If you remember Tetris the block sorting game, then that was the car park at the recent West Midlands Allied District annual meeting at Burton on Trent. Somehow the Allied brethren had managed brilliantly to cram in an unbelievble number of cars into the most complicated shaped car parking area without a scratch to any vehicle. Very impressive.
East Lancashire District consisting of 8 members set off early morning to arrive on site in good time and to a refresh with coffee and the traditional Bacon Butty. All was well.
The Masonic Hall at Burton on Trent was very noisy on arrival and full of Allied brethren from all districts enjoying the company of each other and renewing old acquaintances. The East Lancashire contingent somehow managed to get together and sort themselves out.
The Brethren were all seated by 10:45 am and the meeting commenced shortly afterwards. It was a full summons of 22 items of business with the highlight being the appointment and investiture of District Grand Officers of the year. The meeting was very well received by the visiting brethren and by the time we had sung the first verse of the National Anthem it was almost 1:00 pm and the brethren were ready for lunch.
Two Grand Stewards, Richard Barker of West Midlands and Bob Summers of East Lancashire District, both appointed at the Grand Council Meeting in October last year were also attending the meeting and met for the first time in office. They were sat opposite each other for lunch and never shut up talking. With a bit of luck we may see Richard at our East Lancshire District Meeting on September 12th
The festive board was really well organised and served quickly by the catering team, the stewards did a great job of ensuring wine glasses were full and replenished sharply. Nobody went hungry or thirsty and you could tell the brethren were having a good time from the noise coming from the assembly, all too soon the toasts were completed and the festivities came to an end.
It was a long day but well worth the effort to visit another District Grand Councils Meeting. It certainly wont be our last of 2026 and I would recommend making the effort to join the District officers and experience at least one of these meetings during the year. The next outing is a fairly local one at Cheshire and North Wales District Grand Council, and If you are interested in coming let the East Lancs District Secretary Ed Barton know and he can make the arrangements with you.