Over 50 diners attended the Annual Group Chairmans’ Dinner at Bryn Masonic Hall near Wigan, which was arranged by Chairman of the Mersey Valley Group David Atkinson. David said: “Historically, the annual dinner was originally set up for group chairmen and vice chairmen to get together and enjoy a meal with their respective spouses and partners, but it was a special invitational event in Freemasonry.”
David went on to say: “Syd Ford, now sadly departed, organised the dinners some 18 years ago when he was group chairman at Garston and after 10 years or so he handed it over to Howard Griffiths, who was also a group chairman at Garston. Howard continued with the group chairman’s dinners for another eight years before I was asked by Howard to take it on.” David continued to say that as far he was aware, the event had always been at Bryn Masonic Hall as the food there is always excellent and good value.
David commented that in the early days there were more groups and therefore more chairmen, hence it was only for the group chairman (or vice chairman in their absence), who could attend. Which is like the Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies annual dinner, which was also an invitational event in Freemasonry.
With the amalgamation of various groups and a reduced number of chairmen, it was agreed to include group secretaries, as they also form part of the group executive structure. So, at this present moment, the dinner is for current group chairmen, vice chairmen, secretaries and past executives who have not been promoted to higher office such as an Assistant Provincial Grand Master or an Assistant to the Provincial Grand Principals.
David Atkinson said: “I took over in 2024, so have now completed three years and have had an excellent response on each occasion. It is a way of saying thank you to our respective other halves for supporting us during the previous season. The new season is just around the corner and this dinner has just a little formality; it being just a pleasant evening with a Prosecco soft drink reception followed by a three-course meal with wine and good company.”
David continued: “The timing for the event tries to be synchronised with holiday commitments and is usually the third Thursday in August. Next year in 2027 it is a week later so I look forward to seeing many more here once again. Ironically, in the last couple of years a treasurer has turned up so I am giving thought to them being included, as they too carry out an important role within the group structure.”
Vice Chairman of the North Fylde Group, John Topping, one of the newcomers to the chairman’s dinner, took photographs of the happy diners and thanked David Atkinson for organising such a splendid evening for everyone in attendance, which was met with great applause and agreement.
