Members of the Trafford Group held their inaugural 2025 Group Dinner at Swinton Masonic Hall. This was the first meeting under the banner of Trafford Group, with the new group, formed from the amalgamation of South Eastern Group and Eccles Group, celebrating its first year’s anniversary. To mark the event, the principal guest for the evening was none other than the Provincial Grand Master, Mark Matthews.
Mark, who had spent two other day’s that week in Trafford, both, quite coincidentally celebrating 70th Craft anniversaries, quite appropriately rounded the week off with the Group Dinner. He was accompanied by AProvGM Stuart Boyd, host and Trafford Group Chairman Patrick Walsh, deputy chairman, Dave Marlor and vice chairman Eddie Wilkinson and other grand and acting Provincial grand officers of the Province, all very ably guided by the presence of both Barry Fitzgerald, Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies and Peter Littlehales, Provincial Deputy Grand Director of Ceremonies.
There were over 80 group members present, including many of the current WM’s and first principals from the group lodges and chapters, all of whom were given the opportunity to have a brief chat with Mark at a drink’s reception prior to the commencement of the dinner. This was rather less formal than the questions and answers session held at previous dinners with all those present being made to feel very much at ease in the chief’s presence.
Following the informal chat, Patrick opened the proceedings and the dinner proceeded in excellent fashion being accompanied by a very convivial and comfortable buzz of conversation and laughter as the evening progressed and for those who were not driving, the bar was most inviting with beer and wine in plentiful supply.
The point in the evening arrived where the toast to the Provincial Grand Master Mark Matthews was proposed by light blue Aaron Longbottom of Monton Progress Lodge No 6361. Mark, in response, thanked Patrick and the group for the warm and generous welcome he had been given all week, but especially on this evening.
Mark also thanked the other officers of the group for all their continued efforts and the teams for the arduous work put in to running the various Masonic Halls. Also, congratulations were given to all those members of the group who were about to receive honours at the forthcoming Provincial Grand Lodge in Blackpool.
Next, Mark referred to the membership challenge, mentioning that several 100 members had been recruited since the challenge had been accepted and congratulating all concerned for ensuring the longevity of the movement. He then went on to emphasize the Royal Arch and how it was the natural completion of the Masonic journey, hoping that all would realise this and that the overall membership could be much increased from its current level. Mark then recommended the ‘back to basics’ approach, recommending that brethren visit other lodges and chapters as the diversity of ceremonies added interest and promoted learning. He rounded things off by mentioning the MCF and community involvement and congratulated the Trafford Group on its continued generosity.
Following Mark’s excellent response from the brethren and companions, Provincial Senior Grand Warden Mark Humphrey then rose to propose a toast to the Trafford Group saying that during the evening he had heard and learnt of many encouraging group initiatives, had seen that the group was clearly in great shape, said how much he had enjoyed the evening and gave a moving toast to current chairman Patrick Walsh and the various group officers, wishing the group well for the future in its new guise as Trafford Group.
Patrick rose, and in an enthusiastic response, thanked Mark Humphrey for his toast on behalf of the group, congratulated the group team and all those involved in running the Masonic halls and made special mention of the light Blues club. He thanked everyone for attending and most especially welcomed Mark, the Provincial Grand Wardens, all the Provincial Grand Directors of Ceremony for their most welcome presence and support during the evening and all the group officers for their support throughout the year.
Patrick thanked the staff of the hall for their work in providing the dinner and all those involved in planning and of course attending the dinner. Then finally, on behalf of the group, Patrick presented the now customary Trafford Treats, a bouquet of flowers and some bottles of wine to Mark to take home to his wife. Mark thanked Patrick and the brethren for the presentation which he thought would at least go some way towards consoling her for his absence. All of which brought a most convivial and memorable dinner to its conclusion and pointed the way to many more similarly successful Trafford Group events.