02/04/2026
50 years in Craft Freemasonry!
It is a great pleasure to be here with you this evening to pay tribute to one of the Legends of West Wales Freemasonry, Worshipful Brother Richard Anthony Jenkins. W Bro Tony, we have been friends for many years, and I am delighted that I am the one who has the honour of paying tribute to your long and successful career in freemasonry and our wider community.
W Bro Tony, you were initiated into the Cambrian Lodge no 464 on 3rd March 1976, exactly 50 years ago yesterday and you served as Master of Cambrian Lodge in 1985. You have remained a loyal and faithful member of the lodge for 50 years, serving in many lodge offices and you are always delighted to fill in if there is an Officer missing. You have also been a faithful member of the Kensington Lodge of Installed Masters since 1992 and have held office several times including serving as Chaplain in the Centenary Year when our Past Provincial Grand Master, Eric Mock was in the Chair, and I was very excited to be Junior Deacon.
In the Province you were appointed to the Rank of Past Provincial Junior Grand Warden in 1993. A very high rank within the province and a mark of the esteem with which you have been regarded throughout the province for more than 30 years.
W Bro Tony, you were Exalted in the Hwlffordd Chapter on 2nd October 1978.
You served the Hwlffordd Chapter as MEZ in 1989, just 4 years after going through the Chair of Cambrian Lodge. For the younger ones amongst you, this is especially impressive because in those “olden days” you couldn’t go through the Chapter Chairs before you had been through the Chair in the Craft. Which means that you were on both ladders at the same time.
You joined the daughter Chapter of Hwlffordd, the Arberth Chapter in 2014 and have served and filled in the Chairs of the Arberth Chapter ever since.
In the Province, you were appointed to the very high rank of Provincial Scribe Nehemiah in 2005, followed by Provincial Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies in 2009 and Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies in 2012. You were further promoted to 3rd Provincial Grand Principal in 2014.
In Supreme Grand Chapter you were appointed to the Rank of Past Grand Standard Bearer in 2010.
W Bro Tony, most working people are less busy than you are and a certificate and badge for 50 years’ service in the Craft seems a little inadequate after all your many achievements in freemasonry coupled with your commendable service to your community. You have been and continue to be a fine example to us all and it is with great pleasure that I present you with this certificate to mark 50 years continuous service to freemasonry and pin on this lapel badge which I trust you will wear with pride.
Many congratulations.
