On Saturday 24th September, a memorable evening was held at Penarth Masonic Hall, when Welsh legendary King of Rugby folk lore Max Boyce visited Welsh Rugby Clubs Lodge No. 9986.
This special Gentlemen’s Evening was organised by the Worshipful Master, W.Bro Huw Davies and Inner Guard, Bro. Dave Horgan to relaunch the lodge after the stop-start of covid… and what a way to do it!
With only 140 tickets available, the evening sold out in 2 days.
W.Bro Huw was delighted to present a special Welsh Rugby Clubs Lodge Cap to the Provincial Grand Master Gerald Rowbottom, who thanked Huw and the lodge. Huw then presented the brand new WRCL tie to the PGM and to Assistant PGM Rob Payne, who is a Founder Member of the lodge. The special tie is able to be worn only within WRCL Open Lodge, as well as when visiting other rugby lodges, with permission of the local PGM. The ties were on sale on the night for the first time, along with WRCL cufflinks and a new electronic card reader was procured by the lodge to enable sales.
Welsh Rugby Clubs Lodge Secretary, Paul Haley listed donations made so far to help develop rugby: Newbridge Vikings, Barry RFC Mini’s, Pontypridd Mini’s, Pencoed RFC Mini’s, Fairwater Mini’s, and also support for Rugby For Rwanda, Salvation Army, & 2021 Festival.
With an eager crowd full of masonic rugby fans, travelling from far afield as Port Talbot, Pontypridd, Neath, Swansea, Merthyr… and, dare I say, England. Max Boyce stood up to tremendous applause. He thanked WRCL for inviting him to such a magnificent building in Penarth, which he said, resembled being inside a giant Wedding cake!
Max regaled fine tales of trips to matches to watch our beloved Wales, of games in Glynneath with intervention from above to get a winning kick through the posts, of buying an advent calendar in Neath for a £1 to find 3 of the windows boarded up and stories of the rugby greats of our game.
Max also led 140 grown men in doing the Humpty Dumpty Haka, which nearly brought the sprung floor house down! It was a night of pure laughter, fun and friendship through Freemasonry and Rugby. We laughed, we cried, we laughed again.
Max was very generous in agreeing to appear in order to support the aims of WRCL, which is to raise fund towards supporting Welsh grassroots mini rugby and stayed to meet people and pose for photos. He donated a couple of copies of his book which the great Phil Saunders then worked his auctioneering magic on. Glyneath Mini rugby benefitted by £210.
Overall, a superb raffle, an auction, a silent auction of rugby memorabilia by The Events Room and sales of ties and cufflinks raised over £4,000 for Welsh grassroots mini rugby. The Province made a generous donation to the fund raising for which WRCL is very grateful indeed.
Our top compere and retired ex-comedian the fantastic Dave Horgan gave a special presentation moment of the Max Boyce evening to our wonderful Worshipful Master Huw Davies. Huw Davies said, “What an outstanding evening. I’m overwhelmed by the support and generosity shown by all…. Thank you, thank you, thank you. And of course the new Welsh Haka will be with me forever!”
Welsh Rugby Clubs Lodge has further events planned and encourages brethren to follow them on their social media – Facebook page, Twitter and Instagram, as tickets sell out fast. Tickets are sold to members first before going on general sale, so joining members are welcomed.