Once more the North Harrow Sailing 2016 extravaganza was underway and 6 Lodge members spent the weekend sailing the Solent on ‘Sea Song’ a chartered 42′ yacht .[tribulant_slideshow gallery_id=”9″]

We gathered at Hamble Marina to sign off the yacht on the Thursday afternoon and enjoyed the usual chilli dinner on board that evening. The next morning, we slipped lines and headed down the Hamble with our destination set for Poole. The weather was not completely kind to us and although the rain held off, we were tormented by 30 knot winds and strong spring tides which made our sailing quite demanding.

We were welcomed into the marina by a few Dorset Freemasons brandishing copious bottles of bubbly to welcome our arrival, after which our first evening was spent in the town at one of the local hostelries where we had arranged to meet a few more of our “Twitterati” brethren to enjoy a great evening of chat accompanied by plates of the best fish and chips we’ve tasted in a long time and of course the mandatory pint or two.

However, the next morning we did notice that our Middlesex flag had broken from the mast during the strong winds, so a press gang was sent to find a willing crew member to re-attach it by means of the bosun’s chair and who else could we find to take the Queen’s shilling than that of our Chaplain, W.Bro Terry Clayfield  (nearer to God than the rest of us), so we hoisted him 40′ up the mast to rectify the situation..

A wonderful weekend was enjoyed by all (despite the conditions)  and arrangements are already underway for next year’s extravaganza. A short video of our exploits are on YouTube

The North Harrow Ladies Night took place on Saturday 23rd April with over 100 North Harrow members, partners and guests attending the function at the Hilton National Watford Hotel.

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This has always been a special fun evening, one that has been run almost every year for the last 50 or so years and has become one of the highlights of the Lodge social calendar,
more especially important now as over the last few years we have initiated so many young masons into the Lodge that this could be possibly one the first formal functions they may have attended, so it was most important that they had a good time, that’s why it was great to see so many present at this event.

The evening started with a pre-function reception in the bar at 6.30pm before being asked to make our way to the banqueting suite and take our seats for dinner at 7.30. After an excellent 3 course meal there were the usual toasts during dinner and it was at the request of our Worshipful Master that formal speeches were kept to an absolute minimum to enable all assembled to take advantage of the dancing that was to follow.

However, W.Bro Terry Clayfield did have the honour, privilege and pleasure in singing the traditional “Ladies Song”, another masonic tradition…..The three piece band were absolutely brilliant and easily contributed to the evening being another great success for the North Harrow Ladies Night ( this can always be gauged by the dance floor being packed at all times) everyone had enjoyed another successful evening.

Special thanks must go to the festival committee  for organising such a wonderful evening once again and to all those who attended and supported the Lodge in making this great event such a success… roll on 2017

Last week I had the honour and pleasure of attending the Worshipful Company of Butchers Ladies’ Banquet.

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The Company’s Ladies Banquet this year took place at Goldsmiths’ Hall, a beautiful and charming palazzo style building built in the late 1820s and faithfully restored, post the Second World War, after a bomb exploded in the southwest corner in 1941.

200 Liverymen donned in white tie and tails and guests attending the
event on a cold evening the Reception was a sparkling affair with the Royal Marines Association Brass Quintet providing stirring and uplifting accompaniment before and during dinner. The Company guests were The Lord Mayor who is also Master of Guildhall Lodge No.3116 and his Consort, Lord and Lady Mountevans, accompanied by their Sheriffs, Alderman Charles Bowman and his wife Samantha as well as Dr Christine Rigden accompanied by her husband Stephen. We also were fortunate to have Mrs Isobel d’Inverno, The Deacon of the Incorporation of Fleshers of Glasgow, and her husband Brigadier Joseph d’Inverno.

Dinner was a sumptuous four course affair commencing with Spring Garden Pea Mousse with Serrano Ham Crisp and Ham Hock Terrine, followed by a delicious Sole Veronique. The main course was a delightfully cooked rump of lamb although it has to be said that only a true trencherman could have eaten the quantity provided! Dessert was a well presented citrus tart with a blackcurrant sorbet quenelle. This was followed by the Loving Cup Ceremony, a tradition amongst Livery Companies that goes back generations. The RMA Quintet finished with a breathtaking Post Horn Galop (how do musicians appear not to take breath during the finale!). Toasts and speeches followed with The Master, Patricia Dart, launching the Companies Fundraising Appeal to support the refurbishment of The Hall and presenting a cheque to The Lord Mayor for his Charity Appeal as well as a present of a paperknife masquerading as a meat skewer. The Lord Mayor was gracious in his words about The Butchers Livery and our strong role in the City. The toast to The Guests was humorously made by Stuart Thompson our Renter Assistant with The Deacon of The Fleshers replying who made much of their ties with The Butchers Livery as well as commenting on the role of women in both Companies.

