Special Meeting to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II

Special Meeting on 7^th June 2012

to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Elizabeth II

When Lodge Greenock Kilwinning No XII met for the first time on 27^th December 1728, King George II was on the throne and No XII has seen another 9 monarchs reign, including Queen Elizabeth II.  The Lodge held a special meeting to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee and its home, The Saloon of the Town Hall, was packed with members and visiting dignitaries including the Provincial Grand Masters of Renfrewshire West, Bro James W Miller, Glasgow, Bro Alasdair Henderson and Ayrshire Bro Archie Chalmers and the Substitute Provincial Grand Master of Renfrewshire East, Bro Iain McPhee. Many other commissioned and non-commissioned Provincial office bearers were in attendance.    Bro Ken MacDougall Past Master was in the Chair because our RWM, Bro Bob Bain, was in Florida on a well deserved holiday after the rigours of a busy session.  Unfortunately, the date for the meeting was arranged after Bob’s holiday was booked.  However, he sent a most appropriate message of apology which Bro Ken read out.  The brethren were delighted to be joined by the Lord Lieutenant of Renfrewshire, Guy Clark, Cllr Robert Moran, Provost of Inverclyde, and Deputy Provost Bro David Wilson who is Treasurer of Lodge Sir Michael No 989 in Kilmacolm.


The Lord Lieutenant, Guy Clark delivered a most interesting an amusing talk about his role as Her Majesty’s representative in the county.  This was greatly appreciated by all those in attendance.  Guy is a member of the Shaw-Stewart family, his mother having been the daughter of Sir Walter Guy Shaw-Stewart.  The Shaw-Stewart family has had a long association with No XII and this was reflected in a paper presented by Past Master Bro Iain White.










The Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master of Renfrewshire West, Bro James W Miller, also spoke, providing some interesting information about the Shaw-Stewarts and their involvement in Freemasonry in the Province, in particular their lengthy periods of service as Provincial Grand Masters.  The last Shaw-Stewart to be Provincial Grand Master was Guy’s grandfather who passed to the Grand Lodge Above in 1967.

No XII had sent a message of congratulations to Her Majesty and the following reply from Christopher Sandamas, the Chief Clerk to The Queen, was read out by the Lord Lieutenant

Dear Mr MacDougall

The Queen has asked me to thank you, the Right Worshipful Master and brethren of the Lodge Greenock Kilwinning No XII for your kind letter containing a message of loyal greetings to Her Majesty, sent on the occasion of the Sixtieth Anniversary of The Queen’s Accession to the Throne.

Her Majesty was interested to learn that you will be holding a special meeting on 7^th June to mark the Diamond Jubilee and sends her best wishes to all concerned for a most memorable and enjoyable event.

Yours sincerely,

Christopher Sandamas





During the course of the evening, Bro Alan D Beck WSW sang patriotic songs - I Vow to Thee my Country, Rule Britannia and Land of Hope and Glory - accompanied by Ian McCrorie on piano.  The evening concluded with two verses of the National Anthem and three hearty cheers for Her Majesty.

After the meeting, most of the brethren waited behind for a blether, fuelled by a cup of Jim Adams’s world-famous tea and a nibble on Alan Beck’s gourmet meat pies – a supper fit for a Queen!


From Left: Ian McCrorie Alan Beck WSW  Alistair Henderson (RWPGM Glasgow) Iain White PM  Guy Clark (Lord Lieutenant)  James W Miller (RWPGM Renfrewshire West)  Kenneth C MacDougall PM   Provost Robert Moran  Depute Provost Bro David Wilson Archie Chalmers (PGM Ayrshire)