BEYOND THE CRAFT
V.Ill.Kt. David Parkes Bowen receives a
50 year certificate and Commemorative Jewel On 4th October 2018, at a meeting of Byzantine Conclave, No. 44, V. Ill. Kt.M. David M. Parkes Bowen, Past Grand Junior General, was presented with a certificate and jewel to mark his 50 years of membership of the Order. V.Ill.Kt. David was installed into the Byzantine Conclave on the 3rd October 1968, when V.Ill.Kt.S. F. Herbert PGHAlm was Sovereign. He became a founder member of the Isle of Patmos Conclave, No.277 (meeting at Loughborough) when Alan G Davies was the first Sovereign. In 1993, David received a first appointment in Grand Imperial Conclave to the rank of Past Grand Chamberlain, and in 1998 was promoted to Past Grand High Almoner. Having served as Divisional Recorder for many years, R.Ill.Kt. Michael H. Roalfe, the then Intendant General for the East Midlands Division, promoted him to Divisional Viceroy in 2000. In the same year David was promoted by the then Grand Sovereign, M.Ill.Kt. Commander Ronald Champion to the
very high active rank of Grand Junior General. In 2002, David was a founder member of the Recorders’ Conclave, No. 471 (whose membership is composed entirely of present and past Divisional Recorders) and in 2005 he was also a founder member of the Crux Rubra Conclave, No.481, an East Midlands Conclave, meeting at Peterborough. In 2009 he became a founder member under M.Ill.Kt. Richard Wallis of the Grand Sovereign’s Conclave, No.500 (of which he is still a member). In Byzantine Conclave, David was the Orator for many years until relatively recently and he now attends the Conclave on a regular basis and enjoys the proceedings from the ‘back benches’.
The Intendant General, R.Ill.Kt. John Manby wished him well and expressed a wish that he would be receiving his 60 year jewel and certificate in due time!
Pictured: V.Ill.Kt. Michael A. Robinson, R.Ill. Kt. S. John Manby, V.Ill.Kt. M. David M. M.P.Kt. Michael England, E.Kt. Anthony R. Sibson,.
Rose Croix Milestone V.Ill.Bro. MDM (David) Parkes Bowen having served 33 years as Inspector General of the District of Leicestershire & Rutland of the Ancient & Accepted Rite (Rose Croix) resigned his Patent in June 2018. He was appointed as Inspector General in 1985 and has since then, had his Patent extended five times. This amazing achievement is unheard of, with him being the longest serving holder of the 33rd degree of the Order. During his tenure as Inspector General, he attended almost every Chapter meeting in the District (as well as playing the organ at most) and those few that he did miss, were due to unavoidable circumstances such as the accident he suffered in 2017. As well as individual Chapters showing
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Leicester Square SPRING 2019
event at London Road on Saturday 15th September 2018, with over 90 in attendance to mark his service to the District. Attendees included some of David’s children, members and their wives and partners. A cheque for £790 was presented to him for his own choice, which he in turn donated to Rainbows and LOROS Hospices.
their own appreciation of David’s service to their respective Chapters, the District organised a surprise social
As Head of the Order in Leicestershire & Rutland he has given great service to all of its members, and his love for the order, and the members admiration towards him, are well known.