At Durham Masonic Hall we celebrated the start of something special in the Masonic Province of Durham, with the founding of the Armed Forces Network with a full blown mess dinner.
AFC chairman Richard H Tucker MBE, along with the President for the evening John Henry, Vice President Paul Fryer along with Richard Vipond, Frank White, Mark Aram and Lee Whitworth came together to put on a wonderful military dinner experience to bring together the veterans and those who serve in our province.
The team were also joined by members from our neighbouring Province representatives of their “Northumberland Armed Forces Lodge”
The honoured guest for the evening was 97 year old Gilbert Thompson a veteran of the Airborne Regiment who was twice shot and who flew gliders landing in occupied territory.
The room remembered absent friends with the silhouette of fallen comrades sitting at their table .
The room was buzzing with friendly military banter between the services and with the accompanying music from the “Prize Winning” Cockerton Brass Band , lee Whitworth and the amazing piper, the atmosphere is fantastic.
In his speech our Provincial Grand Master John Thompson thanked the team for an exceptional evening and for the work the AFC had completed in a busy 12 months and for now launching the Network, he hopes those attending will see what the group are accomplishing and hopefully will be willing to join in. It’s important as an organisation that Freemasons support our armed forces both serving and our veterans.
If you want to support our armoured forces network please contact the secretary Mark Aram: sec.3417@gmail.com
Stronger Together







