The Toasters Club held its Summer 2026 meeting on Tuesday 30th June at Freemasons’ Hall, Leicester.

The Toasters Club was founded in the mid‑1980s during the tenure of Gayton C. Taylor as Provincial Grand Master. At that time, proposing the toast to the Provincial Grand Master at Provincial Grand Lodge was considered such a daunting ordeal that those who had delivered it decided to hold an annual dinner to welcome each year’s new “toaster”.

Following Gayton Taylor’s retirement, the tradition continued, and the Toasters Club has now flourished for almost forty years. It has enjoyed the support of successive Provincial Grand Masters, including Derek Buswell, Michael Roalfe, and David Hagger.

After a short pause during the Covid years, the current Provincial Grand Master, Peter Kinder, together with the Head of the Royal Arch, Noel Manby, agreed to widen the membership to include Companions who had proposed the toast to the MEGS at Provincial Grand Chapter. This decision has strengthened the club’s purpose and broadened its fellowship.

In its early days, the toaster was often selected from among the junior members, with some delivering their toast even before receiving their first Provincial appointment. In more recent years, the honour has tended to fall to serving Provincial Officers.

The Toasters Dinner has evolved into a distinctive and valued gathering, providing a forum for sharing the content of the toasts, discussing how they are delivered, and celebrating the unique experiences of those who have taken on this ceremonial responsibility.

For many years, members wore a lapel pin badge as a mark of recognition. In 2024, it was decided that a collar jewel would be more fitting, and members now proudly wear this emblem as a symbol of their place within this long‑standing and cherished tradition.