So - in answer to the Picture for the Day (below) - Bob Williams - a colleague poster replied:
"Stéphane Grappelli used to tell a story about when the Quintette du Hot Club de France was booked to play at a dance for a naturist club. They duly stripped off but when the curtains opened they saw that everyone else was fully clothed. They carried on and played the gig. But it is worth remembering that the guitarists were seated with guitars on their laps, the bass player was standing behind his bass, but the violinist..."
A bit of a marathon today - Red Cross Of Constantine down in Bridgend with the Appendant Orders, though luckily a non - speaking part as torch Bearer, followed by Allied Masonic Degrees this evening and a rehearsal for St Teilo ...
2nd degree tracing board tomorrow - but if the weather holds will have to try and get some of the rubbish taken up to the dump !!
Meanwhile two elder statesmen of the Masonic Orders have passed recently - I found myself writing the following short eulogies for W Brother Geoffrey Steele, and W Brother Roy Roberts.
Eulogies (by Ill
Knight Iain Sewell )
Roy Roberts
It was with sadness that we all
received news yesterday of the passing of Roy (RDR) Roberts. He had been in
failing health over the last couple of years but had devoted a large part of
his years to Masonry and was a faithful and active member of this Conclave.
He received Grand honours in
Mark, Knight’s Templar, and Royal Ark Mariners.
He joined the Red Cross of
Constantine rather later than many of his degrees, becoming a member of Maurice
in 2002 and served in the Chair in 2009 and 2010. He was always willing to work
hard and support in this degree. He received recognition as Divisional Herald
and P Div G Almoner in 2013. He was always willing to assist in Ceremonial and
ritual.
Geoffrey Steele
Since our last meeting we have
sadly lost one of our Elder Statesmen – A gentleman, a prolific Mason and a
loyal member of this Conclave, the Order and Masonry in general…
There are those here who
probably knew Geoff Steele better than I – I first really got to know him when
it was decided to Found this Conclave here in Carmarthen
in 1997
He was always kind, helpful and of good humour.
However I soon found that as I
joined many other orders, Geoff Steele was always there, always supporting, and
usually one of the senior members of the Lodge, Chapter, Preceptory, or
Conclave…
He was initiated into the Bute
Lodge No. 960 in Cardiff
on the 7th March 1954 – which incidentally was 3 weeks after I was born and
attained the Chair in 1983.
In this Order he was a member of
Aberteifi, Dewi Sant, Maurice and Brenhinoedd de Cymru achieving Past Grand
Prefect in 1994, PG Chamberlain in 1999 and PG High Chancellor in 2005.
He achieved Grand Rank or
Equivalent in Knight’s Templar, Secret
Monitor, Royal & Select Masters Royal Ark Mariner and Allied Masonic
Degrees, and he was member of many
lodges across Wales .
He was born in June 1922 and my
knowledge is only in Freemasonry, but following his death I have heard tales of
his exploits in the war, when he was parachuted behind enemy lines in Yugoslavia to
fight with Marshall Tito’s Partisans as a member of Special Operations. Typical
of the man that he never spoke of such matters.
He became a Brewery
Representative for Hancocks Brewery at one time the largest Brewery in Wales and enjoyed
more than a pint himself. He said every pint was a contribution to his pension
fund.
Knights Roy Roberts and Geoffrey
Steele can be truly said to have lived respected and died regretted.
May light perpetual shine upon them ...
A glass of Chateau 41 is called for...
Cheers
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