We planned a lecture this month, however, due to the late absence of the brother that was due to deliver it, as he was held up at work, and no-one else having a copy of it to hand, we ended up having an impromptu talk given to us by a special visitor on the evening; W Bro George Laverick. He is Clerk of the Works at the Cathedral and Abbey Church of St Albans, and gave us a very interesting insight into some of the things they have discovered.

We hope to have him back on some future occasion to hear his full talk, complete with a slideshow and his notes!

We had a lecture this month: A Synopsis of the History of Palatine Lodge No. 97 (1757-1907). One of a number of lectures written by W Bro EG Watson, this one having been first presented at our 150th anniversary on the 14th January 1907!

Our Fraternal visitors on this occasion were Lodge Stewart No. 4261, represented by their secretary, W Bro Peter Johnson, PPJGW, and Lodge of Concord No. 6859, represented by their newly installed Worshipful Master, W Bro William Telfer, on his first outing as Master.

We were always a little uncertain how many would attend our meeting, given it was the Thursday before the long bank holiday weekend, and it proved the case that the numbers were a little all-over. A host of our own brethren were notably absent, but, fortunately, we were well supported by our visitors.

The Lodge having been opened, we welcomed our visitors and then received the Assistant Provincial Grand Master, W Bro Simon Craig Steele, who was in attendance to present a 50-year certificate to Bro Ron Crossley.

A quiet meeting by our regular standards, with over twenty brethren absent for one reason or another.

We gave a lecture on the evening entitled The Masonic Apron. Palatine Lodge has been fortunate in being able to count many keen historians amongst its members, past and present, and this lecture was written by W Bro EG Watson, author of volume one of our Lodge history, and was compiled into the Palatine Book of Lectures by Bro GE Pearson in 1914.

The first meeting after recess is usually a quiet one for us, and for this reason we rarely do any 'work' on the night. That's not to say we don't put every effort into having a good meeting!

We had Fraternal visits from Amity Lodge No. 3193 and Nautilus Lodge No. 4259. Whilst both of their Worshipful Masters were predisposed at work, Amity was well represented by their IPM, W Bro Richard Storey, and Nautilus by Bro Les Adams (JW), who delivered his first visitors' response at the festive board.