To all the Members and Friends of Heritage Lodge,
When drafting my traditional Secretary’s Christmas message last year we were deep into the Covid 19 Pandemic, and I anticipated at that time that we would not likely meet again until October 2021. This was sadly exactly what happened for all the reasons now well documented leading up to that same point.
We did however, as a Lodge, hold eighteen separate ‘Zoom’ meetings during the enforced ‘Suspension’ period and I thank once again all those who attended and kept our ‘body and soul’ together on-line over this strange and difficult period.
These online meetings were further supplemented by a comprehensive programme of very interesting and informative sessions organised by the Province, several of which I attended and passed on any useful links via our own network of virtual meetings together with postings on our Lodge website.
Our first regular meeting back at Oakley House was held on the fourth Saturday in October 2021 and we had a good return of numbers for what was supposed to be a live Initiation meeting but was changed to become mainly an administration meeting. This was because our new candidate James, had to attend to his Territorial Army duties and his Initiation was therefore put forward to the November meeting.
In November we welcomed James as a new candidate and Bro. ‘Sab’ as a joining member to the Lodge and we wish them both a long and distinguished career in Freemasonry under our banner.
Whilst drafting this year’s message I am once again hesitant going into 2022 as a new variant of Covid 19 has been identified in early December 2021 and there have already been calls in Government circles to re-introduce further restrictions of movement although this time it is against a back-drop of what has become a quite successful vaccination programme.
We are all hoping therefore , that this will keep any such further restrictions to a minimum and avoid the need for any additional disruption to our Masonic programme for the coming year.
My thanks also go out to W. Bro. Murat who now has the unique position of being our Worshipful Master for three consecutive years as a direct consequence of the Pandemic and to Bro. Steve Ratcliff, our Master Elect for continuing patiently to await being installed as WM. In addition to the existing Officers who have again remained at their respective stations until, as we have agreed collectively, they will change at the Installation meeting now rescheduled for March 2022.
On a more positive note the Lodge was able to hold it’s normal ‘live’ LOI Supper on 1st December 2021 which was well attended by 37 members and guests at Oakley House who enjoyed a fun packed evening of silly games and carols whilst also enjoying a superb traditional Christmas dinner and my thanks to all the team at Oakley House for making the evening a success. In true Masonic spirit the event also raised over £100 for our Master’s appointed charity, the details of which are shown on the attached menu card which accompanied the festivities.
We have also posted a few photographs as part of this message with some light-hearted comments against each of those listed!
Moving forward I hope therefore that we are able to carry on our work as a Lodge in 2022 unhindered by any further restrictions as we have a good programme planned ahead which involves, we hope, returning to some form of ‘normality’ whatever the new ‘normality’ may ultimately become.
On a personal front I have now relinquished the Secretarial role associated with the Lodge of Instruction to W.Bro. Murat and intend to stand down as Secretary in two years’ time having handed over the reins fully to W.Bro. Murat as agreed in our Lodge Succession plan. I will have then held the role for over 12 years at the time of full hand-over and it will be time for ‘fresh blood’ to take up the challenge for the next few years and have no doubt that it will be in good hands for the future.
In the meantime however, I wish you all a very Merry Christmas and hopefully a happy and prosperous New Year.
Tony Saunders
Secretary, Heritage Lodge no. 5572
Only a scout leader can make a carol into a round!
Serves us right for having a joining member who owns a garage!
W.Bro. Hummersone secures yet another speaking part to present top raffle prize!
Secretary starting the diet next year!
Our Worshipful Master had hair when he took the chair three years ago!