On a balmy, summer’s night on Monday 5th June 2023, at Cole Court in Twickenham, an intriguing spectacle unfolded under the auspices of Grosvenor Lodge of Royal Ark Mariners. The hallowed halls reverberated with the resonant words of the Double Elevation Ceremony held especially for Brothers Leon Hubbard and Andrew Elliott.

In a remarkable twist of events, an Extraordinary Meeting was urgently convened by the resolute W.Bro Peter Hyde. The aim? To bestow the Elevation upon our two honorees who, due to circumstances beyond their control, would be absent from the grand Elevation Ceremony set for Thursday 8th June.

A sprinkle of regular members found themselves missing from this exclusive gathering, much to their regret. Nevertheless, the Ceremony, conducted with nothing less than excellent precision and proficiency by the venerable Worshipful Commander W.Bro Marcus Padman, was far from diminished. His efforts were amplified by the admirable commitment of short notice stand-ins and esteemed guests VW.Bro John Billett and W.Bro John Avery, who dutifully fulfilled their roles as Senior and Junior Deacons. W.Bro Gary Raggett stepped in gracefully as the Junior Warden, a testament to the unity of the Lodge.

The camaraderie didn’t end there; the Lodge’s very own W.Bro Bill Brodie donned the mantle of Senior Warden, while the versatile Bro Gwyn Evans multitasked as both Chaplain and Guardian. Meanwhile, the unflappable Bro David North served as the Warder, and W.Bro Peter Hyde embodied both the roles of Scribe and Almoner.

Executed with sincere gravitas, the Ceremony captivated all attendees and was appreciated deeply. Our Worshipful Commander extended heartfelt gratitude towards the quintet of members and trio of guests who stepped up, contributing to an uplifting Elevation Ceremony. Their efforts certainly struck a chord with the awed Brothers Leon and Andrew.

The evening, however, had a surprise in store. With the Extraordinary Meeting called at such short notice and the TDMC engaged in several meetings concurrently, there was a minor hitch – no rooms were available for a Festive Board! Yet, in the true spirit of camaraderie and improvisation, the Brethren headed off to the lively Twickenham Tandoori. Over steaming plates of delectable curry, the night came alive with heartfelt laughter, high spirits, and the warmth of brotherly fellowship.