Craft News
- Written by: Rob Taylor
At their December meeting, the Lodge of Perseverance 455 hosted a presentation of the Prestonian Lecture entitled, `Music in Masonry and Beyond` superbly delivered by W Bro Wayne Warlow. This excellent & interactive lecture was first presented by W Bro Wayne in 2010 and a full house in Kettering were treated to a most enjoyable & informative evening.
The Lodge and visitors were honoured by the presence of the Provincial Grand Master, RW Bro Max Bayes, the Assistant Provincial Grand Master, W Bro David Burton and many other esteemed brethren.
- Written by: Michael Genner
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.
- Written by: Michael Genner
The presentation to Daventry's Guide Dogs for the Blind by Buckby Castle lodge took place in the “Early Doors” Micro Pub in Sheaf Street, Daventry.
It costs up to £50,000 to train a guide dog, the WM W Bro Mike Raine wanted to donate to a local charity and selected the Guide Dogs for the Blind. This particular charity seeks to raise £5000 annually so this donation was gratefully received.
The donation was the result of a very successful year of fund raising, including a Ladies Festival and auction of promises.
WBro Mike A Raine, IPM of the Buckby Castle Lodge said that it gave him great pleasure, on behalf of the Freemasons of Buckby Castle Lodge, which is associated with the village of Long Buckby and Daventry, to present a cheque of £1000 to the Daventry Association of the Guide Dogs for the Blind.
This is just the sort of organization that we, as Freemasons, are committed to helping, important community services that provide real assistance to people with visual impairments.
The picture shows WBro Mike Raine, (left) and WBro Malcolm Payne presenting the cheque to Ms Rachel Nafzger with her dog Nikita
- Written by: Michael Genner
Waynflete Lodge members provided mulled wine at the Brackley's Carols on the Piazza. The event took place on Sunday 20th and providing the mulled wine helped to raise £340 for the Mayor's Charity.
The Town Hall provided the backdrop to the event and is the location for Waynflete's meetings. A £2.5m refurbishment of the Town Hall is to start next year at which time the Lodge will meet and eat in the Crown Hotel located just across the Piazza. Waynflete Lodge has met in the Town Hall since 1923. At the completion of the refurbishment Waynflete will have a purpose built storage area for the Temple furniture, a lift is to be installed between the three floors of the building and the Temple space will have been rejuvenated.