For the 40th consecutive year, Mason Leicester St. George Moulder presented the peppercorn in St. George's square yesterday.

"The Regiment has always been 'the' show of the Peppercorn show and are certainly the height of the performance," he said.

"St. George's is the same, there are different people of course, different Mayors."

But reflecting back on four decades, he noted: "It wasn't as big a show back then. It was very simple."

Mr. Moulder has been a member of the Masonic lodge for 60 years and has served as Treasurer for 40 years ? although he only intended to take the job for 12 months back in 1964.

For the most part "it has been a smooth ride all the way", he said. But one rainy ceremony did prove a bit lively.

"It rained cats and dogs and we had to do the presentation in the Corporation office," Mr. Moulder said.

"Somebody nudged my arm and (soon) we were all on our hands and knees trying to find it. It was very embarrassing."

The temporary loss taught Mr. Moulder a lesson, however, and for every ceremony afterwards he has kept a spare peppercorn in his pocket.

To mark the 200th anniversary of the lodge, the Masons paid a little extra rent ? they offered a gold peppercorn.

But whether he has paid with regular peppercorns or gold, Mr. Moulder always made sure he asked the Accountant General's office for a receipt.

Yesterday, he had to present his 2003 receipt when Government representatives thought he was kidding with the demand.

But the Masons keep the receipt in the their hall for 12 months in the event they are called upon to present it.

At the close of the year, the receipt is framed in cedar and put on display. The peppercorn used yesterday was "most likely" from New Zealand, he said, since a lodge member there sent them a bottle of 1,000 peppercorns.

"It was a joke, but as you can imagine, it went down well," Mr. Moulder said.

"Tourists get a kick out of (the ceremony) and it has been going on for many years. We are defending traditions we want to keep up. The deal was decided on July 5, 1816 and we will carry the tradition on."