Last night saw the Installation of Bro Craig Wood as Worshipful Master of Goulburn Lodge 680 at their new meeting place – The Old Bill, in Oldham Town Centre.

After almost 80 years at Bridge St, Members of Goulburn recently took the momentous decision to relocate from Manchester to Oldham. The venue ?

– a restaurant near the recently refurbished Town Hall called the Old Bill (formerly known as the Town House, the place has particular fond memories for me as the last time I set foot in what is now the Lodge Room was for our wedding Breakfast over 34 years ago!).

Despite the best efforts of Oldham Council street planners to baffle us with “No Entry” – “Road Closed” – “No left/right turn” signs – 26 Mark Masons managed to make their way to and meet up in the basement bar of the restaurant for a convivial pre-meeting drink. The Provincial Grand Master, accompanied by 8 Members of the Provincial Deputation (3 of whom are Lodge Members) made their way to the first floor and took their places in the small but brightly decorated Lodge Room.

The WM, Bro.Philip Goldwater opened the Lodge and subsequently handed over to WBro.David Norbury who proceeded to install Bro. Craig Wood in the Chair of Adoniram. Bro. Wood then appointed and installed his Officers and continued with the normal business of the Lodge. The meeting concluded with the presentation of a cheque to the PGM for the 2021 Festival.

We made our way downstairs to the bar whilst the Lodge Room was converted to a Dining Room and some 20 minutes later returned to enjoy what was a simply divine meal (Perpetrators Pie ? Is that what Harry Potter ate at Hogwarts ??). In his response to the Toasts, the PGM congratulated the Lodge Secretary, VWBro George Davis for all his hard work in facilitating the move and advised the Lodge to be patient whilst settling into their new home. The move appears to have already paid dividends with 2 Brethren applying to join !

Paolo Bissolati, the owner of the Old Bill who, together with his staff looked after us all so well, then appeared with an oversized brandy glass which he theatrically warmed by setting fire to the liquid within. After this, he poured an ample supply of fine brandy which we were all forced to drink as the glass passed around the room.

A fine end to a thoroughly enjoyable evening !

WBro Garry Errock ProvAGSec