The evening was rounded off with a spectacular, light hearted, post dinner entertainment by Apollo5, an ‘a capella’ ensemble of five very talented singers who had everyone swaying in their seats with tunes such as Java Jive, Sway and a cracking encore of Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy. A huge amount to fit in over quite a short period but the event finished only two minutes over the planned time much to the relief of The Clerk! A Stirrup Cup was then enjoyed but all too soon it was time to depart. The 2016 Banquet has certainly set the bar for future events.

Keeping Freemasonry on the move is one of our main objectives.

However, It has been a couple of months since my last post and in the back of my mind I knew this would happen. But due to work, family and holiday pressures, the website has not had a blog posted. Sorry Guys ! so I thought I would bring you up to date NOW with what has been happening at North Harrow.

In December we had our yearly Christmas lunch at the Metropolitan Police Sports Club in Bushey, where  over 20 of us attended and had a lovely meal in their carvery restaurant. All of us enjoyed a great afternoon of fun, food and fellowship. It’s what Freemasonry is all about.

On January 15th January  we had over 40 attend our regular meeting at Harrow to witness the initiation of Matthew Jeffrey, the first of our two candidates for this year. Matthew was pleased that his grandfather ( not in photograph) was able to be present and witness his becoming a Freemason. he is a keen cyclist, so I aim to put him in-touch with the Provincial cycling team.

Our next meeting is at Harrow District Masonic Centre on Friday 11th March aims to be another good one, when we will be performing a Ceremony of Passing for Jeffrey and the initiation of Hari Ravindran, who approached me some 2 years ago at the age of 19, with an interest in joining North Harrow. Having been told he would have to wait until he was 21, he contacted me again last August , just after his birthday. It will be my pleasure to initiate him at the meeting.

This should put our active membership to 40, which is almost double what it was 5 years ago and a reduction in our average age from 67 years  to 47 years . That’s what I call bucking the trend.

Please contact me if you would wish to witness what will be a  couple of great ceremonies, just like our regular guest, W.Bro Phil, who seems to get in all the photos !

Following my previous post on my journey of becoming a Liveryman and obtaining the Freedom of the City of London . I thought you may be interested in my next step which was on Thursday 3rd September when I was honoured to be  ‘clothed’ in the Livery of the Worshipful Company of Butchers in a ceremony which for the first time in the Company’s history was allowed to be witnessed by my family and good friends Vaughan & Susan Coleridge-Matthews. The ceremony was followed by the traditional champagne reception and a superb Luncheon of racks of Devon Lamb for the 160 Liverymen and guests in the Great Hall of Ironmongers’ Hall, as Butchers’ Hall has been leased to developers for Five years before its refurbishment.

The Worshipful Company of Butchers is one of the seven oldest of the City of London Livery Companies, we are ranked 24th in order of precedence out of 111 Livery Companies. Granted its Royal Charter of Incorporation by King James 1 in 1605, the Worshipful Company of Butchers has been the significant power behind the trade in the City of London and around Smithfield for over a thousand years. Direct links with the Crown go back before the 12^th century when rents were extracted for markets and grazing.

Livery Companies play a vital part in the government of the City of London, the constitution of which, although unique in the structure of local government in the United Kingdom and enshrined in custom and tradition, is assuredly as effective, economic and democratic as any. Above all, it maintains the position of London as a world centre of business life.

Every Liveryman of the City of London plays his or her own part in the government of the City, as all Liverymen must initially become a Freeman of the City of London. This status allows the Liveryman to choose and elect the Lord Mayor of London and the Sheriffs of the City each year. Liverymen participate in many functions of the City and of the Corporation.

Admission of the individual to the Livery is, accordingly, an act of dedication to the cause of good government and order – and of community service. The Liveryman may earn, indeed may expect to receive if he or she discharges his obligations, the respect and approbation of his fellows. He or she, however, must not expect any personal material advantage or preferment.

The Company is highly active within the City of London and the meat industry. We proudly participate in The Lord Mayor’s Show during November while the traditional delivery, by Liverymen, of a boar’s head to the Lord Mayor at the Mansion House is symbolic of a payment for rent on a piece of land supplied to the Butchers by the Lord Mayor in 1343-but which the City no longer owns and the Butchers no longer rent!

Such events provide the opportunity for fellowship between industry members and the City of London. As part of its educational charitable work the Company is proud to facilitate the development of butchery skills through competitions, courses and apprenticeships while funding bursaries for the Postgraduate Meat Management Diploma at Harper Adams University and supporting Nuffield Scholarships.

A proud and active Livery Company we look forward to serving the country and our industry over the next millennium.