Shortly after our next meeting two of our members will receive honours at the annual meeting of Provincial Grand Lodge. W Bro D. C.  Allen will receive an active first appointment of Provincial Grand Pursuivant, and W Bro D. A. Burden a promotion to Past Provincial Senior Grand Deacon. Congratulations to them both.

We hope you all have an enjoyable year ahead.

However the sheer number and quality of the prizes we had to offer, together with our persuasive skills, meant that we were able tempt the customers to buy our tickets to such good effect! We would not have been able to do this without the donations of bottles from lodge members.

Tuesday 8th June saw our Installation. It is the second time Bro W. C. Hurley PPAGSuptWks (Middlesex) has been in the Chair of Ashley Hill Lodge No. 7861.

The evening was well attended, including the Assistant Provincial Grand Master of Berkshire, W Bro John W Nixon, PSGD.

A first for Ashley Hill, a photograph was taken after the Installation of our new WM, and lodge members. Our new WM, W Bro Hurley, is pictured on the right and we all wish W Bro Hurley a great year ahead. You can see a larger picture by clicking the image.

Our list of Officers has been updated, which can be accessed through the menu above.

Ashley Hill meets again in September, the start of our new Masonic year, where we will be Initiating a new member.

The meeting will take place at the Berkshire Masonic Centre, Sindlesham, at 5pm on Tuesday 8th June. Masons wishing to attend should get in touch with our Secretary.

The race starts in Green Park, 250m from the race site at Madejski Stadium. The route will be exactly the same as in 2009. For more information visit the Reading Half Marathon website at www.readinghalfmarathon.com.

Week two is on Charity with W Bro John Nixon AstPGM and W Bro Gerry Hann Prov Charity Steward and will discuss our charitable giving and some of the benefits we bring to the community.

Week three is on the history of Freemasonry with RW Bro Mike Hooton PGM and W Bro Tony Barstow Past AstPGM and other general information will also be discussed.

Week four will be a question and answer session attended by W Bro Chris Connop Information Officer at Grand Lodge and others.

Update:
Since the above broadcasts, the recordings are now no longer available on BBC iPlayer.

For information on the United Grand Lodge of England, or to arrange a visit, go to their website at www.ugle.org.uk.

One member of Ashley Hill had to abandon his car on the road of the Berkshire Masonic Centre two weeks ago, and this weeks snow is more severe. It’s also reported that the Masonic Centre is closed as the staff cannot get in.

Anyone wishing to contact the Berkshire Masonic Centre can do so on 0118 979 5104, or visit the Provincial Website at www.berkspgl.org.uk.

Wednesday 16th December saw our last Class of Instruction before Christmas, where we did a First Degree.

The next Class of Instruction is Wednesday 6th Janauary 2010, with the next full meeting being Tuesday 2nd February for a Second Degree.

Until then, from the brethren of Ashley Hill, we wish you a warm and merry Christmas.

Qualified teams are Ashley Hill, Sandhurst 2, Engineers 1, Berries 1, Berries 2, Christopher Wren Chapter, Hungerford 1, Victory, Hungerford 2, Wokingham Wanderers, Festival Torch Bearers, Loddon Chapter louts, Pangbourne Chapter, Pangbourne Mark and BLVM Belligerents.