A Day Out in Vegas
 
On what turned out to be a not to unpleasant morning, I write 'turned out to be' on account of it being 5.30 a.m. and very, very dark, a lone driver set out for foreign parts Bridgend in South Wales to be precise. The reason for the early start was to enable our traveller to attend the Annual Meeting of the District Grand Council of Severn,  preceding the  District Meeting was the Installation Meeting of Principality Council No. 53 which our traveller thought might be nice to attend also. How wrong can one be?
West Lancashire delegation
All went according to plan until just south of the Thelwall Viaduct on the M6 when he encountered mile after mile after mile of smart motorway construction works, whatever smart means. A motorway closure on the M5 between junctions 3 and 4 meant a detour on the M6 toll road. Realising the plan had now changed and absolutely no chance of arriving  in time for the council meeting the services on the M6 Toll seemed like a good idea. Breakfast was nice but should have kept going on resuming the journey he discovered smart motorway road works don't just apply to the M6.
Clear of the motorway system he arrived in Wales, now the Welsh are good at many things, but they are especially good at rugby and on the 3rd. November Wales were playing Scotland in Cardiff. The Welsh are bordering on fanatical when it comes to rugby the roads were log blocked. Patience shone through and our traveller arrived in Bridgend and after passing the Masonic Hall several times eventually found it, with no help from the local Constabulary, with 5 Minutes to spare.
D.G.P for Kent, D.G.P and his Deputy
The venue had changed this year from Pontyclun to Bridgend to enable remedial work to the building and what a nice place Bridgend Masonic Hall is. At 11.15 a.m. all the Brethren were in their seats, including me. The District Grand Director of Ceremony Worshipful Brother G.M. Smith called the meeting to order and announced the first of three processions. First to enter were the District Grand Prefects from other District including our very own Right Worshipful Brother Graham Paul Snape, next to enter was the Past District Grand Prefect for Severn and the last procession The District Grand Prefect Right Worshipful Brother Ronald Slater accompanied by the District Officers of the year. The District Grand Prefect opened District Grand Council and the usual salutations were given with suitable responses.
 
D.G.P, D.G.P. for Severn and our Deputy D.G.P
The next item on the agenda was to remember those brethren who had be called to higher service. The next item was to welcome the visitors the party from West Lancashire was led by The District Grand Prefect, his Deputy Worshipful Brother William Lawrence Richmond Past Grand Junior Deacon along with Very Worshipful Brother Stuart Leach Past Grand Registrar, Worshipful Brother Geoffrey Catterall Past Grand Junior Deacon / District Secretary. Worshipful Brothers Frank Clarke and Ernest Gavan both of whom are Past Grand Standard Bearers (Appointed 23rd. October 2018) Brother Andrew Bartlett Worshipful Master Thomas Firth Jackson Council No. 262 and Brother Bob Whittingham. Another West Lancashire Allied Mason Right Worshipful Brother Peter Brockbank was introduced in his own right as District Grand Prefect for Kent.
Our generous D.G.P sharing his wine with fellow West Lancs Brethren
After a few items of a domestic nature were dispatched the next item was to appoint and invest the District Grand Officers for the year 2018 / 19 when all the Officers had been appointed the District Grand Prefect addressed District Grand Council after which a collection of alms was taken. The District Grand Prefect closed District Grand Council. The meeting finished with the National Anthem, another thing the Welsh are good at is singing and when seventy or so Welshmen sing their National Anthem the hairs on the back of your neck tingle.
The short break between the meeting and lunch allowed time for a quick photo-shoot and an aperitif before taking our places for lunch. Lunch consisted of a four-course meal with wine and port, just to assist the digestion. The toasts at District Meeting are usually not too long as are the responses. The labour and refreshment being over we were soon in our cars making the long, long journey home. It had been a long day.
Report and photos by Ernie Gavan