May 15th 2023 saw the belated Installation Meeting of the Wyke Millennium Lodge; delayed by a week to allow for the bank holiday for the King’s Coronation, at least we saw on the 6th of May how it should be done!
Ours went off with a little less pomp and ceremony, but with sincerity and dedication nonetheless, and W Bro Mal Grange was installed into the chair of the Lodge with due aplomb.
This was the second time that W Bro Mal has taken the chair, the first time was in 2002; as one of the founder members of the Lodge W Bro Mal played a great part in its formation and its life ever since, and we all look forward to being led by him once again, and to supporting him in his year of office.
Moving the date of the installation meant we clashed with that of Holderness Lodge, so visitor numbers were down, but nonetheless we enjoyed our evening together with the visitors who attended.
We were pleased to welcome W Bro Paul Blacklock PPSGW representing the Right Worshipful Provincial Grand Master. together with his DC for the evening W Bro Eddie Brooke.
We also welcomed two joining members to the Lodge, W Bro Jason Smawfield-Huby and W Bro Ian Sharpe, and we look forward to their company for many years to come.
After leading us for two years through a very difficult period, W Bro Andrew Cooke became the Immediate Mast Master and gets a well earned rest! Many thanks to W Bro Andrew for a good job well done!
W Bro Paul Blacklock PPSGW responds to the toast to the Provincial Officers
W Bro Brian Baker proposes the toast to the new Worshipful Master
Our March 2023 meeting was another milestone in the life of Wyke Millennium 9696, where we initiated our new brother Chris Wall.
We were pleased to initiate a new member to our Lodge and even more so with a very well attended ceremony where 41 masons attended to provide him with the sort of welcome that every new member deserves. We had visitors from many sister Lodges, and were particularly pleased to have a significant contingent from the Cornerstone Group (a ‘club’ for newly made Masons across the Province) who are looking to attend Lodges where new members are being initiated and to welcome them both to the fraternity and the Cornerstone Group. A terrific initiative and more power to their elbow!
Our newly made brother Chris enjoyed an excellent ceremony and great fellowship at the festive board. We all enjoyed the usual high quality meal provided courtesy of this excellent hotel, who’s hospitality we continue to enjoy after over 23 years since our consecration here.
Fantastic support for our newly made brother (centre) and what a great group!
Bro Phil Lord proposes the toast to our newly made brother
Bro Chris Wall responds
Duo of lamb with dauphinoise potatoes and redcurrant jus (yum!)
We held our February meeting as a ‘white table’ event where wives, partners and friends were welcome to come along and enjoy a night out at the Tickton Grange Hotel.
The white table event was enjoyed by all those attending, and we received a talk by our own W Bro Tim Haley on his 31 years in the Royal Navy. The talk was very interesting, charting Tim’s career and the various venues and characters that he had met upon the way, noting the discipline instilled in the crew members which was essential for life on board ship. Tim described the development of the facilities on board and the changes since his first ship, commissioned in 1943, to the later bigger ships he served on such as HMS Hermes and HMS Invincible. We all gained an invaluable insight into Tim’s career and service and the foibles of life in the navy and of the great and good, who sometimes should know better! W Bro Tim retired at the rank of Lt Commander. We also learned at first instance, the bosun’s pipe to get the ratings up in the morning and to lights out at night, and now we know the origin of the phrase ‘pipe down’.
Our Brother Paul Matson was honoured in the New Year’s Honours List with a British Empire Medal (BEM) for services to veterans.
Paul is the founder of Hull 4 Heroes, a charity based in Hull, East Yorkshire, which supports veterans from our armed forces and is doing all it can to make their lives better. Paul has been the driving force behind the charity since inception, and this year hopes to see the ‘ground broken’ on his Veterans Village, a place where veterans can make their homes and find reintegration back into society in a supported environment.
Paul recently said, ‘it’s the hardest job I’ve ever had, but the most fulfilling, and I can’t wait to get at it each morning’.
Hull 4 Heroes goes from strength to strength, and they have recently opened a drop in centre where veterans can call in and find warmth and welcome, and it’s in high demand!
We at Wyke Millennium are very proud of what Paul has done and is doing. Putting into action those principles that we are taught in the Lodge in the outside world is something we all aspire to, but rarely are they evidenced on such as scale as Paul has achieved.
Congratulations to Paul and his team – typically he said ‘it’s a team effort, I may have received the honour, but it’s for all of us, I couldn’t do it alone’ – good sentiments and true leadership, well done!
On the 14th of November 2022 we held our normal Lodge night but with a different twist. The Worshipful Master had designated it as a ‘white table’ event to which wives and partners and friends could come along to the festive board.
As we met the day after Remembrance Sunday, it was thought appropriate that we could use this opportunity to put into practice our support for our armed services, and in particular the ex-service men and women that put themselves in harms way so that we may sleep easy in our beds.
25 sat down to another excellent Tickton Grange meal which was thoroughly enjoyed by all who attended.
We invited Mr Ron Laden (Lieutenant Colonel retired) the Chairman of the Beverley Branch of the Royal British Legion to come along and present a talk on the work of the RBL historically and also in the present, to care for and support ex-service personnel and their families in times of need.
The talk was poignant and enlightening and provided a timely reminder of the duty we owe to those who serve.
The Worshipful Master was pleased to present a cheque for £150.00 towards the Poppy Appeal to Chairman Ron, who advised that it would be put to very good use.
The Ladies present (and those who couldn’t make it, as well as Chairman Ron’s partner) each received a gift of a Poppy scarf purchased from the RBL website, which purchase provided further funding to this very worthwhile cause.
The Worshipful Master presents a cheque to RBL Branch Chairman Ron Laden
