London Calling
 
Dateline Tuesday 28th October, was the day that many West Lancashire Allied Brethren had pencilled in their diary for a number of reasons. In particular it was the meeting day of Grand Council at Great Queen Street, and also it was the first visit to Grand Council of our new DGP, Mark Barton, since his Investiture.
Mark Barton DGP – Suits you Sir
The day was cool but bright, and a goodly number of West Lancs Allied Masons joined Mark and his Deputy, Ian Nairn, on the train for the journey south. The trip down was relatively uneventful and timely, which sounds good, but unfortunately meant that our IPDGP was unable to construct a claim for repayment of our train fare due to late arrival. Never mind, perhaps next time Paul.
 
As it was a bright day, our DGP, Geoff Catterall and I decided to walk from Euston to Great Queen Street. Our DGP took some keeping up with, his long legs striding out at pace, and our short limbs going ten to the dozen to keep in step. Other Brethren caught a bus and stopped off for some refreshments at a local Wetherspoons before moving onto the home of Freemasons’ Hall for the meeting. Great Queen Street is very large building with numerous lodge rooms, museum, shop and cafe plus many ancillary rooms and Offices. Also, the Connaught Rooms are contiguous to UGL and a fine opulent venue for large events.
Spot the odd three out?
For those of you who like a bit of extra detail on these sorts of building, you may be aware that the current Art Deco designed Freemasons Hall was constructed as memorial to over 3000 Masonic Brethren who lost their lives on active service during the 1st World War. I understand that the Connaught Rooms were constructed in 1909 on the site of the former Freemasons Tavern which had been on this site in various forms since 1775, and originally housed the offices and meeting rooms of the Premier Grand Lodge. In many respects, all Great Queen Street buildings are historically interconnected through Freemasonry, and are well worth a visit if you ever venture into the Capital.
 
Having stowed away our cases and jackets, some of us headed down to the onsite café for a cuppa and a chat with both friends and strangers alike. As always, when you are enjoying yourself and putting the world to rights, time passes quickly, and soon it was time to gather in Grand Council for the main event. A large audience started to build as we listened to the dulcet tones of the Grand DC’s who provided us with the usual safeguarding and ceremonial instructions.
Mark Barton (4th from left) with his colleague DGP’s
No sooner said than done, and the various processions of the great and the good paraded into the auditorium to much acclaim. I’m pleased to record that one of the processions included our new DGP, together with his colleagues from other Districts, all resplendent in their ceremonial chain of Office.
All systems go in the Grand Temple
The Grand Master opened the Council in ‘Ample Form’ and thereafter followed salutations and speeches befitting of these sorts of occasions. The highlight of the meeting was, as always, the appointment and investiture of Officers, and West Lancashire was particularly blessed with no less than 6 first appointments / promotions. These included first appointments for Roy Ashley (acting rank of GStwd), Barry Tomlinson (PGStdB), Richard Higson (PGIG); and promotions for Stuart Mowbray (PGJD), Brian Povey (PGJD) and Jimmy Rogers PGJD. At the end of the investiture, the Grand Master gave a field promotion to a Brother who was 100 years old, and this proud Allied Mason was agile enough to walk up to the Podium and back to his seat without any assistance, what guy!
West Lancashire Recipients receive congratulations from Brethren of WL
Following the Council being closed once again in ample form, Brethren made their way out of the auditorium and onwards to dinner in the Connaught Rooms. Unfortunately, on this occasion the 20 plus West Lancs Brethren were seated on 3 tables, one of which was some distance from the others. Still, this didn’t spoil our enjoyment and the food was quickly consumed and wine bottles emptied amidst plenty of chatter and laughter.
West Lancs Brethren at the Feast
The speeches were short and sweet, and without much ado the festivities came to a close. Those wanting a final drink made their way to a tavern across the road in Great Queen Street, while others made their way back to Euston Station to await the train back to God’s Country. There are no juicy bits of gossip to relate from our journey home, not that I know of anyway,…………honest!
 
Words by the Cockney Cocciumite
Photographs by the ‘Chorley Rebel,’ and the new ‘He who must be obeyed.’