Friday 12.07.2024 was a most auspicious and historical milestone for Mark/RAM Masonry in South Africa in general and for Cape Town and the District of S.A. Western Division in particular, when the Pro G.M., M.W.Bro. John H Prizeman, accompanied by no less than four Mark/RAM Grand Officers, who are also Heads of various Orders based at Mark Masons Hall, London, namely R.W.Bro. Paul R. Clement P.Prov.GM,  R.W.Bro. Kessick Jones PGSW,  R.W.Bro. Thomas F. Jackson PGSW  and R.W.Bro. Andrew C. Sweeney PGSW, came to Cape Town, South Africa.

(Unfortunately R.W.Bro. Graham L. Flight PGJW was only able to join the Delegation as from Sunday 14.07.2024).

We were most honoured and privileged to have experienced this important and impressive array of active Grand Officers and Heads of other Orders from London, accompanying the Pro G.M.

On Saturday 13.07.2024 W.Bro. Hilton Oates, the Deputy in Charge and DGM Designate, was most impressively invested and installed as the 21st DGM of S.A. Western Division in the Pinelands Masonic Centre, Cape Town by M.W.Bro. John H. Prizeman Pro G.M. assisted by the other four Grand Officers present from London.

This was then followed by the 126th Annual Meeting of the District Grand Lodge of the Mark/RAM of S.A. Western Division, when the R.W. DGM invested W.Bro. Desmond M. Buckingham as Deputy DGM, followed by W.Bro. Haiko Ruperti-Campbell as Assistant DGM, as well as the remainder of his District Grand Officers.

Also in attendance were the DGM’s and their accompanying Delegations from the other S.A. Districts and a large array of Representatives from the Irish, Scottish and South African Constitutions, as well as numerous further visitors from local Lodges and further afield.

The Ceremony was then followed by a formal and very successful Luncheon, attended by more than 60 Brethren.

A full supporting programme, including some of the other Orders, had been arranged for the esteemed Delegation from London, covering the entire period from Friday 12th till Monday 15th inclusive, after which they proceeded up North to Johannesburg.

(The only flaw, one we had no control over, was the mostly adverse weather conditions during their stay, although on Monday 15th we did manage to prove that Cape Town can also be gloriously sunny in our Winter!).

Haiko Ruperti-Campbell.