A Grand Day Out
 
What at first seemed like an ordinary day out to the Grand Masters Lodge at Mark Masons Hall was punctuated by a number of add on events that made the day a little different.
 
On arriving at Preston Station to catch the 11.58 to Euston, what did I find on platform 8 but the splendid steam loco, pictured, all steamed up and ready to pull an excursion south bound but not sure where to. 
 
The LMS Stanier Class Black 5 4-6-0 sometimes carries the name 'Sovereign' lt later joined up with with the Flying Scotsman for a tour of the South West.(Webmaster)
The journey was uneventful but In London I met up with some Mark Masons on a similar route and on accessing the underground I was advised to link my Senior rail card to my Oyster card thus giving me a discount on that part of my travel as well ( take note you regular travellers) At MMH the first on the agenda was the Grand Masters RAM Lodge Installation which went really well in the presence of the Pro Grand Master MW Bro Raymond Smith.
Next on the list was the business meeting of the Grand Masters Mark Lodge where Rt W Bro Brian Batty from Yorkshire was elected WM for the ensuing year.
Mark Masons Hall was busy on the evening with a Craft Lodge, a RAM Lodge and a RA Chapter all meeting as well as ourselves. We had just finished our first course at the festive board when the fire alarms were activated, and the building was evacuated in quick fashion, all on to the pavement on thankfully a warm dry London evening.
The London fire service attended within a few minutes only to confirm a false alarm, thank goodness.
On re-entering and re seating ourselves in the dining room we found that the W Commander, IPC and Mark W M were missing from the top table and could not be found. Several minutes passed before we found out they were trapped in the lift. Whilst the more agile of us took the stairs they had taken the lift but as the fire alarms had been activated it had cut out the lift as well. Although they had entered the lift and the doors closed it then cut out the electrics and they were stranded for several minutes until located and the lift was re activated. As they say never take a lift in the event of a fire, take the stairs. What it does not say is do not take the lift again until it is re activated.
The rest of a good day out went without incident and I arrived home (just) on the same day as I left.
Words and pictures by Keith Beardmore