I arrived early in what I expected to be a busy evening. I was not wrong as the lodge room was also bustling.
Firstly, we opened Edmondsbury Royal Ark Mariner Lodge and Installed Roger Flory into the Worshipful Commanders Chair, then a quick Freeman Mark business meeting and downstairs to hear a lecture and Powerpoint presentation from W.Bro Ray Russell on The Life and Times of a Masonic Piper.
The time soon passed as we were regaled with Ray’s life in the RAF, interspersed with the sound of the pipes. There was an explanation of how you start playing, with a Chanter without the bag, which presumably means your parents keep sleep and the neighbours do not complain.
The method of playing was completely different to anything I have ever played, wind instrument wise, as the blowing into the bag is not connected to the actual playing. Ray had an ingenious way of collecting all the moisture produced when you blow into a wind instrument, a small bottle at the end of the tube with a piece of liniment to absorb the moisture, when could be removed, dried, and reused.
All in all, an enjoyable and instructive evening and many thanks to Ray for giving up his time so freely. I would also say, it is the first, and possibly the last time, I shall be piped into a festive board. An honour indeed.
W.Bro Richard Styles
Assistant Provincial Grand Master