After 18 months of pandemic restrictions and two failed attempts due to lockdowns, the Anglo-Foreign Lodges Association finally reunited in September 2021 for a celebratory cruise along the River Thames.
Organised by W. Bro. Gerry Amsden, SLGR, AFLA Assistant Secretary, the event was a triumph of perseverance. Originally booked for June 2020, and then rescheduled for September 2020, COVID-19 ensured that neither date could go ahead. However, on Saturday 11th September 2021, patience was rewarded.
After a poor summer, the brethren were blessed with uncharacteristically warm temperatures and brilliant sunshine. 86 guests boarded the chartered vessel Erasmus, operated by City Cruises, for a journey that took them from the London Eye and Houses of Parliament, under Tower Bridge, and all the way to the Thames Barrier.
The event was designed to bridge the gap between AFLA’s formal biennial reunions (the previous one being the spectacular 2019 visit of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police Lodge).
This cruise offered a relaxed alternative, welcoming families, babies, and friends from seven of the 14 member Lodges. Guests enjoyed welcome drinks on the middle deck followed by a plush lunch on the lower deck, all while taking in the sights of the capital. It was a perfect way to meet, relax, and celebrate the return of our fraternal liberty.
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