“Phenomenal”
The Macnab Madness hits home again at this year’s Loquacious Limerick’s event at Hutton Shenfield on the 20th November. Macnab delivered a first-rate evening to over 100 masons and non-masons who soaked up the musical atmosphere and electricity floating in the ether. The event, which from inception, takes about 5 months to plan every year, is the culmination of creative input, organisational efficiency and energetic manpower to run what many agreed was pure, unadulterated, fun!
The evening kicked off with a superbly performed second degree ceremony, the WM Paul Bates and his team ensured the candidate took home fond memories of his Passing in front of the packed temple crowd.
Then the fun and games really began. Virtual Reality Shooting, NERF gun timed shoot, Pound Against the Bottle and to top it off the main event for that part of the evening – the now legendary Fish Race where this year despite a valiant effort the 2024 champion, the Essex Golf Lodge’s, Steve Durrant he was knocked out at the heat stage. This meant the final was consisted of Macnab versus a non-masonic guest who had knocked out the Cricket Lodge in his respective heat. The atmosphere rumbled with anticipation; the shouts and encouragement of the focused crowd reverberated under the domed ceiling to see a new 2025 Champion crowned – Macnab’s very own WM Paul Bates wheeling his fish over the line by a couple of sardines lengths against his worthy competitor.
Macnab’s Festive Board was again another electrically charged occasion with songs, many prizes and of course plenty of loquacious limericks delivered in quirky fashion by Macnab’s Neil Beverley. Hutton’s superb food and staff kept the crowd fed and watered admirably and post coffee the Festive board Main Event – Graeme Matthews - had everyone howling with his comedic act.
The raffle, and other events raised well over £1000 on the night with the evening’s supported charities (Essex Air Ambulance, The Masonic Fishing Charity, The Poppy Foundation) receiving cheques for £300. The Para Charity auction (a day’s bird shoot) raised a further £370.
The evening came to a close with masons and non-masons alike leaving with a boisterous glow, happy to have been part of another jovial and charitably fruitful event… A Macnab team that worked hard will rest easy for a time, whilst looking forward to the installation of its new master in January, followed by hotly anticipated future meetings including the clay shoot and fishing events in June and September respectively.
The wheels for November 2026 will start again next June. But for now, Macnab’s Madness can take a well-earned break.
Written by Neil Anthony
Macnab PR
