Largest-ever Crowle Freemasons’ Hog Roast crowd have a great time whilst raising charity cash

Almost 400 Freemasons, friends and families turned up to Sandhall at Crowle for the Crowle Masonic Social Committee’ hog roast, back after a three-year absence.

Such a large crowd made it best-attended masonic social event in the Province this year so far, proving that Freemasons are keen to get back to making memories by sharing each others’ company.

The event, organised for the last five years by Andy Urry, Matt Dunstan, and a team of helpers after Eddie Webster had been at the helm for two decades, took place at the farm of Robin and Ginny Barker. Andy had been promising good weather on the day since he announced the date in January, and he wasn’t let down as the sun shone from a cloudless sky throughout the afternoon. The blue sky provided a great backdrop for the flypast by a WW2 Hurricane from the BBMF, in the video below, which made three runs over the sun-soaked garden.

Roast pork and all the trimmings was prepared by father and son family business Snap Crackle and Pork, operated by Barrie and Richard Turner, themselves Crowle Freemasons, and was followed up by strawberries and cream.

Ginny Barker provided an extra treat for the children who’d attended by turning the garden sprinkler, which they were delighted to run through to cool off.

And when he’d finished cooking, Barrie turned auctioneer to raise even more money by selling some Guy Martin memorabilia, including a washbag made from a Guy Martin inner tube – which he was surprised to find his grandson bidding on, with sanction from Barrie’s own son!

Andy said: “It’s been hard work. Covid has added to the stress Matt and I have had to get everything set up along with our hosts Robin and Ginny for the previous two years, only for it to get pulled, at great expense I must add.

“But eventually we have produced what  might have been the best Crowle hog roast ever.  All the stars were aligned today!”