Something is brewing at Burton
 
Unusually, due to my usual travelling companion being unavailable on this occasion, it was a lonesome, but never the less a pleasant journey for me, in settled weather, to visit West Midlands AMD for their District meeting this year. The sun was starting to rise as I made my way to the M6, and on the way to the heart of Bass beer country on Saturday, 25th January 2025.
 
For many reasons, the number of West Lancashire Allied Masons making the journey to the Masonic Hall, Burton on Trent was down this year, but still a good number and this didn’t dampen down the enthusiasm of those able to make the journey. In any case, we outnumbered many of the visiting Districts, which helps to demonstrate the West Lancashire commitment to Allied Masonry.
Ray Pye, Brian Povey, Kevin Poynton, Maurice Evans, Marc Goldsworthy and Jimmy Rogers
The only other West Lancashire attendee missing at this point was Richard Higson, who arrived a little too late for the photo opportunity,
I think that I have I have suggested in previous articles, that 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 also refers to Burton’s 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 in West Midlands, including bacon barms and a cuppa waiting for us when we arrived,  In the absence of our DGP and DepDGP, all the burden for leading the West Lancashire group, and keeping them in check on this occasion, fell to VW Brother Maurice Evans, who I can vouch has an iron fist concealed in a velvet glove!!!!
The well-appointed dining room is a sea of calm before the storm
 
All systems go, just need some Brethren.
Back to the script, the Masonic Hall was a hive of activity with a healthy turnout from Brethren from all parts of the Allied landscape, including the attendance of the motley crew from West Lancashire. The Lodge room was quite full, and perhaps we are at the start of a brighter future after the trials and tribulations of the pandemic years, hopefully a good omen for the future. The formalities, conducted by RW Brother Joseph McCollum, DGP for West Midlands, concluded in good time; leaving an opportunity for a swift draught of the best Burtonwood brew before dinner.
Just to prove that Richard did turn up
The dining room was full of chatter as Brethren tucked into an excellent repast, all finished off with a glass of wine and a beverage. Old and new friends exchanged friendly banter and the time passed quickly, until it was time to wend our way back to whence we came. Some of us even arriving home before sunset beckoned.
 
Always a good day out on the Allied Helter Skelter.
 
Article and  photos by the Burtonwood Brewer