As is the norm at the June meeting of Kent Installed Mark Masters Lodge No.999 the Worshipful Master, currently W.Bro. Martyn Summers – Deputy Provincial Grand Master, organises a talk for the entertainment and enlightenment of the members and their guests.
On this occasion Martyn invited Bro. Mark Eyles-Thomas, of Greenwich Mark and Royal Ark Mariners Lodges, and the author of “Sod That for a Game of Soldiers”, to deliver a personal account of the Falklands War and 3 Para’s bloody battle for Mount Longdon.
L-R W.Bro. Steve Hyland RE – Senior Warden, Bro. Mark Eyles-Thomas 3 Para, W.Bro. Martyn Summers – Worshipful Master, Bro. Michael Bateman – 3 Para, W.Bro. Bob Fisher RN – Junior Warden.
This was the first time that Mark’s riveting, moving and enthralling talk, of his personal experiences of going to war in The Falklands at the age of just 17, had been delivered in a Mark Mason’s Lodge and it certainly did not disappoint.
It was a squeeze with around 100 in the Temple, followed by 75 sitting down to dine afterwards.
After Mark’s talk Senior Warden, and Assistant Provincial Grand Master, Steve Hyland commented “An excellent meeting and a fantastic presentation from Bro. Mark Eyles-Thomas, a real insight to his experiences as a young solider, heartfelt, engaging, and compassionate, all in equal measures.”
An amazing £1000 was raised for Mark’s chosen charity Support our Paras, who afterwards posted “Thank you all so much for your support towards Mark and our wider Airborne family. Your generosity will make a difference in the lives of many of our paratroopers, and their families, when they need it.” on our Facebook page.
It was doubly fitting that our SW was a Royal Engineer and our JW served in The Falklands aboard HMS Glasgow.