The 18th annual Association of Medical, University and Legal Lodges (AMULL) festival was hosted by the Wyggeston Lodge No.3448, the United Grand Lodge of England Universities Scheme Lodge for the University of Leicester on Saturday 6th October 2018. Around 100 people attended and, despite the rain, everyone enjoyed a superb day of fraternity, festivity and fun.
The programme was devised and flawlessly administered by Past Master W.Bro. Dr. Andy Green with support from the AMULL secretary, W.Bro. Athelstane Aamodt.
A reception was hosted the night before by the Provincial Grand Master of Leicestershire and Rutland, R.W.Bro. David Hagger at Freemasons’ Hall, Leicester where the guests had the opportunity, many for the first time, to take in the surroundings of the decorative Holmes Lodge Room and the extensive masonic Museum.
On the Saturday, the guests assembled for tea and coffee in cloistral hush of Leicester Cathedral, the resting place of King Richard III and the venue for the interfaith service conducted by W.Bro. the Rev Canon Michael Wilson, Grand Chaplain, whose excellent proceedings and highly topical address were rounded off with a rousing rendition of “Jerusalem” which the assembled congregation sang with gusto. After the service, the guests made the very short walk to the beautiful Guildhall, one of the best preserved timber-framed halls in the country and with a history dating back 600 years. There, Professor Turi King gave a brilliantly entertaining and interesting talk on the excavation in Leicester that led to the discovery of King Richard III, managing to inject wit and humour into subjects like mitochondrial DNA and Y-chromosomes. Her talk, which entirely captivated the audience, was rapturously received and universally declared to be “brilliant”. Professor King’s talk was followed by AMULL’s now-traditional champagne reception, thanks to the kindness and generosity of W.Bro. Charles Akle who provided the plentiful magnums. The reception was followed by a delicious lunch in St. Martin’s House, culminating in a toast to AMULL given by W.Bro. Paul Marvin, the current Master of Wyggeston Lodge, with the response given by the AMULL President, R.W.Bro. David Williamson. AMULL was delighted to make hardship grants totalling £5,000 to three excellent students: Naomi Amos, Bro. Andrew Slater, and Bro. Joshua Holford whose respective stories were filled with inspiring grit and determination. AMULL was also delighted to make an award of £1,000 to Leicester University Scholarship Fund, which was accepted by V.W.Bro. Michael Turnbull , Past Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Leicestershire and Rutland on behalf of the University. This donation was generously matched from the Leicestershire and Rutland Masonic Charitable Association presented by the Provincial Grand Master, R.W.Bro. David Hagger. R.W.Bro. David Williamson said after the Festival: “All-in-all a truly memorable Festival from every aspect!”