During March 2019, two Corby lodges, Corbie Lodge No. 9155 and Ferraria Lodge No. 8489, celebrated significant milestones within 6-days of each other.
Brethren from both lodges paid reciprocal visits to the other thus resulting in two well-attended meetings thoroughly enjoyed by all.
300th Corbie Lodge Meeting - Thursday the 14th of March 2019
Corbie Lodge kicked-off the celebrations with their 300th meeting on Thursday the 14th March 2019.
The official visitor was the Assistant Provincial Grand Master, WBro Lou Orsi PAGDC, accompanied by WBro Paull Hoffmann ProvAGDC. VWBro Wayne Williams PGSwdB & Past Assistant Provincial Grand Master (also an honorary member of the Lodge) was also in attendance.
During the evening, Bro Ronan Keegans was raised during a super ceremony led by the Worshipful Master, WBro Ian Lapsley.
Corbie Lodge’s two remaining founder members, WBro Mike Coleman PPJGW and WBro Peter Konarczak PPJGW, were presented with a commemorative glass together with a comic printed on the day of the Lodge's consecration.
The festive board included a quiz about Corbie Lodge, which - strangely enough - was won by a Wellingborough Mason, WBro John Marlow!
WBro Lou and VWBro Wayne were both presented with bottles of whisky.
Not to be outdone, WBro Orsi also came away with a set of new hub-caps!
WBro Mike Coleman welcomed the visitors with a warm and welcoming toast during which he took time to remember some of the characters of the Lodge who had very sadly since passed to the Grand Lodge above.
WBro Mike Coleman PPJGW and WBro Peter Konarczak PPJGW blowing-out the cake
Everyone left the festivities having enjoyed a fantastic evening and a very tasty piece of cake made by Mrs Sandra Summerfield!
400th Ferraria Lodge Meeting - Tuesday the 19th of March 2019
With only a few days of rest in-between, Ferraria Lodge celebrated its 400th meeting on Tuesday 19th March.
The Deputy Provincial Grand Master, WBro Charles Bennett PSGD, was the official visitor on the evening. He was accompanied by WBro Bill Abram ProvAGDC.
The Worshipful Master, WBro Richard Skillen, took charge of Bro Lee Crozier's Passing ceremony, which was enjoyed by all.
Ferraria’s two remaining founder members, WBro Barry Cole PJGD and WBro John Hallum PPSGW, were presented with gift-vouchers from the Lodge.
Those present were most interested to hear some of WBro John's memories, which he gave during his thank-you speech.
The festive board was a special 70’s style meal based on Ferraria's first Ladies Night.
WBro Stephen Burton PProvSGD (also one of the Corby Group Officers) and Bro Robert Poulter took the brethren on an enjoyable journey back-in-time starting with the formation of the Lodge on the 19th of May 1973 and passing through the 100th, 200th, and 300th meetings. They regaled those present with details of significant events and popular culture throughout.
At the end of the evening, the Worshipful Master of Corbie Lodge, WBro Ian Lapsley, presented the Worshipful Master of Ferraria Lodge, WBro Richard Skillen with a framed copy of the original Ferraria Consecration summons together with that of the 400th meeting, which everyone agreed was a thoroughly memorable occasion.