2nd April 2020 - Knockouts

Thought for the day :"the invention of the shovel really was groundbreaking."

LINK JOHNS HOPKINS

Daily Trumpton....

Donald Trump met with the Queen of England, and he asked her, "Your Majesty, how do you run such an efficient government? Are there any tips you can give me?"

"Well," replied the Queen, "the most important thing is to surround yourself with intelligent people."

Trump frowned, and then asked, "But how do I know the people around you are really intelligent?"

The Queen took a sip of tea. "Oh, that's easy; you just ask them to answer an intelligent riddle."

The Queen pushed a button on her intercom. "Please send Boris Johnson in here, would you?"

The Prime Minster walked into the room and said, "Yes, Your Majesty?"

The Queen smiled and said, "Answer me this, if you would, Boris. Your mother and father have a child. It is not your brother and it is not your sister. Who is it?"

Without pausing for a moment, he answered, "That would be me."

"Yes! Very good," said the Queen.

Trump went back home to ask Mike Pence the same question. “ Mike, answer this for me. Your mother and your father have a child. It's not your brother and it's not your sister. Who is it?"

"I'm not sure," said Pence. "Let me get back to you on that one." He went to his advisers and asked everyone, but none could give him an answer.

Finally, Pence ran in to his friend Jack Murphy in a restaurant the next night. Pence asked, "Jack, can you answer this for me? Your mother and father have a child and it's not your brother or your sister. Who is it?"

Jack Murphy answered right back, "That's easy, it's me!"

Pence smiled, and said, "Thanks!"

Pence then went back to speak with Trump. "Say, I did some research and I have the answer to that riddle: It's my friend Jack Murphy!"

Trump got up, stomped over to Pence, and angrily yelled, "No, you idiot! It's Boris Johnson!"

In other news....

Another thought about the virus .... science!!

And of course theology ...

So we all need to have a hobby - Susie's is Gardening...

Some more time spent on the "It's a Knockout" Galleries for the 1990's page on Facebook.
Doing a few galleries each day and posting to Llanelli Unseen - seems to be bringing back some fun memories...

So young we were...

Cheers !! And from the days when we went to Restaurants !!!

History of the Scarlet Cord West Wales - Llanelli 24 TI

Llanelli Consistory

The Consistory was Consecrated as The Scarlet Cord Conclave of Llanelli No. 547 on the 3rd December 2009, commencing at 15:00, at the Llanelli Masonic Hall, Carmarthenshire, by Right Worthy Brother Paul L. Botfield, Provincial Grand Supreme Ruler for South Wales and Monmouthshire.
He was assisted by Very Worthy Brother Lyndon W. Hughson, Deputy P.G.S.R., West Wales, as Installing Officer and Officers of the Provincial Grand Conclave of South Wales and Monmouthshire.


There were 26 Petitioners, 20 of whom were present and a further 12 Visiting Brethren.

Following the Consecration, Right Worthy Brother D. Nigel Adams, Provincial Grand Supreme Ruler for West Wales was Installed as the first Supreme Ruler and he proceeded to appoint and invest those of his Officers who were present.

The Consecrating Officer and his principal Assisting Officers were elected as Honorary Members.

The First Regular Meeting as The Scarlet Cord Conclave of Llanelli No. 547 was held at the Masonic Hall Carmarthen on Monday 5th July 2020.
Two Joining Members were elected – Rev. John Keith Davies & Elwyn Michael Evans.
Very Worthy Brother Lyndon W. Hughson was elected as Supreme Ruler, Worthy Brother Norman R. Leah was elected as Treasurer.
The Conclave was adjourned and a Consistory of the Ancient and Masonic Order of the Scarlet Cord was opened; two Brethren were admitted to the First Grade – E. Michael Evans & Timothy L. Mable;
19 Brethren were admitted to the Second Grade and then admitted to the Third Grade. Iain Sewell, Peter C.S. Cavender, Sidney F. Clench, Norman R. Leah, Harry B. Sidall, Liam S. O’Connor, John F. Phillips, Alan Beavan, Maurice T.L. Rees, Michael M. Cross, Geoffrey Hall, Berwyn C. Jones, J. Gareth Lucas, George F. Manning, D.C. Wyn Thomas, Ian L. Davies, Gerald S. Mabbett, E. Michael Evans & Timothy L. Mable
The Consistory was closed and the Conclave was resumed.

