Installation 2018

W.Bro Alan Martin Breward was installed into the chair of Internet Lodge on Saturday March 17th 2018 at our meeting at Manchester Hall.

The Worshipful Master with his Officers, members and principal guests It was a weekend of highs and not so highs as our new Worshipful Master's story will tell !   Brethren ALL, A very, very BIG thank you ALL for the warm messages of congratulations both direct at the Festive board Saturday and on the social media pages. Now I have to make my first apology as master of the Lodge. Because of a overnight in Salford General hospital Accident & Emergency dept. Following a slip, slide and fall! On the ice & snow! I wasn't able to get around to say farewell and god speed for your homeward journey on the Sunday. Well Saturday started grand after what I thought was a very, very nice welcome buffet on the first floor room on the Friday evening, I thought the the food was fine and plentiful, we had seating for 50 with known 47 expected so we should ALL have been able to sit and talk, yes the beers, wines and drink were "top" city prices BUT it is the norm! Thank you Caid for the tankard gift it will be used! So with the short drive by David thank you, as I had a great deal of "presentation" stuff to get to the Halls away we went. A short journey and we were one of the first to arrive, the festive board had been set up The test for the Working tools was then worked when an IT guru WBro Paul Span came to the rescue and worked out the screen and projector link! With the adaptor plugged into MacBook Pro and Bridge street system we were ready to go! A very short rehearsal, then open and on we go. The Ceremony I found very, very touching and I hope that EVERYONE enjoyed it? If you had guests who aren't members please, please pass on my thanks. So it was up for the chair and after being presented by WBro Chris White (many thanks) it was on to the Obligation! WBro John Dutchman-Smith and now WBro Carl Freeland thank you both for the way you placed me into the chair of our truly WONDERFUL Lodge. Then the Board was closed and on with the Ceremony, and the entry for Master Masons. The test for the 3rd Degree tools and on came WBro Rajest Poddar from India and a perfect presentation with the working tools being held aloft by WBro Alan Turton. What then followed was the 2nd Degree tools from WBro Fernando Barrosa da Silva from Brazil and the 1st Degree tools from WBro Graham Russell in Malaysia. Thank you all. Formalities over and thank you WBro Steve Gregory and WBro David Hedley for your smooth running of the appointments Etc. So then parade out a quick about turn and photos thanks to WBro Cristian Pocol. The Festive Board, thank you WBro Ken Morris for the rendition of the Masters song supported by WBro Chris Malpus (whose journey to Manchester is another story! Almost a good as mine to Bucharest 2 weeks ago!). So to the Tylers toast. After a quick shower and change it was taxis for some to be entertained at Salford Masonic Hall and the Manchester Police band! Great but the "Street Car" drivers sat navs need up dating! So a Great evening of entertainment thanks WBro Peter Hegarty for info, with traditional Lancashire hot buffet. Wonderful old "swing time songs and tunes" and a raffle (or for you Roy a Ruffle!) now I believe this is where I started to "slip" won a bottle of Rose and as a lot of you know I have stopped the wine drinking! But the party ended and taxis were called BUT busy night in Manchester and the expected times for taxies stretched from 16 to 40 mins! BUT eventually the first one came and Bill, Ken and Enid set off to AC Marriott, Vicky Chris and I made the decision that the warmest and quickest way back was by foot! Another mistake, compounded by me picking up my raffle prize! So not gone a 1/4 mile and the slip started and I'm sticking to my story of demonstrating the Welsh try (NO TRY) agains England! But my rugby ball was a litre bottle !! Down I went on both hands and knees! Bottle breaks and lots of blood from the right palm, tissues would not stop flow but we did what we could and kicked the glass to the side heading to the hotel. There McDonalds (the Golden Arches) clean toilet, hot coffee and free WiFi. Im pushed into the Loo by Vicky and wash the wounds, Now I have nothing but praise for the young manageress who provided bandages to wrap the hand and then get a taxi (less than a minute, wish I had here contacts with "Uber". And then back to the Hotel to what I though would be bed and rest! Vicky asked if they could provide a couple of plasters, no sooner said than done BUT wait the first aider appeared and cleaned the wounds saying I need hospitalisation and possible stitches, the Hotel staff were excellent and a Taxi called and paid for on the Hotel account and a card given to Vicky for return journey! Salford Hospital A & E. Nothing but praise for this staff, never been there before, every thing explained and waits expected and accepted. Nurse assess the cuts and wounds and dresses them, Xray where I was asked to remove bandages only to spill blood (lots of it) on to the plates! Some time latter I was seen by another nurse practitioner and cleaned up and no stitches BUT supper glued together. You will be pleased to know that Vicky has told me NO Photos! So its just after 5 and lots of snow but "Street cars" arrive and we go back to the Hotel only waking at 08:45! So missed a number of you heading home "Sorry" Anyway Breakfast and goodbyes and fill Bills car with baggage Etc. and the journey home south to Birmingham, excellent clean and clear until 3 miles from home and the flurries in Manchester were a little deeper here in Birmingham. Gave Bill opportunity to select "snow" drive in the Land Rover! Home unpacked shower rest and slept all afternoon and a short break and bed until 0600 and the cat wanting out this morning! So after this it shower again and rest. Brethren, Thanks again to ALL of you and this wonderful Lodge. Looking forward to our next happy meeting. WBro Alan Breward March 2018