Unity at Barrow
 
It is always nice to walk into a masonic hall to the buzz of people enjoying the company of each other and to hear the sounds of friendly chatter.
Olga Walker and Bill Joughin
Such was the case when I entered Barrow in Furness Masonic Hall but on this occasion the amiable discourse and genial atmosphere was being generated by the wives and partners of the members of Unity Mark Lodge No 544 as the menfolk went about their mark masonic business in the lodge room above.
Following a brief meeting the members of the lodge re-joined their female companions to enjoy lunch and the good harmony continued unabated.
Membership of Unity Mark Lodge is restricted to present or past wardens of the province. The September meeting is held at a venue chosen by the WM who at present is Bill Joughin a member of Furness Mark Lodge No 36 who naturally made it a home fixture.
Bill Joughin and Steve Walls.
However being a Monday lunchtime it did present some problems as the waiting on staff normally employed by the caterers are in the main students who at that time of day are about their lessons (or still in bed?).
 
So it fell to some members of Furness and Jubilee Mark Lodge No 375 to act as waiters for the day to enable the members of Unity and their ladies to enjoy a four course meal in comfort.
The dining room.
David Cooksey being a regular on expensive cruises and a frequent visitor to top grade hotels was the obvious choice to be maître d’ as he claimed to know the correct procedures to be observed in polite society. His fine dining experiences meant he was able to instil sound advice such as to not use your thumb to keep the meat on the plate.
 
 
All four courses were served without major incident and were thoroughly enjoyed by the diners. Mike and Marie Elliot from the Crown at North Scale on Walney Island had undertaken the catering duties as they normally do at Barrow Masonic Hall and once again produced superb quality food at a very reasonable cost.

The waiters; Dave Sear, Keiron Mullan, Maître d’ David Cooksey, Dave Smith and Geoff Waters.
During the meeting itself Steve Walls was adopted as the WM designate for the coming year and it will be his duty to pick the location of the corresponding meeting in 12 months time.
Article and Photographs courtesy of Dave Sear.