The next regular meeting was held as The Llanelli Consistory No. 24 T.I. at the Masonic Hall Llanelli, on Thursday 2nd December 2010
Revisions to the By-Laws were approved, the Treasurer presented the Accounts and Distinguished Companion Lyndon W. Hughson was Installed as President.

Meetings of the Llanelli Consistory have since proceeded regularly on the First Thursday of September and First Thursday of December (Installation) at the Masonic Hall, Llanelli.

We have had many distinguished Companions and the close link between West Wales and South Wales thrives to this day - with most meetings having visitors from both Provinces particularly support from Keith Ferguson and his deputy Alun who rarely miss any of our meetings..

With Thanks to Graham Gubb - current Recorder fr providing the information  

Iain Sewell : Provincial DC (West Wales) - Grand Standard Bearer

History of the Scarlet Cord West Wales - Aberystwyth 25 TI

Aberystwyth Consistory  

Seems I have been delegated to put a few words together for the History of Abersytwyth Consistory No 25 TI - Thank you to Christopher Samuel our hard working Provincial Recorder for sidestepping this one.... But I am an Honorary Member in Aberystwyth so here goes...

Following on from the Consecration of Llanelli 24 TI in December 2009, and with the news that three Consistories were required to form a Province there was little doubt in anyone's mind that Aberystwyth would follow quickly, and sure enough, a month later on Saturday 9th January 2010, the Scarlet Cord Conclave No 548 was Consecrated.

Sadly, I do not have access to the records for the Consecration meeting itself, the current recorder (David Joyce) not being on Social Media but busy with his new Senior Job in the Operatives. However, I recall that I was part of the Consecration Team and as such became an honorary member and the minutes Records show that Lyndon Hughson was Primus Master.

Aberystwyth was an obvious choice as the Province is geographically very spread, the travelling distance from Llanelli to Aberstwyth (the two ends of the Province) being an hour and 5O minutes on a good day without tractors.

But it was also the Home of Dr John Benjamin Lloyd, who was a powerhouse in Craft, Chapter and so many Orders, and local to Provincial Grand Supreme Ruler Nigel Adams and his Successor Lyndon Hughson as well as many other senior Welsh Masons...

The only problem with Aberystwyth for many is finding the Hall - which is carefully concealed in open view in Market Street

But back to the Conclave...
My first record is of the meeting held in Febrauary 2010, when the Conclave 548 was held with Lyndon Hughson in the Chair, and the minutes show:

There were present at this Regular Meeting the following Members of the Conclave:

17 members of the Conclave accompanied V. Wy Bro Lyndon Hughson, Supreme Ruler, as follows:
R. Wy Bro. D. Nigel Adams, Provincial Grand Supreme Ruler,
R. Wy Bros Dr John B. Lloyd, George Gardner, V. Wy Bro. Rev’d D. Brian Thomas, Wy Bros. George Brown, Sidney Clench, Robert Davies, David Morgan, Christopher Samuel, Ian Sewell (Hon. Member), Harry Siddall, Robert Williams, Bros Rev’d J. Keith Davies (Hon. Member), David Griffiths, Dr Graham Housam, T. Iwan B. Jenkins, and Graham Thomas.

10 Visitors signed the register.

RW Bro Dr John Benjamin Lloyd was elected as Supreme Ruler for the ensuing year.

The Conclave was adjourned ..

Dr John acted as Director of Ceremonies for the 1st Grade Ceremony, and remained as DC as well as Provincial DC until his sad death. Even when President he preferred to do the active duties of DC for the grades.

RW Bro Nigel Adams gave the explanations and signs as Summus.

The July Meeting saw more members being admitted at a special meeting just prior to the inauguration of the Scarlet Cord on the 21st July.

Aberystwyth Consistory continues in strength meeting in February and Installation in September...

(Iain Sewell : Provincial GDC - Grand Standard Bearer)

History of the Scarlet Cord West Wales - Pembroke Dock 27 TI

Pembroke Dock Consistory 

 The formation of Pembroke Consisitory was hugely important for West wales as it qualified our Provincial Grand Supreme Ruler Nigel Adams to apply to be formed into the Province of West Wales in the Order of the Scarlet Cord.

Sadly, the information relating to the early history of the formation of the Conclave and Consistory are very limited.
Our first Provincial Recorder, who also did most of the active work in acting as consecrating recorder, Ian Jenkins, sadly passed away with much of the documentation, including early minutes and copies of summons being locked in a computer that was never able to be opened.....

