Technical Lodge No 5666Saturday 2nd August 2025 will be a date I never forget, as I completed a skydive from 15,000 feet. The freefall alone was over 9,000 feet before the canopy opened above us. Sitting on the edge of the aircraft, waiting for the signal to jump, was the most exhilarating and memorable moment of all. The whole experience was both humbling and thrilling, and it was all in aid of a very special cause.
Two weeks later, on Saturday 16th August, Technical Lodge gathered for our monthly meeting. As often happens during the summer, attendance was a little thin with many brethren away on holiday, but those who joined us brought a spirit of fun and brotherhood that made the evening one to remember.
For this meeting, we were granted special dispensation to set aside our traditional dark suits and instead dress in full cowboy attire for a Western-themed evening. Checked shirts, Stetsons, boots and even a sheriff’s badge or two made for a striking sight within the lodge room. The atmosphere was light-hearted and good-humoured, while still honouring the dignity of our meeting.
My thanks go to the brethren who kindly stepped in at short notice to fill key offices: WBro Keith Challis as IPM, Nigel Goldthorpe as SW, Ash Vasalli as DC, Steve Berry as LM, and Ken Wright as IG. We opened in due and ancient form at 6:30pm, and with no visitors present on this occasion, we attended promptly to lodge business before closing and rejoining our guests for the festive board.
The festive board continued our Western theme with a relaxed barbecue and plenty of fellowship. We were especially pleased to welcome June Cooke and her husband Roger, representing the Butterflies Memory Support charity. I was able to present them with £400 raised through donations for my skydive, on top of the £250 already sent directly from the lodge. I am hopeful that Province may match fund this amount, and with all donations collected, the final total should reach around £1,300 for this very worthy cause.
June gave a heartfelt talk about why she founded the charity 15 years ago. Following her father’s diagnosis of Alzheimer’s, she and her family discovered that there were no social support groups available for either her father or her mother. From this need, the Butterflies Memory Support Group was created, and it continues to offer friendship, fun, and vital support for those living with dementia and for their carers.
Both events… the skydive and our cowboy-themed meeting, reminded me of the true spirit of Freemasonry: courage, fellowship, and charity. Whether leaping from an aeroplane, donning a cowboy hat, or standing shoulder to shoulder in support of a good cause, Technical Lodge continues to demonstrate the values that bind us together.
- WM Anthony James