On Wednesday the 5th November 2008 at the Regular Meeting of Lodge St John Slammanan No 484  the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master Brother John McKenzie caught Brother Alexander Montgomery (Monty) by surprise when he announced and subsequently presented him with the Honorary Grand Rank of Bard  which had been awarded by Grand Lodge to Monty in recognition of his services not only to his own Lodge but to Freemasonry in general