News - Kent Brethren supporting Masonry Universal (well East Lancashire really)... Part Two

The Northern Lights of East Lancashire. The tale continues…

After a very restful night at the local Travel Lodge and a very hearty breakfast, the intrepid quartet (Ward, Wilkins, Woolcott and Whale) set off to the Masonic Hall, Richard Street, Rochdale where they were joined by many Allied friends from all over the country.

Ward, Wilkins, Woolcott and Whale Arrive

Ward, Wilkins, Woolcott and Whale all dressed and ready to go

The District Grand Secretary W. Bro. Trevor Parvin had once again organised and excellent meeting and the brethren were warmly welcomed by the R.W. District Grand Prefect R.W. Bro. Graham Newton.

After tea and coffee, the brethren assembled in the temple at 11:00 where the usual formalities were observed and the District Grand meeting was carried-out in a very accomplished manner. The meeting concluded, the brethren retired to the bar for some local spring water and a shot of Lychee liquor which was very much enjoyed by the Kent contingent.

The gathering of District Grand Prefects

The Festive Board was a delight of Black Pudding for starter followed by Rag Pie with vegetables as the main, sadly there was not a meat option for pudding!

Lunch

Lunch

The afternoon almost at an end the Kent lads said their farewells to East Lancashire for another year and set off on a six-hour drive to the Garden of England in good cheer.

Homeward bound

W. Bro. Derek Wilkins doing an absolutely Stirling job as driver for the Weekend and following a total exposure to the Northern Lights reverted to his old local dialect complete with accent and we were treated to a sprinkling of “cracking flags”, “Owt’s”, “Ah’reet cocker” and “ow do’s” and God alone knows what “powfagged” is all about. It surely was an interesting journey home!

Article by Mark Woolcott

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