merit, whence tables were cleared the speeches began.

Firstly, the previous Mess President W.Bro. Andrew Hurrel paying tribute to the present incumbent President W.Bro. Paul Thurgood, a heartfelt tribute to his position in Office he has held with dignity throughout the year.

A moment then taken by  Paul  as he responded to his predecessor and addressed the assembly with an often humorous and sometimes funny account of the events leading up to his appointment and his approach to his year.  The moral of his story being that even with a car full of fellow Masons, when the Prov.G.M calls, best to maintain the momentum of your ‘Masonic Career’; and answer the phone on the first, not the third attempt.  

Still, all’s well that ends well, eh?

On a serious note, well done Paul on your year in Office, it was clear those attending held you in high esteem.

At this point, the Provincial Grand Master rose and addressed the assembly.

Before he named those Brethren recipients of High Office he spoke candidly and with obvious pride at the charitable achievements of the Province in raising donations in excess of the expectations set.

Those in the Province that had gone beyond those expectations like James Drury, whose Scottish Lochs paddle was well documented each paddle-stroke and mosquito-swipe of the way, made even more remarkable as James is a non-swimmer, simply courageous.

Mark Turners Five Peaks climbs, a stunning achievement that also raised considerable sums of money for the Festival.

The Keystone Flyers – those intrepid souls who undertook the zipwire challenge in North Wales, wives also who stepped up and flew down the wires for good causes.

And it didn’t end there, the many events planned, executed and still yet to happen bear testimony to the fine work undertaken by the Festival2030 Committee led by its’ Chairman, V.W.Bro. Richard Goodwin.

Next year sees the first parachute jump for the Festival, one plane of 10 already filled, the second plane still has vacancies, I gather at least one the executive’s wives has volunteered, any more out there?  All nominations gratefully received!

At this point, the Prov.G.M went on to name those worthy Brethren appointed to the High Offices.

The Provincial Senior Warden for 2025/26 is W. Bro. Andy Sylvester.  Andy is currently the Provincial Assistant Grand Secretary and, as the Prov.G.M. states, he is the veritable ‘stick of Provincial rock’, the success of our wonderful order being uppermost in  Andy’s application to his role.

The Provincial Junior Warden for 2025/26 is W. Bro. Steve McConnell. Steve is a very dedicated Essex Mark Man who has been readily active, involved and very successful in ensuring the Province enjoys good representation on its travels to ‘foreign climes’ as Essex visits other Provinces.  Steve has been very active in Mark Awareness events around the Province.

The nomination for Grand Steward was awarded to W.Bro. Chris Smith.  Chris is the driving force behind the Essex Mark Shop, an initiative that is focussed on raising funds for the Province as all kinds of regalia and paraphernalia is sold onward to not just Essex Mark Men, but those far and wide as well, a strong online presence is now established under Chris’s tenure which has been a resounding success.
Brethren, I know you will join me in wishing these worthy recipients’ great success in Office in the year ahead, well done to you all!

The Prov.G.M. completed his address with thanks to all those that had made the Province of Essex not just so successful, but the spirit of Mark Masonry the embodiment of everything we do is so readily prevalent.

What a fine year, what a fine Province.

Brethren, the curtain was drawn on another Officers Mess and one that is another staging point on the calendar of our Province marking and paying respect to due merit and distinction.

Your author had a wonderful time in good company, objectives clearly achieved Brethren.

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Published 03/12/25