Lodge Burns Night with some extras thrown into the mix made for a great festive board…
Petitor Lodge No.8234 conducted a passing ceremony for Bro. Allery, but with a slight difference! The Worshipful Master W. Bro Bob Horne entered the Lodge accompanied by the bagpipes being played by their Visiting Grand Officer W. Bro Keith Metcalfe.
The work carried out was exemplary and all who participated had obviously worked long and hard to deliver such good ritual. W. Bro Clive Greenberry delivered the second degree tracing board, in a superb manner and with great feeling, to the candidate and others who wished to watch the rendition.
Needless to say that everybody was looking forward to the festive board. With the refectory decorated with lots of flags representing Scotland, including displays on the tables, and a personalised menu for each diner to take away as a keepsake, I can safely say that the scene was set for a great evening.
The Worshipful Master was piped into the refectory after which W. Bro Keith Metcalfe piped the haggis, carried by W. Bro Brian Rankin, as it was displayed to all at the festive board.
W. Bro Brian Rankin proceeded with the address to the haggis with great gusto and dramatics, which certainly helped the understanding of those parts where the Scots vernacular left some of us lost! However, we were treated to a snifter of Jura 10 year old single malt while we listened to a rendition of the Essential Working Tools for the haggis from the Senior Warden, W. Bro John Burn, and W. Bro Gordon Cairns, who entertained us in great fashion.
Toward the end of the festive board we were promised a treat of some the poems written by the Baird, Robbie Burns. As you will see from the photos below, key lodge members were given a poem to read in their best Scottish accents, whilst wearing traditional headgear complete with ginger hair. Some of the accents were dubious to say the least, as for pronunciation of some words, it was suggested that an interpreter would be required if we only knew which language the presenter was using. Clive managed to raise plenty of laughs with his combination of accent, pronunciation and most jaunty positioning of his Tam O’Shanter!
I would like to thank the Worshipful Master, Officers and Brethren of the lodge for an evening that was thoroughly enjoyed by everyone who was in attendance, and where new friendships were made as well.
W. Bro David Goode PPrSGD
St John’s Lodge No.328