District Visit to West Midlands
 
The 25th. day of January 2020 was a pleasant enough morning when a number of West Lancashire District Allied Masons made their way to Ashburton Masonic Hall in Burton on Trent. Ashburton Masonic Hall is the venue for the Annual Meeting of The District Grand Council of West Midlands and we arrived at the hall in time for welcome 'bacon butties' and tea / coffee, a pleasant respite from the journey.
West and East Lancashire Allied Masons visit West Midlands District
As Instructed we were seated in the Lodge Room at 11.00 am for an 11.15 start. The District Director of Ceremonies Worshipful Brother Barry A. Jones Past Grand Standard Bearer called the meeting to order and the Right Worshipful Brethren entered in processional order including our own District Grand Prefect Right Worshipful Brother Graham Paul Snape. The next to enter was Right Worshipful Brother Clifford Howard Bull  District Grand Prefect for The District Grand Council of West Midlands and his team of District Grand Officers.
West Lancashire delegation
The Right Worshipful District Grand Prefect opened District Grand Council and the first item of business was to remember Brethren called to Higher Service. After the roll calls The District Grand Prefect introduced the guests including the Brethren from West Lancashire led by the District Grand Prefect. After the completion of the domestic business of District Grand Council the District Grand Prefect Appointed and Invested the District Grand Officers for  2020/21 after which he addressed District Grand Council. A collection for Charity took place. The business of District Grand Council having been completed The District Grand Prefect closed District Grand Council. The District Grand Director of Ceremonies called the brethren to order whilst The District Grand Prefect and his Officers retired in processional order.
A trio of District Grand Prefects: Rt.W.Bro. Graham Paul Snape (West Lancashire),
Rt. W.Bro Peter Brockbank (Kent) and Rt.W.Bro. Mervyn Frank Wilson East Lancashire)
Next port of call was the bar lounge for a refreshing pre-lunch drink. Lunch was a delicious three courses followed by coffee / tea. In his response to the toast to District Grand Prefect he informed the Brethren of his intention to retire at the end of the ensuing year and thanked all those involved in the today’s proceedings. A toast to the visitors was well received. The labours and refreshments being over we made our way to the car parks for our homeward journeys.
Report and photos by Ernie Gavan