My wife and I were the guests of Manchester St David’s Lodge Herefordshire. This is a travelling lodge ! Rather than closing the Manchester based lodge because of falling membership several members got together and moved from Manchester to Herefordshire meeting twice a year and making sure that those meetings are on a weekend so the ladies can enjoy a weekend away if they wish.

The meeting on 11th June was at Cheshire View, Christleton Nr Chester a beautiful modern building purpose built Masonic Hall.

The master happened to be  Michael T Holland, PGM of Herefordshire accompanied by his deputy PGM Graham King along with distinguished brethren from many other provinces.

I gave a talk on The Life and Times of Rudyard Kipling at which the ladies were present and it was received extremely well. Michael Holland then asked me to nominate a charity of my choice and a donation was then made to DURHAM BENEVOLENCE, the largest single donation I have received in in 26years. I was also delighted to have my mentor John Proctor of West York’s who started me on this Rudyard Kipling journey 27 years ago, he gave his approval as well !!

Photo  :-  Left to right

Mike Hopkins sec, Mrs C Holland,  Michael T Holland PGM Herefordshire, Mrs Margaret Sweet,  Malcolm Sweet, Graham King Deputy PGM.

A Masonic night I will never forget

Malcolm Sweet