NEWSLETTER 36 Repro - Masonic Province of Yorkshire, West Riding

NEWSLETTER 36 Repro 11/5/07 11:45 AM Page 48
BRITISH
FREEMASONS
IN GERMANY
SIXTEEN Masons from 10 Lodges in the
Province of Yorkshire West Riding visited
Lodge Niederrhein for its Installation
meeting.
Travelling on 1 June, via Leeds
Bradford Airport - and delayed flights and
many time-passing drinks – the Brethren
arrived at the Holiday Inn, Ratingen, near
Dusseldorf, where they were staying and
where, in a converted Conference Room
at the hotel, the meeting was to take
place the following day.
Present at the meeting, which was to
install Bro Peter J Julian into the Chair,
46
was the Grand Master of British
Freemasonry in Germany, the M W Bro
Frederick Thomas Colbran. Other
distinguished guests included two Right
Worshipful Brethren from Canada.
One of the highlights of the
Installation was to see the German
Brethren perform word-perfect English
ritual.
Also witnessed was the reception of
Bro Graham Bailey, from West Riding
Fairways Lodge No 9664, as a Joining
Member and Bro David Rogers, of
Danecastre Lodge No 4843, the
Installation Organist who became an
honorary member of Lodge Niederrhein.
The friendship shown throughout the
visit reminded everyone what
Freemasonry is all about and there were
several characters who made the
weekend so memorable.
Worthy Freemasons All . . . British and German Brethren at the get-together
W Bro Frank Wharton, from Don
Valley Lodge No 3899, an RAF World
War II pilot, was heard to say, "The last
time I flew over Dusseldorf in 1944 I never
bothered to land!"
W Bro Peter Brindley, of Rockingham
Lodge No 4282, the Grand Officer on the
trip, presented the first half of the visitors’
response and the Right Worshipful
Brother who spoke next, remarked "How
do you follow that?"
The weekend went without a hitch
and also included visits around
Dusseldorf, with plenty of food and drink
thrown in.
This was all thanks to the great
atmosphere there and to the organisers,
Bro Graham Bailey, Mrs Karen Bailey and
Bro Derek Lupson, who is a member of
Lodge Niederrhein and Forget Me Not
Lodge No 9419.
OLYMPIC SUCCESS
SPECIAL Olympians Martin Sands, Katie Whitaker and
Simon Waggett competed in the World Summer Games
at Shanghai and they are pictured with some of their
Masonic sponsors.
The trio represented Great Britain at Powerlifting,
Martin winning four gold medals; Katie a bronze and
fourth place in her weight, while Simon collected four
silvers.
The Lodge of the Three Graces No 408 and Bronte
Mark Lodge No 535, with backing from the Province, had
supported them and W Bros John Keighley, John Cook
and Neil Davis are pictured with the smiling Olympians.
Some 7600 athletes from 165 countries took part and
Great Britain celebrated by claiming 84 gold medals and
83 silver in track and field events. The next special
Games will be held in 2011 in Greece.