Thistle & Rose Royal Arch get their Banner
At the summer committee meeting of 2022, Scribe E Comp. Stephen Seward raised the idea of having a Chapter banner manufactured. Members agreed it was a good idea, and Steve was delegated to oversee the project.
After submitting an initial design and receiving a quotation, the proposal was put to the membership for their views. A first draft was then submitted to Supreme Grand Chapter (SGC) in London for approval.
Three months later, SGC responded with requirements for changes. A second draft was prepared and submitted, followed by another three-month wait and further feedback, including a complete change of colours. A third draft was then sent and, at last, approved.
Entrusting the Work
The manufacture of the banner was entrusted to Mrs. Heather Everett of South Molton, North Devon. Heather, who runs her business from her cottage on the edge of Exmoor, began banner-making by chance.
After completing her degree in Art & Design at Manchester University, which included embroidery, she was introduced to a local lodge in Devon that needed a banner. Her work impressed them, word spread, and since then she has produced banners for lodges and chapters across the country and beyond. At the time of our visit, she had even been asked to quote for a banner in Cairo.
A Visit to the Workshop
In July 2023, while on holiday in North Devon, I visited Heather at her cottage workshop. She welcomed us warmly and showed the banner in its early stage of manufacture.
Although unfinished, she explained the materials to be used and invited me to select the preferred shades of colour. She also shared photographs of her past commissions, showcasing her work for lodges and chapters across the country.
Dedication of the Banner
On 9 April 2024, a full Provincial team led by the Most Excellent Grand Superintendent, E Comp. Jim Boughton, came to Corby to dedicate the new Chapter banner.
The dedication was performed by the Three Provincial Grand Principals, assisted by the Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies and a number of Thistle & Rose Companions. More than eighty E Companions and Companions were in attendance.
The evening concluded with a happy and friendly festive board, marking a proud and historic occasion for Thistle & Rose Chapter No. 6644.
