On a recent voyage around the whole of South America on board the Queen Mary II, W.Bro. Mick Cox of the Worksop Priory Lodge 7443 was chosen to be Secretary by the 24 other Brethren who were also on board the ship. The Brotherhood met on five occasions which included a Cocktail Party and a Luncheon organised by the Secretary. Brethren from the United Kingdom joined with Brethren from all over the world including USA, Hong Kong, Australia and Canada. Two of the Brethren, John Ginter aged 92 years of the Easter Star Lodge, Massachusetts, USA and George Lambourne 88 years of the King Solomon Lodge No. 378 UK have almost 130 years Masonic service between them.

The Cocktail Party which was also attended by wives and friends raised 575 US Dollars for charity and a Cheque for this amount was presented to Commodore Bernard Warner, by the President W.Bro. Walter Goldsmith PAGDC of the Friendship and Fidelity Lodge No. 7077. As well as toasting the Queen, there was also an historic Toast to The President of the United States, Barack Obama who had only been in office five days. The Commodore in response thanked the Brethren for their generous donation and stated that the money would be split equally between the Prince’s Trust and the RNLI. Pictured at the presentation from left to right are W.Bro. Walter Goldsmith (President) with his wife Betty the Commodore Bernard Warner, Margaret Cox and W. Bro. Cox (Secretary)