Sulgrave Lodge was both delighted and relieved to welcome to the Province seven of our American brethren from Britannia Lodge No 1166 of New York on Thursday 1 November. Their reasonably prompt arrival was even more remarkable after the chaos and havoc of Hurricane Sandy which had affected them all days prior to departure. Some speedy flight re-arrangements had seen them arrive in Northampton at various times during the day although three others were unable to leave New York and New Jersey due to severe local damage to property and communications but thankfully not to person.
Sulgrave Manor in the South West of Northamptonshire is under the joint sovereignty of both the UK and the United States and on the Friday morning, their guests were entertained to a conducted tour led by their member, Bro Martin Sirot-Smith, the former Director and Curator of the Manor.
In the evening, their American brethren were the guests of Sulgrave Lodge and, with ladies present, Bro Martin Sirot-Smith regaled in his "Washington" medieval attire of the 16th Century, entertained us once more with his renowned presentation of the Washington connection here in the UK.
Eighty two sat down to dine at the Festive Board at which the Provincial Grand Master and his wife, Barbara, were the Lodges principal guests.
On Saturday 3 November, members of Sulgrave Lodge escorted their American guests to Bletchley Park where the ensuing tour leader was our good friend, the ME Grand Superintendent for Bedfordshire, E Comp Bob Lovesey. As a regular volunteer guide, he gave an enthralling conducted tour to impress upon the American brethren that Bletchley Park and the dedicated folk who worked there during the dark years of WWII accomplished so much to bring hostilities, both in Europe and the Far East, to an earlier close.
On Saturday evening, Lodge members and their wives held a farewell dinner at the Cheyne Walk Club in Northampton. The Worshipful Master, VWBro Wayne Williams and the Lodge were able to show their appreciation to their American guests for the determined efforts that they had made in the face of so much adversity back home to visit and to help promote again the best of Anglo-American masonic friendship, true to the traditions of Sulgrave Lodge and Britannia Lodge under the Grand Lodge of the State of New York.