On Sunday 15th December the annual East Midlands District Pre-Christmas lunch was held at The Boat Inn, Stoke Bruerne. Every Council in the District was well represented with over 90 guests in attendance, all treated to a fine Christmas menu in beautiful surroundings and well looked after by Illustrious Companion Andrew Woodward and his team. In between courses the merriment continued with carols being heartily sung, orchestrated throughout by Illustrious Companion Geoff Phipps and culminating with the traditional Twelve Days of Christmas, each table taking up the mantle of singing one verse including suitable, yet sometimes questionable, actions!

^{< Members of Olney Council and bearers of the five gold rings ^ The main dining room}

Having raised the bar on a number of occasions, given the generosity of both the members of the District and the three Craft and Holy Royal Arch Provinces of Bedfordshire, Leicestershire & Rutland and Northants & Hunts from which the Royal & Select Masters District of East Midlands draws its membership, the District Grand Master was pleased to announce that the District had surpassed the self-imposed target set for the Grand Master’s 150th Anniversary Celebration Appeal and more pleasingly, the District had applied for grants for local charities that exceeded the amount that the District had raised. A fine effort all round.

As always, a wonderful afternoon of friendship and merriment, all are looking forward to next years’ event that will take place on Sunday 21st December 2025 at the The Boat Inn.

Book early to avoid disappointment, get in touch with the Deputy District Grand Master, Illustrious Companion Ian Knox on ian@theknoxes.com for further details.