The Derby Dash
 
Derby Masonic Hall
An early rise saw me picked up at home around 8pm by my chauffer driving a sleek limousine. It was looking to be another fine day, in what has been a continuous spell of hot dry weather. Our destination was Derby Masonic Hall for the 2026 meeting of the Allied District of East Midlands.
Engineering at its best
For the engineering or war history aficionados amongst you, I would remind you that Derby is a traditional centre of engineering excellence and is renowned for being a base for Rolls Royce. Not just cars but also for the manufacture of the famous Merlin engines used to propel cars and of course WW II aircraft such as the Spifire and Hurricane etc. Thank goodness we had this engineering excellence to help the country cope with the ravages of WW II. Many thousands of these engines were built, and there is an example of a merlin III engine sited in a glass case inside the Masonic Hall. You can almost smell the oil, grease and aviation fluid just by looking at it, worth the visit for that alone.
East Midland Freemasons Remember
A monument to Mason’s killed in the in both world wars stands proudly in the grounds. I might add, as you may recall, that Derby also marks the place where famously, or infamously, Bonnie Prince Charlie, the Jacobean ‘Young Pretender’, turned round his London bound invading army in December 1745. Was he badly advised or betrayed? Whatever the truth, he retraced his steps back to Scotland to face his army’s impending catastrophe at the battle of Culloden in 1746!
Recognise any of these hard-working Brethren?
Some early arrivals
We made good time, with little traffic interfering with our journey, and arrived at Derby MH around 9.30 pm, to meet up with a goodly number of West (and East) Lancashire Allied Masons, together with Brethren from across the country.
 
I understand that around 150 or so Brethren attended the event, a magnificent total. The usual warm welcome was supplemented by bacon barms, tea and coffee. Our DGP Mark was one of the early arrivals and was photographed with two of his bodyguards, sorry DCs……. One of the mysteries of life was chewed over (pun intended), the question being why do caterers not butter the barms these days before putting on the bacon??? Comments on a post card please.
West Lancs Masons Join Mark
Before retiring to the main Lodge room for the meeting, The West Lancs contingent retired to have a photograph taken on the steps leading down into the garden. It was good to see 12 Brethren had made the journey to support our own DGP, and the East Midlands District.
A warm and full Lodge Room
Suitably refreshed, we made our way up to the Lodge Room, where we found that rehearsals were being concluded, and were able to take our seats in the quite large and well set out auditorium. The room was packed out, and doors were left open to help with air circulation on a very warm day. Every District has its own ways of conducting proceeding, but it always helps if there is a knowledgeable DC in charge of the proceedings, as it was on this occasion. As a consequence, the formalities were concluded efficiently. Salutations, appointments and addresses over, the East Midlands DGP and his Officers, together with distinguished guests, retired to acclaim.
Back Gammon?
No room at the (warm) inn
The festive board was excellent, including a pate starter, gammon and trimmings main course and delicious strawberries and cream desert, all washed down with fine wine. Toasts and Speeches were kept to a minimum, and soon it was time to wend our way home. So, there we are, another excellent meeting came to an end. The journey home was relatively uneventful and soon we were back in God’s Country,
A good day all told, with an excellent turnout, so why not join us next time, you will be very welcome.
 
Article courtesy of Royce’s Rolls
Pictures courtesy of the Whittle Advertiser