News - A contingent from Kent head North

On Saturday the 13th September the sun shone bright over the Travel lodge in Rochdale to greet R.W.Bro. Brian Ward, and W.Bros. Derek Wilkins, Mark Woolcott and Tony Maslin from the District of Kent.

Having recovered from the hospitality afforded to them by the brethren of the Shuttleworth Council on the previous evening they were all ready and eager to attend the District Meeting of East Lancs presided over by their District Grand Prefect R.W.Bro. Graham Newton. Following a huge English breakfast with lots of black pudding they set forth to the Masonic Hall arriving in time to enjoy a bacon butty and a cuppa. Perfect!

R.W. Bro. Graham Newton welcomes the D.G.P. from Kent

The contigent from Kent R.W.Bro. Brian Ward and W.Bros Wilkins, Woolcott and Maslin have arrived

The Festive Board, a gastranomical delight for the taste buds

The contingent from Kent all ready for the days meeting

At 10:45 almost one hundred brethren were seated in the temple ready to welcome two processions with warm applause. The first consisted of the visiting District Grand Prefects and other Right Worshipful brethren closely followed by the District Grand Prefect for East Lancs accompanied by his active officers.

R.W.Bro. Graham Newton then opened the council and quickly dispensed with all the early business before welcoming all the visiting D.G.P.’s and representatives from other districts. Having done this with great aplomb and good humour he then went on to attend to the rest of the business of the council culminating in a very comprehensive address to the brethren of the district. Having completed this, the council was then closed and the brethren retired to the bar for drinks before enjoying a gastronomical delight of “Up t’ North” food.

R.W.Bro. Graham Newton (D.P.G. from East Lancs) with the visiting D.G.P.'s

This consisted of a Black Pudding and Bacon Stack drenched with a pepper sauce to start, followed by a local delicacy called Rag Pudding (not the prettiest thing in the world to look at but very tasty none the less) served with local Lancashire caviar (better known as mushy peas) and chips. To complete this taste bud extravaganza and artery clogging experience a monstrous slab of cheese cake was served. All in all, an intake of about 5000 calories. Needless to say, no food was consumed on the way home.

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