At the 2019 Annual Convocation The M E Grand Superintendent, E.Comp. Philip Hall introduced the ‘Travelling Loving Cup’ with these words :
‘As I approach the third anniversary of my appointment as Grand Superintendent I have reflected on my experiences so far and I have been struck by one thing in particular. That is that, compared to the Craft, Companions don’t tend to visit other chapters across the Province anywhere near as frequently. I feel we need to share the love companions and to that end I want to introduce you to ‘TLC’. You are all no doubt familiar with this acronym but on this occasion it does not mean ‘Tender Loving Care’ but rather the ‘Travelling Loving Cup’ – and here it is.
The Grand Superintendent mentioned the TLC again in 2020, and announced slight modifications to the movement of the Cup around the Province. Travels have obviously been delayed by the pandemic, but the cup is now moving around the Province once more.
The principle is that the Travelling Loving Cup can be cared for by any Chapter in the Province, and it is the responsibility of the holding Chapter to visit any other Warwickshire Chapter, meeting in a different centre, with a minimum of 3 companions travelling with the cup to present to the new holding Chapter. The new holding Chapter will then arrange to take it to another Chapter meeting in a different centre to their own, and so onwards throughout the Province.
The TLC is housed safely in a travelling box and will be accompanied by a written record of its journey around Warwickshire. The holding Chapter should not keep it for long before passing it on to another Chapter, thus encouraging visiting between Chapters. As an example, if a Chapter receives the TLC at its February meeting, it should then arrange to visit another Chapter before their next meeting in May.
Photographs of the handover to the next Chapter will be appreciated, so that we know where it is travelling. The Travelling Loving Cup was generously released from the Warwickshire Masonic museum where it was donated by the former Chapter of Charity, the previous members of that Chapter having given their blessing to its use.
Since the introduction of the Travelling Loving Cup, it has travelled to an extent, starting off with Shakespeare Chapter (Warwick) in 2019, then onto Leigh Chapter (Severn Street), Athol Chapter (Severn Street), back to Leigh Chapter (Severn Street) then on to Bedeword Chapter (Nuneaton), and now resides with Athelstan Chapter (Atherstone), where arrangements are being made for it to recommence its travels. The next bulletin will tell you where it has arrived at for the time being.
This is a trophy well worth winning – please keep it moving!
John Hayward
Asst to the Provincial Grand Principals
August 2022
