A Toast to our Visitors

A Toast to our Visitors
We were honoured at our July Meeting with a visit of the Supreme Ruler of the Port Phillip Conclave and in particular by two visitors from the United Kingdom. Let me introduce:
Worthy Bro Alec Eccles P Prov G ADC
Worthy Bro. Malcolm Eccles P Prov G G
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th are Provincial Officers in the Province of West Lancashire. However their Conclave actually meets in Cumbria, held in the Market town of Whitehaven.
Both are past Supreme Rulers and founders of ‘West Cumberland’ Conclave, No.418. Malcolm was Supreme Ruler in 2001 and Alec in 2008. Alec is also a member of ‘Castlerigg Conclave’ No.363, this Conclave holds its meetings in Keswick, Cumbria.
Alec is Malcolm’s father and was visiting Australia for an extended three month holiday. His visit to Kurana Conclave was his first overseas Secret Monitor visit. He is the secretary of both Secret Monitor Conclaves in Cumbria, Castlerigg Conclave No.363 and West Cumberland Conclave No.418.
Malcolm lives and works in Victoria. He is the Chief Executive Officer of Basslink Pty Ltd and Basslink Telecoms Pty Ltd, based in Melbourne CBD. He lives in Berwick with his wife Sharon. He came to Australia in 2005 and has spent the last 5 years being rather busy establishing both the power and telecoms businesses. However he is now looking forward increasing his Masonic visits in Victoria, perhaps even becoming a joining member of some lodges.
Their craft lodge is ‘The Cumbria Lodge’ No.6643, in the province of Cumberland and Westmorland.
An interesting fact is that Malcolm installed his father into their Craft Lodge Chair. Not many son’s actually get to install their father. Malcolm was WM of ‘The Cumbria Lodge’ No.6643 in 2000 and Alec in 2001. Alec proposed Malcolm as a member of The Cumbria Lodge when he was 23 in 1993.
Both are dedicated and very experienced Masons, a look at their credentials demonstrates this;
Alec holds provincial rank in the Craft, Secret Monitor, and Mark and has just been awarded Provincial rank in the Allied. He is currently secretary of six different lodges, Chapters and Conclaves. He is a Past Master in the Craft and past Supreme Ruler in the Secret Monitor. Alec also provides a Masonic regalia sale and exchange service. He was the brains behind the ‘Foreign Currency’ donation scheme that collects all foreign currency (loose change from holidays, etc.) in the province of Cumberland & Westmorland for the Mark degree. Currency is collected around the province, exchanged with a currency agent and then donated to worthy causes. So far this has netted over £1,500.
Malcolm holds provincial rank in the Chapter, Allied & Secret Monitor. He is a Past Master in the Craft, Mark and Allied, a past Principal in the Chapter, a past Commander in the Royal Arc Mariners and a past Supreme Ruler in the secret monitor. He is also a member of the Knights Templar, Royal and Select, Rose Croix and Red Cross of Constantine (or to give it the full title; The Imperial, Religious and Military Order of Rome and the Red Cross of Constantine, Holy Sepulchure and St. John the Evangelist). The chapter that Malcolm is a past principal of is Scottish constitution and held in the town of Annan in Scotland. Likewise his provincial rank in the chapter is a Scottish provincial rank.