Deacon's Annual Choosing Dinner ~ Friday 20th September 2019
Deacon John Brown welcomed his guests to his Choosing Dinner.
Deacon John Brown
The Deacon's Choosing Dinner was a resounding success with approximately 154 people present to celebrate the election of John Brown to the highest office in his craft. Deacon John had the Master of the Worshipful Company of Masons of London, Chris Radmore and his wife plus the Master of the Worshipful Company of Tilers and Bricklayers, Leslie May and her husband Malcolm as guests at the dinner.
Prior to the Dinner, Deacon John introduced his top table and guests followed by Collector Grant Macleod saying the Grace prior to enjoying the excellent dinner.
Prior to the Dinner, Deacon John introduced his top table and guests followed by Collector Grant Macleod saying the Grace prior to enjoying the excellent dinner.
Dr. Paul Little toasting the Incorporation of Masons
After the excellent meal and the toast to the Queen the speeches commenced with Dr Paul Little toasting the Incorporation of Masons of Glasgow. During his speech he commented on the excellent manner in which the Incorporation encouraged excellence in the crafts that we look after. He also mentioned the St. Mungo Statue that the Incorporation had funded and was now located in the grounds of City of Glasgow, Cathedral Street, Campus. The two marble busts which the Incorporation had also sponsored were also mentioned and the wonderful new stained glass window which had been designed and manufactured by HNC students of City of Glasgow College and which now adorned the link corridor in Glasgow Royal Infirmary.
Ex Deacon Convenor David Dobson replying to the toast to the Incorporation of Masons.
Ex Deacon Convenor and Past Deacon of the Incorporation of Masons, David Dobson made an excellent reply to the to to the Incorporation of Masons. As always, David's response was humorous and informative and was enjoyed by all present.
The presentation of Awards is always an important part of the Deacon's Choosing Dinner and this year there was 20 awards to be presented. Unfortunately two award winners were unable to attend the dinner. Prizes ranged from £100 to £1000 and some winners also received membership of the Incorporation due to their high levels of commitment to their trade. Each prizewinner received a trophy, medal and a certificate as part of their prize.
The Deacon and Collector of the Incorporation of Coopers singing "Yes we will come back again".
After the prize giving, those present had the pleasure of a visitation from the Incorporation of Coopers. This is an ancient custom and goes back to the days in distant past when the Deacon of another Incorporation checked the books of the one they were visiting. Nowadays all the Incorporations have their accounts audited and the visitation is now a fun part of each dinner where the visiting craft says nice things about those that they are visiting and give low cost gifts as a remembrance of the evening.
As the visitors leave they are obliged to sing a short chorus rom "Will ye no come back again" and the worse singers receive the wooden spoon at the end of the year.
As the visitors leave they are obliged to sing a short chorus rom "Will ye no come back again" and the worse singers receive the wooden spoon at the end of the year.
Major Gavin Queen, Deacon of the Fleshers.
The next toast was to the Trades House of Glasgow and it was delivered by Major Gavin Queen who is also the Deacon of the Fleshers. He made a very impassioned toast focusing on the history of the Trades House and their historical connections. His speech went back to the 1600s and carried on right up to date commenting on the connections that many of the Incorporations have with the military.
The reply to the toast to the Trades House was made as is tradition by Deacon Convenor Tom McInally. Tom reminded all present of the work carried out by the Trades House on the assisting schools and colleges to achieve the maximum for their pupils and students. He also mentioned three essential elements for young people to succeed: Skills, Standards and Social Responsibility and how the Trades House and the Incorporations were assisting in the achievement of these aims.
He noted with a degree of pleasure that the Trades House had been awarded the Lord Provost Award for Charity this year and thanked all who had made this award possible. The Deacon Convenor also mentioned with obvious pleasure that the Incorporation of Maltmen had enrolled their first lady members.
After the Deacon Convenor's speech, Deacon John Brown passed over a cheque for £2000. £1000 came from an anonymous donor of the Incorporation of Masons and the other £1000 was from the Incorporation of Masons. All the money was for Kinship Care.
He noted with a degree of pleasure that the Trades House had been awarded the Lord Provost Award for Charity this year and thanked all who had made this award possible. The Deacon Convenor also mentioned with obvious pleasure that the Incorporation of Maltmen had enrolled their first lady members.
After the Deacon Convenor's speech, Deacon John Brown passed over a cheque for £2000. £1000 came from an anonymous donor of the Incorporation of Masons and the other £1000 was from the Incorporation of Masons. All the money was for Kinship Care.
The next piece of entertainment was to be another visitation and this time from the Incorporation of Wrights. Past Deacon Gordon Weetch escorted the Deacon of the Wrights into the hall holding pinkies. The tradition is that both parties should link right pinky to right pinky as this would prevent either party drawing a weapon and injuring the other.
As normal pleasantries and gifts were exchanged with the Deacon of the Wrights passing over a Bob the Builder hard hat and tools, an Idiots Guide to Building , Safety Glasses with wipers and a bottle of whisky. Deacon john Brown replied in like with similar amusing gifts before the Wrights moved to the piano to sing "Yes we will come back again".
As normal pleasantries and gifts were exchanged with the Deacon of the Wrights passing over a Bob the Builder hard hat and tools, an Idiots Guide to Building , Safety Glasses with wipers and a bottle of whisky. Deacon john Brown replied in like with similar amusing gifts before the Wrights moved to the piano to sing "Yes we will come back again".
Past Deacon Gordon Weetch, toasting the new Deacon.
As is traditional in the Incorporation of Masons, the Late Deacon toasted Deacon John Brown commenting on how he and the Master Court believed he would make an excellent Deacon and outlining his attributes.
Deacon John replied and also thanked all who had made the evening possible.
Past Deacon Ian Macpherson was the most senior Deacon present, but as he was attending as the Visitor of the Maltmen, Past Deacon Jack Steel "Rapped the Shed" prior to the singing of Auld Lang Syne.
The musicians for the evening had been:
Past Deacon Liam Devlin of the Incorporation of Cordiners and the Piper was Past Deacon Iain Smith of the Incorporation of Masons.
Deacon John replied and also thanked all who had made the evening possible.
Past Deacon Ian Macpherson was the most senior Deacon present, but as he was attending as the Visitor of the Maltmen, Past Deacon Jack Steel "Rapped the Shed" prior to the singing of Auld Lang Syne.
The musicians for the evening had been:
Past Deacon Liam Devlin of the Incorporation of Cordiners and the Piper was Past Deacon Iain Smith of the Incorporation of Masons.
Below is a selection of photographs taken at the Choosing Dinner.