As a result we have to work from the memories of those involved, and though it is only 10 years ago, it is sad to say that the membership reflect how hugely active most of our members have been in many Orders, and memories fade..

Consecration :
However, we know that on 23rd January 2010, only seven weeks after Llanelli was formed, the Scarlet Cord Conclave of Pembroke No 551 was consecrated, and once again, as a member of the Consecrating Team I found myself again an Honorary member.

The consecration was conducted by the Provincial Grand Supreme Ruler Nigel Adams, assisted by his Deputy Lyndon Hughson (who afterwards succeeded him as PGSR and was his deputy in the newly formed Scarlet Cord Province)

Unusually, Dr John Benjamin Lloyd did not take the role of Consecrating DC, as he was the Primus Supreme Ruler, and Wy Br Jim Doyle ensured that the Ceremonial went without hitch. Other members of the founding team included V Wy Rev Brian Thomas, Wy Br Howard Thomas, Current Provincial Grand Summus, Gareth Owen, Iwan Jenkins

Doctor John Lloyd invested Lionel Clarke Hughes (Current Deputy PGM for the Craft in West Wales) as Counsellor and Denzil Bartlett, (current PGSR for West Wales Secret Monitor) was the Director of Ceremonies.

Interestingly - the Consistory from its formation, decided to meet at two locations, Pembroke Dock and Fishguard Masonic Halls .. the Geography of West Wales has alwasy been challenging, and the two Halls are 30 miles apart with a travelling time of 40 minutes. Scarlet Cord meetings are always associated with the Secret Monitor meetings at these two locations, Dyfed Conclave 233 at Fishguard and Strongbow Conclave 517 at Pembroke Dock.

 Fishguard Masonic Hall is an impressive building looking out towards the Harbour...

Pembroke Dock Masonic Hall was custom built as a Masonic Hall in 1905 at the cost of £1,500 raised by the members.

The lodge is a unique architectural gem, with only two similar lodges in existence, one in Hong Kong and the other in Singapore. It has a unique square temple flooring with an Octagonal Ceiling still showing the scars of the war - where strafing bullets or shrapnel (dependent upon version) can be clearly seen in the painted ceiling of the temple.

(Photos Martin Cavaney Photography)

Bullet or Shrapnel in the Ceiling

The Summons for the meeting on 23rd June 2010 shows that Dr John installed Lionel Clark Hughes as Supreme Ruler of the Conclave and that a Consistory of the Ancient Order of the Scarlet Cord was opened and Lionel was proclaimed President for the ensuing year.

Pembroke Dock Consistory continues to meet 4th Wed March (Pembroke Dock) and June (Installation Fishguard)

So finally West Wales had the required 3 consistories

Travelling times in this Province are as follows:

Aberystwyth - Llanelli - 58 Miles 1 Hour 50
Aberystwyth - Fishguard - 57 miles 1 hour 40
Aberystwyth - Pembroke Dock - 78 Miles - 2 Hours 10
Fishguard - Pembroke Dock - 30 miles - 40 minutes
Fishguard - Llanelli - 59 miles - 1 hour 20
Pembroke Dock - Llanelli - 47 miles - 1 Hour 5

Considering the distances - all Consistory meetings are very well supported by members and visitors ...

Hope you enjoyed these brief histories of the Province of West Wales
iain Sewell Provincial DC, & Grand Standard Bearer

1st April 2020 - Not an April Fool

Thought for the day :"Out of all the inventions since the dawn of time, it's the wheel that really got things rolling."

White Rabbits !!

So, 1st April and April Fool's days - I wonder where that apostrophe should really go - is it about a single fool or is everyone a fool - hmm

UGLE pulled one out ...

Here are a couple I also found

Marmite clear - you either love it or hate it  - I can't see it myself !

Yummy !!!

New Perfume - smells of flame grill - very butch !!!

But for our family - it is a Happy Christmas Day ...

In real world stuff - found this up to date link -

There is a link here to an interesting site for statistics at the moment
LINK JOHNS HOPKINS

Apparently there was a burglary in New Road last night sometime after midnight - PCSO's have been around this morning with leaflets abotu security - a great pity that the shut down is leading to a differnet crime experience - we have been so lax for so many years ...  I remember that we drove off for a weekend once leaving the fornt door oopen accidentally. The postman shut it after two days !!

Checked the house this morning and the garage and the Bothy - all secure ...


Cheers !!
And today's Card is....