Coningsby Lodge - No 6383
The Year so Far
by W Bro Neil Lossock
After the disappointment of having to postpone my first meeting as Worshipful Master because of the heavy snowfall, I was very pleased to be able to initiate a good friend of mine in February. His father was able to attend, and delivered a very sincere and moving Toast to the Initiate. Being the February meeting the festive board was a celebration of Robert Burns, and as ever Bro Sam Ferguson delivered the Address to the Haggis with brilliant, but quite unintelligible, broad Scots.
Eating the Leek
At the March meeting I was able to undertake a second initiation ceremony for Christopher
Holt. The festive board was a celebration of Saint David’s Day, and in line with
recent tradition, visiting masters of other lodges were ‘invited’ to eat the leek.
Somehow or other I seemed to get involved as well - a new tradition said W Bro Roger
Tomlinson, who organises this traditional Welsh Regiment's ceremony.
The experience wasn’t too bad, but I retained the aroma of leeks for days afterwards.
Sunday Lunch
Later in February we enjoyed a very nice family Sunday Lunch in Kyrle Street. This was instead of the traditional invitation to ladies and friends to join us at the January festive board, which we were unable to do this year.
The April meeting was a Past Master’s Night at which W Bro Roger Tomlinson took the chair, and raised Bro Tony Wilson to the “sublime degree of a Master Mason”.
In May I was back in business as I passed the friend i had initiated in February, to the degree of a Fellow Craft.
A Fantastic Year
This has been a fantastic year for both Elizabeth and myself. We have enjoyed ourselves ‘on the circuit’, meeting lots of interesting people and enjoying their hospitality. Work has kept me busy though. The lot of a self employed sculptor is not always an easy one, but it is always interesting!
I now have only three months left as Master. Only three months? How time flies. Mind you, they said it would!
A unique experience
Worshipful Brother Neil Lossock was installed as Worshipful Master of Coningsby Lodge
in December 2009.
At his first Lodge meeting in January, Neil was supposed to be initiating a friend. On that very special day for Steven, his father, together with two uncles and three friends, had set off from Scotland to support the candidate. And on that day, England experienced some of the most extreme weather conditions of the winter. A heavy fall of snow blocked the M6 motorway, forcing the visitors to turn back, and in Herefordshire the heavy snow had rendered much of the outlying districts impassable.
Twelve brethren, who lived in the city close by to Kyrle Street, managed to make it to the Masonic Hall, and in accordance with Rule 137 of the Book of Constitutions, the Lodge was duly opened, the minutes of the December meeting approved, and the Lodge was then closed.
This is the first time in living memory that bad weather has caused a meeting of Coningsby Lodge to be conducted in this manner.
The Immediate Past Master reflects
By W Bro Colin Ellis
In the last three meetings of my amazing year in the chair, Bro Tony Wilson was passed
to the degree of a Fellow Craft, W Bro Bill Griffiths gave two most interesting talks,
and Bro Neil Lossock was installed as my successor.
To cap it all was the Ladies’ Festival at the Three Counties Hotel. It was a memorable evening. Good food, good wine and good company, a wonderful end to our year.
Pictured right: Angela Ellis makes a splendid speech at the Ladies' Festival
W Bro Gordon Bumfrey
A profile
Gordon William Bumfrey was born in 1932. After leaving school he joined the army,
and after three years as a junior apprentice he served for 25 years with the Royal
Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. During this time he met his wife Joyce, and
they were married in 1953. They have two children and seven grandchildren.
During his army service, Gordon and Joyce were fortunate in being posted for lengthy periods in both Singapore and Germany, which gave them excellent opportunities to travel extensively both in the Far East and the Continent. This lead to an interest in caravan holidays, which they still do now, and are members of the Masonic Caravan Club where they have met many new Masonic friends.
Civvy Street
After leaving the army in 1975, Gordon worked for Woodville Polymer Engineers as Safety and Training Manager, and then in 1992 he became self employed in the same capacity.
Freemasonry
His interest in Freemasonry was generated both by his brother John, and his brother in law, our own W Bro Peter Simkins. However, it was an old school friend, W Bro Wreford Davies who sponsored him and initiated him into Coningsby Lodge in 1986. Two years later Gordon sponsored Peter Simkins into Coningsby as a joining member. Gordon progressed up the ‘ladder’ in the usual manner, and had the special privilege of being the Master of Coningsby Lodge in its 50th anniversary year.
Both Gordon and Joyce have become closely involved in the social side of Freemasonry. Gordon has been our social secretary for over eleven years now, and he and Joyce have been instrumental in organising a host of successful events, barbecues and the annual ‘weekend away’. He says “This work has given me back the comradeship and social life we so much enjoyed when I was in the army”.
The Weekend Break
Thanks, once again, to the organisation of ‘Uncle’ Gordon and ‘Aunty’ Joyce Bumfrey,
yet another successful bargain-
Not that it stopped us from enjoying ourselves. 55 fun-
After a good dinner on the Friday evening, we were entertained by a local singer with renditions of Matt Munro – or was it Neil Diamond, or perhaps Frank Sinatra? Whoever it was, it was much enjoyed.
Whitby
On the Saturday, after a full Yorkshire breakfast, we celebrated John and Irene Poyner’s 56th Wedding Anniversary with a coach trip to ‘windy’ Whitby. And my goodness was it windy!
The Saturday Night Banquet
Surviving the elements, and returning safely back at base camp, we changed into dinner suits and evening dresses, and began a special evening with a Bucks Fizz reception. This was followed by a Gala Dinner, and outstanding entertainment by a very versatile young man with an amazing repertoire of jokes, impersonations and further renditions of Matt Munro – or was it Neil Diamond, or perhaps Frank Sinatra!
On Sunday, after another full breakfast, today’s trip took us to the historical city of York, with so many attractions including the fascinating old streets and shops, the Minster, the National Railway Museum, and a host of other museums including the Jorvick Viking Centre.
After yet another fine dinner, a raffle which raised over £300 for Air Ambulance
and the Acorn’s Children’s Hospice, some home produced quizzes, and yet more entertainment,
we retired to our beds, well satisfied with yet another ‘Weekend Away’. For just
£135 per person we had a coach trip there and back, two most enjoyable outings, dinner,
bed and full English breakfast for three nights, and three evenings of entertainment.
We were delighted that nine widows had joined the party, and also John and Barbara
Hook, the friends of Roger and Marion Tomlinson. As Barbara remarked on the coach,
as Graham the driver brought us safely back to Hereford, “What a most enjoyable weekend,
with such good company, and great value for money”. Barbara’s comments echoed the
thoughts of us all.
Pictured right: Joan and Peter Simkins invade the Viking Centre.
For a change, it didn’t rain on our Barbecue this year! But as the weather looked
unsettled enough for us not to commit ourselves to being out of doors, we set ourselves
up once again in Hampton Bishop Village Hall.