As in all Lodges at Christmas, the Almoners of Daventry’s four main Craft Lodges, WBro Bill Mead of Beneventa, WBro John Percival of Coritani, Bro Ivor King of Danetre and WBro Robin Hitchcock of Buckby Castle, thought about the Widows of our much missed, departed brethren.
Whereas the brethren of most lodges usually ensure their widows are stocked up with Christmas Hampers and Department Store Gift Vouchers, Coritani Lodge had for many years been fortunate to add a ‘little extra’. The little extra was a Christmas lunch hosted from their home by WBro Burt and Bridget Pointing; their home was also before their retirement the highly popular restaurant, The Windsor Lodge, which with Burt’s son WBro Anthony they used to run. Unfortunately, that tradition ended this year in April when WBro Burt sadly passed away.
Unfazed, Coritani’s WM, WBro Max Reynolds, together with WBro Graham Ballinger, PM in Buckby Castle Lodge, approached the WM’s of Beneventa, WBro John Henley; WBro Dick Godwin of Danetre and WBro Alan Hutchinson of Buckby Castle who agreed to organize and share the costs of hosting a joint lunch at the Daventry Masonic Centre.
The lunch was held on Sunday 13th December with a menu of Prawn Cocktail, Roast Beef & trimmings and various Deserts prepared by Spencer Richards and his team of waitresses from The Buffet Company, DMC’s usual caterer in their usual professional and yet homely fashion.
Congratulations to WBro Bill Mead who managed to capture a snap of a very special guest – Santa (or was it?) who dropped in to hand out some special prizes.
This year the event was pleased to welcome 22 widows, who with the several lodge WM’s and Almoners along with their wives and other guests, made a party of over 40 people; a very Merry throng.
Hearty congratulations are due to WBros Max and Graham for creating and organizing a new ‘Tradition’; The Daventry Lodge Widow’s Combined Christmas Lunch.