Having had their last Olde English Night in 2016, the brethren of Lodge of Faith No 484 decided it was high time that they hosted another and did so in a splendid manner. Following a business meeting in the temple, the fun and games began in earnest downstairs in the function room at Bryn Masonic Hall.
Beadle and Fines Master for the evening was Mervyn Reeves who dished out well deserved fines for such heinous activity as losing gavels (£1), using a plastic spoon (50p), drinking with the right hand (50p) and leaving the room without permission (50p). He was ably assisted by stewards Itchy and Scratchy, aka Bob Duff and John Bimpson, and they managed the onerous task of collecting all the fines being meted out to the unruly mob at the tables.
The WM Benjamin Pevitt was admitted in full pilot’s costume, complete with mini aeroplane and proceeded to make two ‘aerial’ laps of the room accompanied by the Dam Busters’ theme and also Those Magnificent Men in Their Flying Machines, before taking his rightful place at the top table. Small aircraft construction kits were provided to all participants so they didn’t feel left out, with the air in the dining room at one point being filled with a mini version of the Battle of Britain!
To the apparent relief of all present, the announcement that the food was ready was made, with the Ode to the Black Pudding delivered in fine style by the Beadle, before the assembled masses were fed with black pudding, pea and ham soup and a main course of roast beef with all the trimmings – a sumptuous feast indeed!
No Olde English Night would be complete without some entertainment and this was no exception with the talents of Rob Mason being employed to perform a lively selection of Lancashire folk songs with which all present joined in with enthusiasm, some being almost in tune!! Songs performed included; ‘You are my Sunshine’, “When I were a lad’, ‘Ee by gum but I’m cowd” and ‘Down at our school”.
Once the rapturous applause died down, Kamil Kaczmarek (Kam) presented the WM with a mini set of working tools. Following on from this, the raffle ensued. Between the raffle and the fines, £289 was raised for Masonic and non-Masonic charities.
The last business of the evening was to present the WM with a pig’s head in time honoured tradition, at which it was apparent that he was overjoyed to receive such a thoughtful presentation.
The tyler’s toast was proposed by John Mason and the whole entourage retired home following and most entertaining and enjoyable Olde English Night. The brethren now hope it’s not seven years until the next one!!
