West Midlands AMD District Meeting
A pleasant journey to the heart of Bass beer country on Saturday, 28th January, saw a large number of West Lancashire Allied Masons meet up on the occasion of the West Midlands District Meeting at the Masonic Hall, Burton on Trent. Making good beer isn’t a recent phenomenon as far as Burton is concerned, as records suggest that Monks were brewing beer at Burton Abbey from about 1295, and it hasn’t looked back since; even exporting beer to faraway countries such as Russia, Poland and Sweden as early as the 18thC. The name Burton was apparently first coined in the 8thC, and means 'a settlement at a fortified place.' The word ‘a fortified place’ logically refers to a well defended stronghold, but I like to think that it refers to Burtons reputation for producing strong waters in this neck of the woods, and should possibly read ‘a very fortified place’!
However, it wasn’t just the beer which attracted us to make the journey to Burton, as we are always assured of a warm welcome including tea / coffee and bacon barms aplenty waiting for us when we arrived, as the photographs above will testify. The world is put to rights as Brethren chomp on bacon, and enjoy a cuppa.
Unfortunately, our esteemed leader was absent, I kid you not, apparently a Caribbean cruise with Sally, on board the P&O ship Britannia, had taken precedent, (see photographs above). Rumour has it that, whilst on the cruise, he had an audition for the role of Jack Sparrow in the next edition of the “Pirates of the Caribbean.” Is he a match for Johnny Depp? We’ll have to wait and see!
 
There was also a suggestion that our DGP was seeking to fly back into West Midlands Airport early on the morning of the meeting so that he could maintain his attendance record. Unfortunately, I understand that stormy weather caused the plane to be diverted to Manchester so causing him to miss the meeting. The other more plausible explanation may be that she who must be obeyed had the final word?  
The above is a photograph of some of the Brethren who attended and can claim a West Lancashire link, including 2 DGP’s, a DepDGP and a RW and VW Brother, not a bad show. Unfortunately, a couple of our Brethren who had booked in had to offer late apologies.
In the absence of our DGP, all the burden for leading the West Lancashire group, and keeping them in check, fell on our Deputy DGP, Mark, who is definitely growing into the role, and is even happy and confident enough to exclude our East Lancashire Brethren (even those with a foot in both camps) from the Management drinks round, not even a half in a pint pot! Although, to be fair, that may have been an executive decision by the drinks monitor and not Mark on this occasion?
The well-appointed Burton Lodge Room is a sea of calm before the storm.
Back to the script, the Masonic Hall was a hive of activity with a splendid turnout from Brethren from all parts of the Allied landscape including the attendance of the motley Jack Sparrow’s crew from West Lancashire. The Lodge room was quite full, which was a good sign after the tribulations of the pandemic, hopefully a good omen for the future. The formalities of the meeting concluded in good time; and an opportunity arose for a swift draught of the best Burtonwood brew before dinner.
The dining room was full of chatter as Brethren tucked into an excellent repast of devilled eggs starter, chicken dinner main and fresh fruit salad dessert, all finished off with a glass pf wine and a cup of coffee.  Old and new friends exchanged friendly banter and the time passed quickly. Thanks to the efficient DC, the formalities after dining were also kept moving apace, and we finished in good time (why can’t the West Lancashire DC oblige in the same way?…..Answers on a post card please!) to enable us to wend our way back to whence we came. Some of us even arriving home before twilight beckoned.
Always a good day out on the Allied merry go round.
 
Words and pictures by Jack Sparrow’s parrot