On Wednesday 16th September 2026, The Lodge of Erskine No. 1566 held their Special Erskine Home Meeting at the Erskine Home Recreation Room. The meeting was the 20th anniversary of this special event on behalf of this great cause and was attended by 43 brethren.

The meeting was opened by the RWM Bro. Kenny McCance who welcomed all the brethren and received a deputation from the Provincial Grand Lodge of Renfrewshire East, headed by the SPGM Bro. Gavin Burt. 

The meeting was then closed and the Master of Ceremonies, PM Bro. Dr Iain McPhee of 1566 then took over and explained a little bit of the background and the purpose of the meeting – which is to raise funds specifically for the residents who use the Recreation Room. Since the first meeting in 2006, monies raised has been used to buy equipment, fund outings and special events for the residents and users of the Recreation Room.

The idea to hold meetings at the Erskine Home was created during discussions in 2005 with PM Bro. Dr Iain McPhee and the late George Sharp – an ex-soldier who served in the Scottish Rifles Regiment (Cameronians). Bro. George Sharp was the Almoner of Lodge Dumbarton Kilwinning No. 18 and a Fundraiser for the Home.

In the early days of 1566, the lodge would invite residents of the Home who were in the craft to attend the lodge at 1566 but Bro’s. George Sharp and Dr Iain McPhee’s idea of taking the meeting into the Recreation Room at Erskine Home was then discussed and planned and the first Erskine Homes meeting took place in 2006.

PM Bro. Dr Iain McPhee then introduced our guest speaker, Past Provincial Grand Master of Ayrshire, Bro. Archie Chalmers – who gave a really interesting talk titled “Peter Williamson – A Man of Curious Adventures” which was very well received.  It was an intriguing talk. Peter Williamson was a Freemason who featured in the painting that hangs in the Grand Lodge of Scotland.

His life story is remarkable. He was kidnapped from Aberdeen as a child and sold into colonial indentured servitude in America. He was later captured by Native Americans, lived among them, escaped, and eventually served in the British military.

Upon returning to Scotland, he successfully sued his kidnappers and used the money to become an entrepreneurial force in Edinburgh. He established the city's very first penny post system and published Edinburgh's first street directory. He also ran a tavern where he occasionally dressed in Native American attire to entertain guests. As an active member of Edinburgh society and a fellow Freemason, Williamson was included in Watson's historical tapestry alongside other Scottish luminaries like Henry Erskine, William Dunbar, and Lord Torphichen.