Saskatchewan visit

During the summer of 2016, W Bro Shusheel Kumar of the Lodge of Welcome No. 5664, which meets in Leicester, attended the 110th Annual Communication of the Grand Lodge of Saskatchewan, which was held in Regina, Canada.

During the visit, W Bro Shusheel presented to the MW Grand Master an excellently designed booklet of the first 75 years of history of the Lodge of Welcome. He also presented an ornately engraved firing glass of the lodge, and a book titled The Language of the Ritual by W Bro Robert D.T. Sillett PJGD, the Prestonian Lecturer of 2008. These were well received by the MW Grand Master and the brethren.

In return, W Bro Shusheel was presented with a personal lapel pin by MW Bro Dave Polachek.

The spirit of brotherhood from one side of the Atlantic to the other shone throughout on this most enjoyable occasion.

Fairytale finale

Freemasons across Leicestershire and Rutland, including the Provincial Grand Master, have been celebrating their local football team, Leicester City Football Club, on their fairytale end to the season when they were crowned unlikely champions of the English Premier League

Having been near to relegation in the previous season, Leicester City Football Club had odds of 5000/1 to win the Premiership at the start of the 2015/16 season. Under the management of Claudio Ranieri and players such as Jamie Vardy and Riyad Mahrez, the Foxes have beaten those odds in an extraordinary climb to the Premiership title, the first in their 132-year history.

Former player and captain of Leicester City and Past Master of the Lodge of Welcome No. 5664, W Bro Jeff Blockley, said: 'I would like to offer my congratulations to all the staff and supporters. What a fantastic once in a lifetime achievement brought about by the owners, manager, players and supporters which has brought untold success to Leicester.'

Provincial Grand Mentor W Bro Ken Wylie, of St John's Lodge No. 279, missed the last home game when the champions lifted the trophy: 'After supporting Leicester City for years and not missing a home match all season we have ended up on holiday in Cologne Germany on a river cruise on the most prestigious game of our life. Not to be outdone we were wearing our shirts with pride and cheering them on lifting the Premier League Cup.'

Bro Karl Coles, Edward Sherrier Lodge No. 6757 said: 'I've waited since 1983 for this dream to come true!'

W Bro Jamie Mollart, Past Master of the Wyggeston Lodge No. 3448, said: 'What we’re seeing is beyond my wildest dreams. I can’t believe it’s happening in my lifetime and I’ve been in the stadium to witness it throughout the season. If you’d have told me at the start of the season that we would claim the world’s biggest football prize, I would have just laughed it off. It is truly an amazing achievement.'

The Provincial Grand Master of Leicestershire and Rutland, RW Bro David Hagger said: 'As a season ticket holder for Leicester City, I congratulate them on behalf of the Leicestershire and Rutland Freemasons on their wonderful achievement which has captured the hearts across the footballing community. I very much look forward to the year ahead when Leicester City are competing in Europe.'