Members of the Lodge with their visitors were delighted to be able to attend the long delayed Installation meeting at Ashwell House on the afternoon of Saturday 7th August 2021. During the meeting they witnessed Jay Patel, Assistant Provincial Grand Master and the outgoing Master of the Lodge, install his son, Kayur Patel (OA 2005), into the Chair of the Old Albanian Lodge in an impeccable manner, in a ceremony charged with emotion.

The meeting was honoured by the presence of Paul Gower, Provincial Grand Master for Hertfordshire, and many guests – with the total attendance exceeding 60. Paul was installed as Provincial Grand Master in 2013 and sadly this was the last occasion that he would be visiting the Lodge in that capacity because he was due to retire on Tuesday 21st September 2021. Among the many other guests present were Kayur’s uncles and family members and friends. 

Having been initiated into the Lodge by his father in 2009, passed by Colin Harris his proposer, and raised by his uncle, Sanjiv Shah, Kayur’s installation rounded off a remarkable career so far in freemasonry. Kayur is looking forward to his time in the chair. After leaving St Albans School, Kayur studied at Leeds University and qualified as a dental surgeon. He now practises in the Leighton Buzzard area and has recently married. He enjoys cricket, skiing and most notably golf, sometimes forming a formidable doubles partnership with his father.

The first regular meeting of Lodge ‘year’ with Kayur Patel in the chair, was held at Ashwell House on Saturday 11th September. It was a ‘meridian’ meeting i.e. taking place in the late morning with luncheon following. Unfortunately, our candidate was away on holiday and lacking a main ceremony, the meeting was primarily to conduct the normal business of the Lodge. Our Charity Steward, Dick Knifton (OA 1967), Deputy Provincial Grand Master, reminded the brethren that following the end of the recent Festival to which the Lodge had contributed in excess of £50k – the largest contribution of any Lodge in Hertfordshire - the coffers were almost bare and asked members to redouble their efforts. 

All being well, the next regular meeting will be held this month.