Our Previous Meeting - Tuesday 7th April

Lodge The Gael No 609 confers a Second Degree

Our last meeting saw No XII receiving a visit from our great friends from Lodge The Gael, 609 to confer a Passing on two of our Apprentices, Bros Gary Lewis and Paul Stevenson. 90 Brethren in all were in attendance for the meeting which saw 609 piped in by 5 pipers, sporting the new lodge banners attached to their instruments.
The degree was in the capable hands of Bro Tommy Boyce and saw our two brethren passed in the usual 609 style with the majority of the degree lectures given by PM Bro Donald Finlayson, an honorary member of No XII.

The harmony afterwards was typical 609 with Bro Finlayson beginning with Gaelic standard Cailin mo rùin-sa, his party piece, and the song that no harmony involving Lodge The Gael would be complete without. This was followed by various other items including Bros Keith Bowes (the Dad) and Dougie Bryce piping (Bro Bowes playing his own composition, Lodge Greenock Kilwinning No XII). The RWM, Bro Keith Bowes Jnr also gave his party piece "The Lads of 609" and I was forced into a rendition of O Sole Mio by an over-enthusiastic Bro Finlayson who struggled to understand my claims that opera and whisky do not mix!! Bro Tony Buckley and President of Stewards, Bro Ian Dyer, excelled themselves with a chicken curry with rice and chips and the brethren were very appreciative of the hospitality ... especially of the four litres of whisky which were consumed.

All in all it was a super night and one which will go down as a highlight of No XII's recent history.

Alan D. Beck IPM