Members of Kingston Lodge 1010 and Lord Bolton Lodge 3263, together with their wives, partners and guests, gathered at Beverley Road Masonic Hall on 3rd October 2026 for a lively Dad’s Army-themed joint social evening.
By 6.30pm, the bar was filling and guests were arriving in an impressive array of military uniforms, ARP outfits, braces, hats, and other wartime attire. With Union Flags decorating the dining room, Beverley Road soon felt more like Walmington-on-Sea than Hull.
Lord Bolton’s Worshipful Master, Colin Bird, welcomed everyone on behalf of both Lodges. Following Grace, chef Luke Pyrah served a themed menu of pea soup, “black-market” roast beef, and eggless sponge with custard. The meal concluded with thanks, the National Anthem, and the customary toast.
Enjoyable as the formalities were, the main event was still to come.
As mysterious props appeared on stage and a blanket was produced, preparations began for the evening’s principal entertainment.
W Bro Neil Armstrong, already known for persuading others to join his dramatic sketches, turned his attention to the much-loved television classic Dad’s Army.
With a U-boat captain in tow, the makeshift Home Guard briefly transported the audience back to Britain in 1940.
Neil was joined by W Bros Mike Price and Marcus Whereat; Bros Michael and Jake Mcleavy; Roger and Barbara Watkinson; and Angela Hamilton. Costumes, props, accents, and a generous lack of military discipline combined in a humorous performance that delighted the audience.
The Beverley Road contingent may not have worried the Home Guard of Walmington-on-Sea, but the audience had reason to be cautious at several points—especially when Corporal Jones was involved. It was all received in the best possible spirit.
A wartime backdrop, period notices, Union Flag bunting and flickering candles completed the 1940s atmosphere.
After the performance, guests enjoyed a short break while the piano was moved into position. There was time for the Churchill cigar game—a variation on pin the tail on the donkey—before Neil attempted to restore order with a quiz.
Whether the quiz restored order remains open to debate.
W Bro Eddie Wildman then took his place at the piano for a traditional singalong. The room joined in enthusiastically, waving Union Flags as familiar songs filled the hall. Colin Bird even performed Lili Marleen in German, while others made up in enthusiasm what they may have lacked in tune.
At 10pm, Worshipful Masters Wayne Walker and Colin Bird faced the challenging task of judging the best costume competition. With so many guests having embraced the theme, choosing the two joint winners was no easy decision.
As the evening drew to a close, Michael and Jake presented the raffle prizes while Marcus drew the winning tickets of the raffle which raised £350.
Perhaps the greatest success of the evening was the reminder of just how enjoyable joint social events can be. They give members of all ages, their families, and friends from different Lodges the chance to spend time together, share a laugh and strengthen the friendships that make Freemasonry so special. Judging by the volume of conversation, laughter and good-natured banter throughout the evening, there was certainly no shortage of camaraderie on display. If anyone arrived as a stranger, they certainly did not leave as one. Indeed, by the end of the evening, the only real danger was that some people were enjoying themselves so much they had forgotten they were supposed to go home.
