Connaught Freemasons enjoyed a well-attended meeting on Friday, April 12.

A speaker from the Stroke Association was due to attend to acknowledge the £500 donation made to the charity by the Freemasons as W. Bro Alastair Slade’s charity for his year as Worshipful Master. Unfortunately, they were unable to attend.

Instead, W. Bro Steve Collins, who was invited to tell the group about his recent Arctic ski-trek as a fundraiser for the SJAB Support Units, told of his exploits in a previous Sahara Desert expedition. The two extremes of temperature, the different clothing required, and the contrasting and various challenges he faced left the group open-mouthed with admiration.

To add to his fundraising target, the Lodge donated £500, presented by the Worshipful Master.

In recognition of the length of time W. Bro Tony Cooper had been Lodge Secretary following his recent decision to stand down, and for his service to the Lodge year on year, he was presented with an engraved crystal whisky decanter along with two matching glasses, a bottle of malt whisky, and a bouquet for his wife Diana, who unfortunately was unable to attend.

The evening concluded with an excellent buffet supplied by the young people at SWALLOW’s Radstock café.