News

Our December meeting, attended by 33 members and 93 visitors, combined a celebration of the approaching Christmas period with the dedication of our new Lodge banner.

We were graced by the presence of the Provincial Grand Master, the Deputy Provincial Grand Master, the Assistant Provincial Grand Master and many other members of Provincial Grand Lodge.

The Dedicating Office, VWBro Barrie Hall, directed the dedication ceremony from the Chair. The Provincial Grand Chaplain, WBro Tony Avery, gave a Dedication Prayer. Our WM, WBro Peter Broughton, received the banner on behalf of the Lodge.

Shown above - r to l front row - Provincial Secretary, WBro Wayne Williams; Provincial Chaplain, WBro Tony Avery; Provincial Grand Master, RWBro Nicolas Hart; WM WBro Peter Broughton; Deputy Provincial Grand Master, VWBro Barrie Hall, the Assistant Provincial Grand Master, WBro Derek Young; Provincial Organist, WBro John Hitchin; Provincial Director of Ceremonies, WBro Neville Manning.

Shown above - r to l back row - IPM, WBro Tim Maher; Treasurer, WBro Glyn Wakeford; Chaplain, WBro John Neale; DC, WBro Peter King; JW, Bro John Morgan; SD, Bro Gerry Crawford; Secretary, WBro Bob Farey; JD, WBro Ron Jennings; ADC/Charity Steward, WBro Alan Bailey.

We thank the Embroidery Department at Grand Lodge and its Manager, Anna Fernandes, for such a superb job in making the new banner which is considered by everyone who sees it to be magnificent.

Also at this December meeting, WBro Alan Bailey was elected as Master Elect for 2004.

Castle Hill Parent Contact Centre is part of a registered charity that provides meeting facilities for parents and children who are separated.

Our WM, WBro Bro Peter Broughton, and Charity Steward, WBro Alan Bailey, met representatives of the Centre and presented them with a cheque for £250 to help in the start up of their new Centre in Northampton.

Picture shows (r to l) WBro Peter Broughton, representatives of Castle Hill Parent Contact Centre and WBro Alan Bailey

On the occasion of our Charity Race Night at St George's Avenue we presented a cheque for £250 to representatives of Duston Knights Football Club, Northampton, who stayed with us and enjoyed the evening.

Picture shows WBro Alan Bailey (left), WM, WBro Peter Broughton (centre rear), two Duston Knights players wearing the kit our donation has funded and their coach.

Our Charity Steward ,WBro Alan Bailey presented a cheque for £500 to the 31st Northampton JG Shipman House Scout Group - a Scout Group that caters for children with special needs.

Picture shows (l to r) WBro Alan Bailey presenting cheque to Alistair Cochran with Scout Group members

On receiving the cheque and offering his thanks, Scout Leader Alistair Cochran said, "We have had difficulty lately in raising money to support the valuable work carried on here so we are most grateful for this donation. Believe me it will be put to good use in helping us to help the kids."

As they were show round the Scouts' meeting place, WBro Alan Bailey and Bro Gerry Crawford were struck by a notice. It had been discussed and agreed by everyone in the Scout Group and showed the standard of behaviour expected. Although expressed in a different language, it has many parallels with the Masonic code of conduct. By kind permission of Scout Leader Alistair Cochran we reproduce this notice in full. Perhaps any organisation couldn't go far wrong by adopting these standards!

31st Northampton Scout Group

Behaviour we expect
We expect Cubs, Scouts, Venture Scouts and Leaders to:

listen when someone else is talking and don't give them backchat
do as Leaders ask
think of others and not call people names, swear, or be rude to them, or tell tales about someone else
be careful when playing games by not kicking the ball too high or hard in case it hits someone
tell the truth
leave other people's things alone and not to steal something that belongs to someone else
think of others and not to kick them, push them, shove them about, punch them or pull their shirts or clothes
be careful of our building by not playing with the blinds, the lights, the cooker or the heaters, or standing on the table or chairs
be careful of the things that could hurt them like the heaters or cooker
hang up coats tidily

Coincidentally, the 31st Northampton Scout Group was founded 75 years ago - as was Grey Friars. A second coincidence is that two members of Grey Friars, WBro Dick Cowling (see April Meeting Presentations, below) and WBro Ron Goodson, have connections with this Scout Group going back more years than perhaps they would care to remember!

The Deputy Provincial Grand Master, V WBro Barrie Hall made three presentations to:

Our April meeting was special occasion. A total of 130 attended. There were so many visitors that the ceremony was held in the Griggs Room and the Festive Board in the Ballroom. The Festive Board had its usual St George's Night theme. All present were entertained with a repertoire of appropriate songs and renditions. Our visitors included our Deputy Provincial Grand Master, V WBro Barrie Hall and the Assistant Provincial Grand Master, WBro Norman Coulson.

Forty eight members and guests went on a charabanc trip on a visit to a regular meeting of Remembrance Lodge No 4037 in Swindon. The association between Grey Friars and Remembrance has been established over the years since Grey Friars member, WBro Peter Jones, moved to Swindon. WBro Peter regularly visits his mother Lodge with guests from Remembrance. Grey Friars pays reciprocal visits.

To further the process of commissioning the production of our new banner, our WM, WBro Peter Broughton (pictured - centre), our Secretary, WBro Bob Farey (pictured - left) and other Brethren visited the Embroidery Department at United Grand Lodge.

There they met the Manager, Anna Fernandes (pictured - right) and her staff who demonstrated some examples of their most excellent work. Grey Friars has now commissioned the Embroidery Department to produce its new banner. It is expected this will be dedicated in October or November 2003.

Our Lodge banner is the original which was dedicated at the consecration of Grey Friars Lodge on the 12 January 1928.

Over the years it has become dry, brittle and delicate (some would say like some of our members!).

In January 2003 we therefore laid up our banner which is now housed in a beautiful wood and glass case kindly made for us by our DC, WBro Terry Broughton. This is on display at Northampton Masonic Centre.

We are now in the process of commissioning the production of a new banner which we will try to have completed in this, the 75th year of our Lodge.