Dear Brethren,

Welcome to the December 2024 edition of the St. Nicholas Bugle. Our December meeting is the anniversary of our founding 129 years ago, and of course is our installation. As we say goodbye to our outgoing Master, W. Bro Roger Kaye, we must offer our congratulations on a first class year, and finishing as he started with an excellent installation ceremony. Well done!

We must now welcome our new Worshipful Master, Scott Davison, who was well prepared and we who will be an excellent leader of the lodge. He conducted himself in a self-assured way and the brethren were left in no doubt that the lodge is in good hands. He is certainly the youngest Master we have had for some time, well at least since 2009!

An excellent ceremony and festival of St John the Evangelist ensued with W. Bro Tony Dyer attending as the representative of the RW Provincial Grand Master. Stand out’s from the ceremony were the younger brethren delivering the working tools, in the persons of Bro Nev Chambers (Third Degree), Bro Alex Blackman (Second Degree) and Bro Heath Samples (First Degree) – well done!

Visiting has been on the increase since Covid and this year particularly we have seen a significant increase in visitors. Our installation ceremony was no exception, with 28 visitors from 9 lodges. The Festive board was replete with Christmas Carols, speeches and much laughter. The evening finished at just before 10:20 and was enjoyed by all (despite the cramped seating for some!).