Gloucestershire Comes to Somerset.

Rob Collins (Chairman) of The Somerset Branch of The Masonic Fishing Charity was invited to be the guest speaker at a Gloucestershire Mark Masons Lodge. St Hubert’s Lodge no 1998 which is a Country Sports lodge attached to our very own Craft Country Sports Lodge Sylvanus 9741 here in the Somerset Province, both lodges are traveling lodges.

St Hubert’s held their meeting in the Nailsea Temple here in Somerset on the 15th of July 2023, I was asked to do a talk all about The Masonic Fishing Charity and a talk on Conservation and invasion species, this particularly was good timing as it’s the Government invasive species year highlighting many things but especially the grey squirrel and it’s almost extinction of our native Red Squirrel.

I will say the ceremony was first class, I really do enjoy the Mark Degree, the WM lead his officers in fine style, this was highlighted as The Gloucestershire PGM was there too. We moved on to the talk in the anti room where I had my projector set up, many of these fine people were farmers and land owners, first we started off with the Masonic Fishing Charity talk, this was very well received and had lots of debate in the Q&A section.

I then moved on to the Conservation and invasive species talk, focusing on Grey Squirrel Management and protection of our Native Red Squirrel and their Habitats. Again this was well received with lots of input from my piers and brother, especially enjoyed by their ladies for who had a sea of questions for me, the boys went back into the lodge to finish off lodge business. I remained in the anti room and continued the talk on the red and grey squirrels, the ladies were very interested in this. I finished off the talk when the brethren came back to a standing ovation and rapterous applause from all.

The festive board was first class spent with the most wonderful people, the food and wine exquisite, the raffle raised some much needed funds for charity, the WM announced they were giving this money to The Somerset Branch of The Masonic Fishing Charity, the PGM then ounces he will match it and give it to my branch too, he then thanked me in his speech for a very informative and interesting speech, I have a feeling I am going to be invited to the Gloucestershire Province to do another talk at an agricultural lodge. If you would like to know more or book me for a talk at your lodge drop me a line, we also need all the help we can get both in volunteering and fund raising.