White Rose Conclave No.120 (Red Cross) Additional Meeting, 30th September 2025

Following on from the 150^th celebration meeting in June, when 2 candidates were put forward, White Rose held an additional meeting so that the newcomers would be installed as knights ready to attend the Divisional celebrations in October. There were 11 subscribing members, and all were present, as well as 3 of our 4 honorary members (the 4^th cannot leave his nursing home). How many Masonic units these days have a 100% attendance of members who are able to travel to the meetings? All 14 had jobs to perform, no multi-tasking, and none of the visitors were pressed into service.

The candidates Karl Ryalls and Abdul Mughal came in separately for the first part of the ceremony, and then did everything else together. The honorary members had important pieces to undertake: IG Keith Tolan for the accolade, Past IG Tony Llewellyn for the signs and grips, and Past Deputy IG Paul Clarke for the oration. The other 11 worked well as a team and it was an enjoyable ceremony to be participating in, with Viceroy David Hayes investing the candidates with their Red Cross regalia, while Sovereign Richard Johnson delivered some thoughts on the watchwords of the order at the end. And most importantly, Karl and Abdul were listening intently to what was being presented to them, and at the end they both had large smiles on their faces.

And afterwards there was a 3-course meal and wine to be enjoyed, and then everyone departed – with those travelling some distances being keen to find out what motorway problems were in store for them on the way home– some had encountered difficulties in their journeys to the meeting.

Altogether it has been a busy 11 months for the conclave since the enthronement meeting last October, when we decided to have photographs on the main staircase in Tapton Hall.

The next Red Cross meeting at Tapton Hall is on 22^nd October and will be the Division celebrating its 150 years since it was formed in 1875 – watch this website!