Loyalty Chapter No 897 was opened promptly at 6pm by first principal David Berrington and his coprincipals, setting the tone for an evening defined by efficiency, fellowship, and quiet anticipation. The Opening Address was delivered flawlessly by John Walkey, who’s confident and composed manner immediately engaged those present and signalled that this would be no ordinary meeting.
The chapter was especially honoured by the presence of David Barr, Deputy Grand Superintendent for the Province of West Lancashire. As he entered, the three principals rose as one to offer him a warm and respectful welcome. In keeping with tradition, David Berrington, first principal of the chapter, offered David Barr his sceptre. Accepting briefly, and with good humour, it was gracefully declined by David with the remark: “I intended to enjoy the evening, but thank you,” before returning the sceptre, an exchange that drew warm appreciation from all present and set a relaxed yet respectful tone.
Also welcomed were; Second Provincial Grand Principal Andrew Whittle, Assistant to the Provincial Grand Principals Stewart Cranage and Provincial Grand Steward Barry Corcoran, accompanied by a strong contingent of grand and Provincial grand officers. Their presence added further distinction to an evening already rich in significance.
With anticipation building, the chapter’s business was conducted swiftly and efficiently. Following the closing of the chapter, the Valedictory Address was delivered in exemplary fashion by Chris Gleave, bringing the formal proceedings to a fitting and dignified conclusion. Yet everyone knew the evening was only just beginning.
By the time attention turned to the dining room below, the rain outside had eased. Mark Smith stepped through the doors of the Masonic Hall in Warrington, shaking the last drops from his coat and carrying a slim leather case with the practised care of a man long accustomed to history’s weight. To many, he was already familiar the ‘Medal Man’ from Antiques Roadshow, but tonight, among Freemasons, lady Masons and guests, he was something more; a custodian of memory and a storyteller entrusted with the most revered decoration of all.
More than 100 people had gathered as Alan Bristow welcomed everyone on behalf of Loyalty Chapter, meeting in Warrington, and introduced Mark Smith. His talk, entitled ‘The Bronze Medal’, was met with an expectant hush, not the polite silence of an audience waiting to be entertained, but the attentive stillness of people accustomed to ritual, symbolism, and the gravity of tradition.
Mark began, not with dates or regulations, but with people. Ordinary men, he explained, who found themselves in extraordinary moments, moments so brief they could pass in a heartbeat, yet so immense they echoed across generations. Mark spoke of the Victoria Cross, not simply as an object, but as an idea born in the Crimean War, cast from captured cannon, awarded without regard to rank. As he described its simple bronze cross and crimson ribbon, he let it rest in his palm, as though it were a living thing. Many leaned forward, recognising in its plainness a familiar truth, that true honour rarely announces itself loudly.
Story followed story, each chosen with care and delivered with quiet authority. Acts of courage emerged that seemed almost unbelievable: men returning under fire to rescue comrades, holding positions alone, choosing duty when instinct urged retreat. Mark never sensationalised these moments. He didn’t need to. The facts carried their own weight.
At times he paused, allowing the room to breathe. In those silences, the dining room felt connected to distant battlefields and long-gone voices. For an audience whose own traditions prize moral courage, service and integrity, the resonance was unmistakable. This was bravery stripped to its essence. Questions followed; thoughtful, measured, and deeply respectful, and Mark answered each one generously, clearly moved by an audience that understood the responsibility of remembrance. The Victoria Cross, he reminded them, was not about glory, but about duty: the duty to remember accurately, to tell these stories well, and to honour sacrifice by living in a way worthy of it.
A convivial meal followed at 8pm, during which a raffle was drawn. The proceeds, generously donated by the chapter were in support of the Warrington Museum of Freemasonry; another quiet act of stewardship linking past, present and future. After the meal, the loyal toast was duly honoured, followed by toasts to the Grand Superintendent Mark Matthews and to the grand officers. David Barr, Deputy Provincial Grand Superintendent, responded on behalf of the grand officers. The evening concluded with Peter Roberts, Chairman of the Warrington Museum of Freemasonry, offering heartfelt thanks to all present for their generosity and continued support.
As the evening ended, there was no rush to leave. Conversations lingered. Small groups formed. More than a few minds were still far away, walking alongside the men whose courage had been brought so vividly to life. As Mark packed away his leather case, someone remarked that the medals must feel heavy after a lifetime of handling them. He smiled: “It’s not the metal,” he said, “It’s the stories.” And in the Masonic Hall in Warrington that night, those stories remained, quietly, firmly where they belonged. A big thank you to Alan Bristow, who made this event happen.