Connaught Installation
The Lodge was honoured by the presence of The Deputy Provincial Grand Master, the Very Worshipful Brother Michael Greedy, accompanied by his DC, W. Bro Andy MacKay, for the 2nd Installation of W. Bro Chris James as Worshipful Master, during the evening of Wednesday 15 April.
More than forty brethren, several of whom were colleagues of CJ from the Provincial Team, attended the ceremony to witness W. Bro Chris Brooke install W. Bro Chris into the ‘Chair’. In the interests of getting them involved in Lodge activities as soon as possible, our two new Entered Apprentices were appointed as Stewards. W. Bro Brian Parry and Bro. Neil Sunderland were appointed SW and JW respectively.
During a short element of Lodge business it was agreed to make donations to the Dorothy House Hospice for their 50th Anniversary Appeal and to SWALLOW, a local charity that supports young people with learning difficulties, to develop their Craft Sales Project.
A lively Festive Board followed, during which WM Chris presented a bouquet of flowers to the chef who had stepped in at short notice after the previous caters cancelled. He also presented the latest edition of the Ritual Book to Lodge DC, W. Bro Richard Gilson to replace his badly worn and rather dated, though much-cherished, edition.
Well lubricated voices gave a hearty rendition of the Master’s Song led by W. Bro Lindsay Edwards. Although unsure at the time how much the very generous raffle had raised, WM Chris announced that the proceeds would be put to the Lodge Charity Account for future donations as suitable recipients became known, as well as the Provincial 2031 Festival. WM Chris was very appreciated of everyone for making it a most memorable evening.
