A Staircase Full of Unity at Alderson House

The Lodge of Unity No. 567 marked a remarkable milestone this week as it held its 177th Installation Meeting, installing Rex Francis as the new Worshipful Master.

Members and visitors filled Alderson House in Warwick, squeezing together on its magnificent 17th-century galleried staircase to capture an inspirational photograph that perfectly reflected the spirit of the evening.

Charity was firmly at the heart of the occasion. A total of £460 was raised on the night for Molly Olly’s Wishes and the Warwickshire 2028 Appeal in support of Fisher House, which provides vital assistance to the families and loved ones of military personnel and veterans receiving treatment at the Centre for Defence Medicine, Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham. This was in addition to a £2,000 donation presented during the meeting to Warwickshire Assistant Provincial Grand Master, Peter Clarke, for Fisher House. Lodge Charity Steward Bill Brown also announced that a further £1,000, raised earlier in the year, will be donated to Molly Olly’s Wishes.

The ceremony itself was delivered with warmth, humour and dignity, setting the tone for an enjoyable festive board that followed. The meal was especially poignant, being one of the last prepared by Alderson House’s legendary chef, Mark Naylor, who retired in January.