Johnny McNeill Lodge 10377

15/10/2026

With only 2 days before Ava and her family fly off to Cyprus for a 10-day Holiday of a Lifetime, I share this moving text from Carlyn and the family.

05/10/2026

With a fantastic link of 39, five Brethren from the Johnny McNeill Lodge 10377 ventured south of the border to the Currock Lodge 4318 in Carlisle to witness the 3rd degree Installation of Bro Ian Scott CP. DPGP. The ceremony was ably carried out by Bro Mike Scott ROH. PGP 2026 and our very own Bro Stuart McRae was roped into providing support as a member of the 1st degree guard - well done Stuart.

We departed Gorebridge at 10:30 on Saturday 3rd October 2026 with thanks to Bro Andrew Collins CP who volunteered (or was volunteered) to be our chauffeur for the day. As always, we were made very welcome by all in Carlisle with superb banter, charges and excellent grazing plus a number of raffle prizes accompanying us back to Bonnie Scotland.

Once the ceremony was complete, Bro Eddie Irvine ROH was given permission to address the gathering to give an update on our HOALT efforts for a local Gorebridge family - the result of which generated £300.90 towards the most worthy cause - our most sincere gratitude to the Currock Lodge and everyone who donated.

Congratulations again to Bro Ian Scott on your most deserved raising to KOM.

17/09/2026

At our last meeting on 7th September 2026, the Brethren of the Johnny McNeill Lodge 10377 were upstanding and toasted Bro Nathan Turnbull and Nicole on the birth of their baby daughter. As his daughter was born on 3rd September, just 4 days before the meeting, we were not expecting, understandably that Bro Nathan would be in attendance, but attend he did and we were so pleased to see him.

Nevaeh Grace Turnbull was born at a healthy weight of 6.6lbs and both parents are extremely overjoyed - wait for the sleepless nights Bro!!

Welcome to the world Nevaeh and congratulations again to the proud parents.

07/09/2026

As is now the norm, a delegation from the Johnny McNeill Lodge 10377 were afforded a royal welcome from the Brethren of the Flower of Scotland Lodge 10328 in Rosyth. The reason for the visit was to witness and participate in the well-deserved Exaltation to the 4th Degree of Bro Tam McKinney KOM. The ceremony was ably carried out by Bro Bert Sinclair ROH HM and assisted by his officers of the Kingdom of Fife ROH Assembly.

For some strange reason, and truly an historical first, the number of raffle prizes won by the Johnny McNeill Lodge was surpassed by the winnings of the home Lodge, although we can forgive you for this as the grazing was once again exceptional.

With the HOALT trip now moving forward apace (October 2026), we were given permission to sell commemorative coins kindly donated by Bro Andrew Collins CP in order to raise more funds for this worthy cause. Bro Ronnie Chlopuk also stepped up and auctioned an engraved hip flask for this cause and the Flower of Scotland Lodge made a very welcome donation of £100. Along with the sale of Buffs funeral ties, the net result was that the total raised was £305 - Many, many thanks to the Flower of Scotland Lodge.

Many congratulations again to Bro Tam McKinney ROH.

01/09/2026

What wonderful, generous people there are in Gorebridge and in particular, Arniston Miner's Welfare & Social Club. They have been raising funds for the Johnny McNeill Lodge 10377 RAOB towards the Holiday of a Lifetime for the Nicolson family who suffered a further devastating blow when Mr Brian Nicolson (Brizzy) passed away in May aged just 37 leaving Amanda and 4 kids with the youngest being under 1yo.

Work is now well underway to send the family of 7 to Cyprus under the HOALT programme and we are so extremely grateful to all those involved in the Cyprus Province. The holiday will be in a Villa with pool and all costs will be covered including passports, insurance, a hire car for the 10 days, flights, transfers and day trips plus so much more.

Pictured is Bro Eddie Irvine ROH receiving a massive £823.50 from Carle Wilson, members of staff & committee and customers along with Mrs Jackie Walkingshaw (wife of the late Brother Ian Walkingshaw ROH who we know would be so proud of his wife for her efforts towards this cause).

Many, many thanks you all.

30/05/2026

Please note: The CHANGE OF CEMETERY from Tranent to Inveresk.

We are all devastated at the passing of Mr Brian ‘Brizzy’ Nicolson. We in the Johnny McNeill Lodge 10377 will continue in our efforts to ensure that his family truly have a holiday of a lifetime in Cyprus.

