The Press LOL 1211

The Press L.O.L. 1211

The Press LOL 1211 was constituted in 1948, being founded by nightshift employees of the Belfast Telegraph, Newsletter and Northern Whig: hence the title is self-explanatory.

This year, the last of the century, we celebrate our 50th anniversary and doubly pleasing is the fact that along with No. 2 District, we have the honour of leading the Belfast Demonstration to Edenderry.

The Lodge has the unique distinction of 'sitting' on a Saturday night, as when founded, press employees were only off work on that evening. There are at present no Press employees on the roll, but in the '60s, an influx of Post Office nightshift workers gave the Lodge the unofficial title 'The Postman's Lodge'. The Saturday night meeting was continued since it was also suitable for the Postal workers.

Though numerically small at present, it was not always so, especially in the '50s when members numbered 112, peaking at 129 in the mid 1960s. The years since 1969 have not been kind and have more or less involved a holding operation: ageing members population shift and civil strife have all taken their toll on our community.

Had it not been for stalwart members like our long-serving Secretary, now retired at 78, Brother R.C. Sterritt PM, now sadly housebound, our equally long-serving Treasurer, Brother W.J. McAllister PM, our Chaplain and representative on the Belfast Loyal Orange Widows' Fund, Brother William Rodgers PM, now sadly housebound, the Lodge could have ceased to be. Yet, assisted by Brothers R. Taylor, W.J. Smith, S. McQueen and the late Brothers John McKay and Alex McDonald, they somehow held the line until new blood was introduced. The Worshipful Master for 1999 is Brother George Crossett who is in his 2nd year of Office and personifies the younger generation, who hopefully will keep the flag flying into the 21st Century and restore the Lodge to its former glory.