The 2025 Provincial Garden Party – Where Even the Rain Couldn’t Dampen the Spirit!

A Grand Day Out Had By All.

Report by James Kitney:
Photos by Paul Gear & Nick Price

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On Saturday the 5th of July, set against the backdrop of Godmersham Park’s 18th Century beauty, the provincial garden party was underway with music and stalls galore. The turnout was good, the program packed, the stalls erected, and the music was playing.

As the revelers arrived, they were greeted with music by Funk Soul Brother DJ Chris Spins, who set the mood in a wonderfully entertaining way and the BBQ was already providing burgers and sausages at a speed worthy of inclusion in the Guiness Book of World Records.

OPENING OF THE GARDEN PARTY

We were then welcomed by the event organizer Miki Smith and our Provincial Grand Master for East Kent, Neil Hamilton Johnstone who officially opened the Garden Party. Both did a masterful job of ignoring the passing showers.

The East Kent Chapter of The Widows Sons, Classic Cars and Scooters

By 12:30 guests had settled in and were entertained by a parade consisting of the East Kent Chapter of The Widows Sons followed by classic cars and scooters.

Southern Golden Retriever Society

When the stage was clear, it was time for the Southern Golden Retriever Society to put their wards through their paces.  It was a wonderful sight, and the dogs had done a fantastic job at training their humans to walk away, turn, come back and other assorted tricks, all to music as well!

There is always one star of the show

It happened to be a Golden Retriever!

LIVE MUSIC

There was live music throughout the day from Funk Soul Brother DJ Chris Spins (left) and Gary O’Connor, who sang some hits from the 50’s and 60’s, though by his own admission he wasn’t a fan of the 70’s!

Next Up The Ashford Sea Cadet and Royal Marines Cadet Band

The Ashford Sea and Royal Marines Cadets Band gave a spirit lifting performance as they marched across the arena floor, some calming Folk Music was provided by the talented Reg Miles as well as others to ensure the atmosphere never was never lacking.

The Order of Women Freemasons

One group that we just couldn’t have done without, was the Order of Women Freemasons, helping out in the orangery, they provided well desereved refreshments for the guests, with amazing cakes baked by Linda and helped by Sue, Debbie, Patricia, Shira and helped by fantastic cake donations.

If you would like to know about joiining Womens Freemasons, head over to their website at https://www.owf.org.uk

In between this there was a Japanese Sword Arts demonstration by Ben Emberly and Alex Ansell, the traditional Embu was a lovely sight to see and was well described throughout.

As well as the top-notch entertainment, there were also assorted stalls to keep the family entertained! Coconut shys, golf darts, merry-go-rounds, cork gun shooting ranges, bungee trampolines, tombola and kid’s games, combined with a bar for the adults, ice-creams and cake sales.  There were raffles set up as well as various masonic social groups and even some other companion orders on display to tempt would be members.

Jason Nembhard writes:

“For my routine I did some songs and was pleasantly surprised when quite a few people got up and danced. Alan Chitty did a few short videos of me.  I was asked to close the show, so I sang my own composition “Boomerang”, explaining that I had written and produced it in support of Prostate and Breast Cancer Research as a Kent Mason; and finished with UB 40’s Kingston Town – a nice closure to the evening.”

A big thanks goes to everyone who supported the Garden Party, the Stall Holders, The Provincial Grand Master and his wife Margaret. Miki Travis for a wonderful piece or organising and to Godmersham Park, for allowing us to use the wonderful settings. Not forgetting the Marshals, helpers, the Order of Woman Freemasons for the delicious refreshments.

Lastly, thank you to all who attened and support the event. Once we have a total of the monies raised, we will post it.

GALLERY OF IMAGES

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