On Wednesday, 1st April 2026, Trinity Lodge No. 5651 welcomed the representative of the Provincial Grand Master, WBro. Nigel M. Johnson, PAGDC, to the lodge. Nigel is well known to the lodge not only for his role as Chairman of the Area Team but also for his longstanding involvement in the fabric of Audenhaw Freemasonry, owing to his extensive involvement across many areas. These include being highly active in the Audenshaw BBC (Bacon Butty Club) on Saturday mornings and serving as secretary of Iron Road Lodge. As a member of the Area team, his attendance is assured at every event supporting the APGM, WBro. Wes Marchant.

One of the elements that made this event unusual for Trinity Lodge was that the brother being installed, Bro Revd David Penny, was one of only two Masters of the Lodge in recent times to be installed for the first time. Trinity Lodge enjoys good membership numbers, currently 35, with more joining members awaiting ballot at their next meeting, but as a daytime lodge, it tends to attract members available during the traditional working day.

There is a tradition in Trinity that the proposer of the member elected to the office of master conducts the initiation ceremony. David’s proposer was WBro Rodney Wild PGStB, and once the lodge’s initial business was concluded, he took the Chair and performed the ceremony. This was a highly polished delivery of the ritual, and the close relationship between the two participants made it an emotionally charged event. The next meeting at Trinity will be to honour Rodney’s 60 years of membership in Freemasonry.

The subsequent Festive Board was a wonderful opportunity to relax with the many guests who attended, and as usual for Trinity, it was very good-humoured and lots of fun. When the Representative of the PGM gave his response to the first three toasts, he lifted a bundle of papers, over 30 sheets. Nigel, however, flicked between the most salient points, and the response proved both brief and entertaining.