There’s more than one Scarborough
Visit to a Lodge in Scarborough, Tobago, West Indies.
The town of Scarborough in the Caribbean is the capital of the Island of Tobago. W.Bro Tony Dyer, a member of Leopold Lodge in Scarborough, North Yorkshire thought it would be interesting to find out if there was a Lodge situated in the town. After carrying out some research, he found there was one called Lodge Kilwinning No. 1643 which meets under the District Grand Lodge of Trinidad and Tobago & Grenada, Scottish Constitution. After obtaining the necessary permissions, he made contact with the Secretary of the Lodge and friendly correspondence ensued.
A chance conversation between Tony and W.Bro Kevin Howard, also a member of Leopold Lodge, found that he was shortly to go on a Caribbean cruise, which included a stop in Tobago. This started discussion about the possibility of Kevin visiting the Lodge whilst he was there. Correspondence ensued and arrangements were soon made, resulting in the following report by W.Bro Kevin.
I contacted Bro. Brad Elias, the secretary of the Lodge to say I would be in Scarborough, Tobago on the 25th February and we quickly built up some friendly rapport. I was told to be on the dockside at 1pm to be collected by the Treasurer Bro. Tommy, and I was invited to bring my wife Jackie along too. Bro. Tommy was exactly on time and after warmly welcoming us, we departed for Lambeau Rd, a 15 minute car journey.
Thankfully the vehicle was air conditioned which was very welcome! The lodge building was light blue in colour with a traditional Caribbean roof and was set in a well-kept and lawned area, which looked fantastic in the afternoon sun.
On arrival, we were escorted to the door where we were formally introduced to the waiting brethren in the vestibule, led by the RWM Carlisle Jordan, accompanied by the DofC Charles Elias, and Bro’s. Elias and Stanford. I discovered that on the day I visited it was the lodges actual meeting day, commencing at 6pm. The Refectory was all set up for the meeting, the interior light blue walls complementing the Royal Blue tablecloths and furniture. The temperature was also comfortable and cool.
We all instantly engaged in conversation over drinks in the refectory. I was given a generous tumbler of whiskey which was the beverage favoured by the WM . I offered for him to sit down before me as I was a guest in his lodge and told him that it was a Yorkshire custom that the WM sits down first, which he thought was a nice touch.
I said that I hoped that my visit had not been an inconvenience to them as they were having their lodge meeting that evening, but nothing could have been further from the truth, and the hospitality shown was first class. I mentioned that I had a dinner jacket on board the ship and that it was unfortunate that I could not attend the meeting as we were due to sail that evening. Their response was that if I wanted to stay, then they would get me to the ships next stop the following day on the island of Barbados. That would have been very interesting, but sadly I had to decline the offer.
We discussed many topics on both of our Lodges and our respective Towns and the time absolutely flew by. They were particularly interested in the white table nights we hold, in particular on Burns Night, and they agreed this was a fantastic format for attracting new members. They have 4 new candidates to initiate and would be doing so at their April meeting.
As a memento of the occasion, I presented RWM Carlisle with a copy of the Leopold history and ritual book and in turn I was presented with a gift of a Lodge Kilwinning No. 1640 Polo shirt. The time flew by, and all too soon we were transported back to the Port as the ship was leaving at 5pm, and Bro. Tommy had to get straight back to the Lodge for the meeting.
This was to be RWM Carlisle’s first meeting after he had been installed in January this year.
We discussed the possibility of future communication between our Lodges, and I said that we could expand on this on my return to the UK. The members of the Lodge ae to visit the Grand Lodge of Scotland in Edinburgh next year, and they would look at the feasibility of visiting Leopold Lodge when they do.
My wife and I had a fantastic day as guests of the Lodge, for which I am very grateful, and it just shows how Freemasonry can bond together men from all over the world, it being universally spread across it’s surface!
W.Bro Kevin Howard
Leopold Lodge No. 1760
