Visit to District Grand Council of Surrey, 4th December 2921
Rising at the unearthly hour of 4am to ready myself for the journey south, it was a darky squally morning, rain and wind belted against the windows of Mountfield Towers, my country pile in deepest Coccium. Still, it was all worthwhile to help represent the West Lancashire AMD District in this latest outing - on this occasion to the Surrey District meeting.
Right on to Croydon
A cold shower and a healthy dietary portion of stale bread and water, (standard fair in this ..erm….correction establishment), helped to reinvigorate me for the long stagecoach journey ahead. Only the highwaymen to worry about now, and perhaps the added bonus of collecting any unfortunate run over bunny rabbit to add protein to or frugal diets, but more of that later.
I was also fortunate on this occasion in that I was to be collected by our esteemed DGP, who promised to pick me up around 5.30am in his brand-new Mark 11 Handsome Cab pulled by the very horse with which he recently had quite a tussle. It now knew who the Master was………. and it certainly wasn’t our DGP!
The DGP promised to toll the bell of Whittle Parish Church when he set out from deepest Chorley, to help warn me of the time of his impending arrival; a good plan if only he had remembered to borrow the keys to the Church. As it was, it was only the clatter of hooves on the cobbles outside my abode which spurred me on to finish dressing. This explains why, as I discovered much later, that I was wearing a brown shoe on my left foot and a black shoe on my right. I told Brethren who noticed that I was a member of a new Masonic Order called the ‘Ancient and Masonic Order of Oddsoles’ (not attached to MMH). It created a lot of interest and I am currently busying myself sending out application forms to Brethren all over the country. For those interested, it has an history stretching back to antiquity, or it will have when I get the chance to write it.
Back to the saga. On being picked up, we made our way down through the earthworks of outer Coccium to the Stables of Messrs ‘Avanti Cross Country Carriages,’ whose luxury carriage duly picked us up on time for the journey south. By this time our numbers had grown to 6, our DepDGP having caught the stagecoach at Caster on the Lune, and combined with the DGP, Geoff Catterall, Ray Pye, Richard Higson and Mark Barton, made up our party. The latter Brother only making it at the last minute, as negotiating the confusing outer Coccium defences had caused his horse to throw a shoe. It was a great excuse, but have you tried finding a good blacksmith in Coccium at 6am??
The journey south picked up pace, the stagecoach being empty except for the sturdy 6, clattering  hooves being the only distraction. Our DGP, ever resourceful, produced from his Mary Poppins bag a sausage barm cake for everyone. Not your everyday sausages I might add, but the whole-pig sausages (everything used - including the oink) concocted at considerable effort and expense by our own Deputy DGP.
Delicious
We arrived at Euston on time, and a quick transfer saw us on our final leg to Croydon which passed without incident. For the collators of facts amongst you, Croydon is a quite large township, standing on the line of a Roman road from London to Portslade, and it is worth noting that in the past it hosted a premier London airport, which subsequently transferred to Heathrow. The area suffered badly during world-war 11, its centre being devastated as a consequence of German air raids and their self-propelled V bombs. The derivation of the word Croydon has a couple of possibilities. First possibility is from the Anglo-Saxon words ‘croh, meaning crocus, and ‘denu’ meaning valley, so crocus valley. There is also a possible Brittonic origin in the form of ‘crai-din’ meaning settlement near fresh water.
For those who haven’t been to the Masonic Hall in Croydon, it is well worth a visit if you are in that neck of the woods. The following pictures provide a flavour of its façade and interior.
As always, there was a good turnout from both East and West Lancashire, and a proof of attendance photograph is always obligatory.
East meets West (Lancashire that is)
Happy band of Pilgrims
Paul Waring, member of East Lancs District, and Grand Sworder Bearer to boot, also went out of his way to demonstrate how to put on a tie after his collarette. Apparently, it’s the way they’ve always done it in East Lancashire!!
Told you it’s easy
The meeting was honoured by the presence of the Deputy Grand Master, Clive Robert Manuel, accompanied by his Deputy GDC. The formalities were followed by an excellent festive board filled with good conversation and humour as is the usual custom at AMD District meetings.
The festivities finished in good time to enable us to make our homeward transport connections without incident, with one exception! We were chatting about the various dinners we had participated in at Great Queen Street, when it was suggested that fricassee of rabbit may be on the menu for a future meeting of one of the Orders. Apparently, the powers that be had heard of our DGP’s hobby of collecting copious quantities of run over bunnies, and I understand he may well be commissioned to provide the fodder on that occasion. Well, I never!
Phew, that was a close escape
We arrived in Coccium on time, William was to stay on the stagecoach to Caster on the Lune (or maybe further north if he is tempted to ‘rest’ his eyes!). We quickly got the horses in their traces and set off home, hoping the Coccium outer defences wouldn’t beat Mark for a second time! Another grand outing was coming to an end, a long but happy day and no sign of a highwayman or even a run over bunny! Ah well maybe next time.
 
Words – The Croydon Clarion - Photographs - various