On a sunny and mild day, 87 brethren and their guests descended on Litherland Masonic Hall for the annual Christmas lunch. The lunch, which was originally the idea of David McCormack, has been taking place for 35 years and it was to the day 35 years ago it all started. This year’s lunch was organised again this year by The Friends of the Hall Chairman Stephen Oliver, who welcomed everybody to the lunch.
The hungry diners then feasted on a delicious three course meal, cooked and served by Mike Lamb and his excellent staff. For starters, the choices were, vegetable and barley soup, or prawn and smoked salmon salad with Marie Rose sauce, or chicken liver pate with onion relish and toast. For the main course diners could choose, roast Cheshire turkey and honey roast ham, pigs in blankets and gravy, or encrusted pork loin, apple sauce and gravy, or sea bass fillet with white wine and chive sauce. All three main courses were served with roast potatoes, honey glazed parsnips, carrots, sprouts, peas and green beans. For dessert the choices were, traditional Christmas pudding with brandy sauce, or apple and strawberry crumble and custard, or raspberry Eton Mess. Traditional mince pies followed and this was all washed down with a cup of tea or coffee.
During the meal, Barbara Rouse rose to thank the volunteers who had helped out at the Christmas Fayre the previous day and diners were able to purchase items from Barbara and husband Ken’s stall in the dining room. Roy Pyne then returned thanks and Stephen Dunn, Chairman of the Ormskirk and Bootle Group led the toast to the King. Don Fraser thanked Stephen Oliver for all of his hard work organising the lunch and Stephen replied by thanking everybody for their support and kind generosity. He then thanked the chef, Mike Lamb and his staff, who received a gift from the diners. Stephen then thanked the FROTH treasurer, Roger Holt and also vice-chairman Don Fraser for their support and guidance.
The diners were then entertained by Gary Leighton, with a mixture of 60’s, 70’s and 80’s music and a few jokes to boot. The diners were also encouraged to join in with the songs and many took to the dance floor. The first raffle was then drawn by Paula Dunn the group chairman’s wife, for the spirit hamper and the second raffle consisting of over 25 raffle donations was drawn by Stephen Dunn, which together with the xmas spirit hamper tickets sales totalled an impressive £1,500. Which in due time will be spent on refurbishments to the hall to further enhance the experience and pleasure to those who attend the hall.
Stephen Dunn then rose and thanked everybody for supporting the lunch and said that it was lovely to see people enjoying themselves. He thanked Roger, Stephen and Don for their excellent work, saying that they all gave a lot of their time to help raise money to help others. He thanked Barbara and Ken Rouse and Ann and Graham Chambers for organising the Christmas Fayre. Finally, he wished everybody a very happy Christmas.
Gary Leighton then returned to the stage and the singing, dancing and fun continued late into the afternoon.