Passed away peacefully at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary aged 37, on Saturday 9th May 2026, surrounded by his loving family.
Much loved partner to Amanda, devoted dad to Ava and Daniel, proud stepdad to Callum and Ellie, cherished son, loving brother and loyal friend to many. Brian will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.

A funeral service will be held at the Wiremill Social Club, 4 Balcarres Road, Musselburgh, EH21 7SB, on Monday 15th June 2026 at 11:30am, followed by interment at Inveresk Cemetery, then everyone is welcome back to the Wiremill Club for refreshments and food and to remember the good times and fun also crazy times you had with Brizzy.

01/05/2026

Our heartiest congratulations are extended to Bro Shaun McCrudden on his Induction to the 2nd degree on Sat 15th April 2026. The excellent ceremony was ably carried out by Bro Jock McRae CP, PGP Essex Province and assisted by the Director of Ceremonies Bro Eddie Irvine ROH.

What made the day extra special was the fact that Bro Jock travelled all the way from Colchester to Gorebridge, Midlothian for which we thank him profusely. As such we again thank our most welcome visitors from the Flower of Scotland and Pride of Wear Lodges making a link of 31. A special thanks go also to Bro John McGregor ROH for stepping in at the last moment to fulfil the duties of Alderman of Benevolence.

It was also good to see the 4 McRae brothers together once again (pictured) and we very much look forward to their quadruple Installation to the 3rd degree in March 2027 (watch this space for details nearer the time).

The staff of Arniston Miners’ Club excelled in looking after all of our alcohol needs as did Mr & Mrs Colin Herriot in the provision of an outstanding buffet (as my waistline would attest).

Congratulations again to Bro Shaun and we look forward to seeing you in the Royal Chair where you will grow & develop further in your Buffalo career.

17/03/2026

A small delegation (3) from the Johnny McNeill Lodge were pleased to visit the Flower of Scotland Lodge in Rosyth on Sunday 15th March to witness the Initiation of an unlightened gentleman into the Order. The ceremony was ably carried out by Mr Calum Miller's father, Bro Keith Miller ROH HM with 15 in the link.

There would have been more of our Lodge numbers at this ceremony but unfortunately it clashed with Mothers' Day and, in the interests of self-preservation, many Brethren decided to spend the day with their wives.

We send our heartfelt congratulations to Bro Calum and look forward to meeting him again in the near future.

29/01/2026

The Brethren of the Johnny McNeill Lodge 10377 were extremely pleased to welcome the Nicolson family, who we have been assisting for the past 6 years, to our Lodge on 26th Jan 2026 whilst we were in open order.

Having two young children already, Ellie – now 9yo and Callum now 13yo (who is also a registered young carer), Brian and Amanda were blessed with the arrival of a baby girl early in 2019. Unfortunately, she (Ava – now 6yo) was born with all of her internal organs outside of her body (Gastroschisis) which was further compounded by other serious conditions including a 14.5cm hole in her stomach. The expected survival rate for babies born with this condition is generally quite good but in Ava’s case this was greatly reduced due to the complications and her future looked extremely bleak.

All of this meant that she had to undergo numerous surgeries at the Sick Children's Hospital in Edinburgh who, having never dealt with this level of severity, were in constant communications with a hospital in Boston, USA who had experience with this level of complexity on 2 previous occasions - such is the rarity of Ava’s conditions.

During this very worrying time, both of the parents had to work full time jobs but one of them in turn spent the night at the hospital to be on hand as Ava went through many distressing operations. This is where the Johnny McNeill Lodge stepped in to assist with the inherent costs to the family.

I am happy to say that Ava was able to leave hospital in October 2019 (pictured here with Bro Eddie Irvine ROH). Since that time Ava has had many long and painful surgeries and at the age of 6yo still has more to come. The family have shown the most extraordinary strength and resilience in the manner in which they have coped with this distressing situation and I am also extremely pleased to report that they are now proud parents of Daniel who (after complications) was born in October 2025 by C-Section and weighed in at 5lbs 3oz – both mother and baby Daniel are doing well.
Whilst we have started to raise funds in order to send this family to Cyprus under the Cyprus Province’s HOALT programme, we are now planning other fund-raising events throughout 2026 to further bolster these funds and ensure that this worthiest of families truly have a “Holiday Of A Lifetime”.

14/01/2026