Spring Social 2026

"What light from yonder window breaks

It is the East

Is it fair Juliet?

No, it's the AMD Spring Social Event"

Juliet & Romeo by Bill Waggledagger

On a beautiful sunny morning, members of the AMD District of London along with their partners and friends assembled at bankside for the AMD Spring Social. We had St. Paul's cathedral to the North, Blackfriars to the West, The Clink to the East and in front of us to the South stood the magnificent Shakespeare's Globe, our the destination for our spring social. We were met by our guide Emma, who was an excellent host with a very impressive knowledge of the History of the Globe. Emma, also peppered her talk with various quotes from the Bard's canon. There were some interesting questions posed by the members, which Emma answered extensively.

Following the tour, we took a gentle stroll along the river to The Anchor pub for lunch. The pub itself is steeped in history, being one of the few public houses to survive the Great Fire of London. The pub itself is an intricate set of stairs which feels like you are in an Escher painting or some convoluted Escape room. We were shown to the Samuel Pepys room for our 2 course lunch. Everyone seemed to enjoy their food. There was a buzz of conversation as typifies our social events.

After dessert, the District Grand Prefect, R.W. Bro. Scott Cargill thanked everyone for attending and said that we would continue to put on these events if there was an appetite for them and tasked everyone to suggest future destinations for our Social days out.

Goodbyes made the attendees left to make the most of the good weather - some did not get very far but made use of the pub's decking overlooking the river and spent time quaffing (copyright Bill Waggledagger) and watching the world go by on the river.

 

   PHOTOS   

Britannic Council of Madeira welcomes Dist. GJW

An unfortunate start to the meeting of the Britannic Council of Madeira, with the Worshipful Master falling ill on the day of the meeting. A quick reshuffle and W. Bro. David Clemson came to the rescue and agreed to take the chair for the meeting. So Lodge duly opened, the Council welcomed the District Grand Junior Warden, W. Bro. Keith Florence and a delegation of District Grand Officers.

A lodge of Grand Tilers of Solomon was then opened to admit Bro. Adam Page into the Masters Elect of 27. The Lodge had commissioned a beautiful drawing of the Plan of the Temple which was displayed by Grand Master Hiram Abiff to the members present, who were in awe of it's beauty. The ceremony continued in fine style to admit Adam into the Degree.

Ceremony complete, lodge business attended to, the Lodge was closed and the Brethren made their way to the 1st floor dining room for a splendid meal of Thai Monk Fish with mussels (somebody said they were moules, but I'm pretty sure they were mussels) all accompanied by some very fine wines.

The WM then taught everyone the AMD fire using a parallelepipedon, which caused much confusion. But not as much as when the rectangle was re-introduced followed by a Rhombus!! After much un-scynchronised clapping, the WM toasted to their next merry meeting.

 

  PHOTOS  

Rumbelow Council No.67 Welcomes DGP

On Wednesday 25th March the "67"ers assembled at Mark Masons Hall for their March meeting. After opening, the Council welcomed the District Grand Prefect, R.W.Bro. Scott Cargill and a delegation of District Grand Officers.

Formalities complete, V.W.Bro. Jules Greenwall took the Chair to conduct the Degree of Grand Tilers of Solomon for five candidates. The ceremony was conducted in a fine manner.

A swift turn around transformed the Temple ready for the Ceremony of Grand High Priest which saw W. Bro. Keith Florence take the chair to conduct the ceremony for 8 candidates. Once again a fine performance by Keith and an excellent rendition of the lecture by Bro. Ian Dent.

After the meeting Brethren made their way to the Duke of Conaught room to partake in an excellent festive board of fine food, fine wine and port. The evening concluded with Worshsipful Master W. Bro. Mark Lappage toasting to their next merry meeting.

 

   PHOTOS     

Metropolitan TI welcomes District Grand Senior Warden

On the evening of 18th March members of Metropolitan TI Council assembled in the Bristol room at Mark Masons' Hall. After the Lodge was opened the Council welcomed W. Bro. John Baker, District Grand Senior Warden and a delegation of District Grand Officers. A eulogy to R.W. Bro. Eddy Goodwin was then given and a moment of silence was held in memory of Eddy.

The WM and his team then Introduced, Received and Admitted Bro. Steven Fasey into the degree of St. Lawrence the Martyr, with an excellent rendition of the lecture from W. Bro. Roger Keys.

The Council then moved onto install Bro. Michael Minkov into the Master's chair. At the same time Bro. Paul Busby received the secrets of an Installed Master.

W. Bro. Minkov then appointed and invested his officers in fine style before closing the lodge.

After a short break in a 2nd floor roadside hostelry members gathered in the Euston room on the first floor for an excellent and convivial Festive Board. Food and drink consumed, Toasts made and responded to, the WM toasted to our next merry meeting.

 

   PHOTOS