THERE'S welcome news today about the fate of the Manchester Unity Hall on the main road in Somerset. The building, with its four-face clock tower, was the structure hardest hit in the West End by Hurricane Fabian last September.

This writer just happens to be chairman of the Trustee Board of the Loyal Irresistible Lodge of the Independent Order of Oddfellows Manchester Unity that owns the historic landmark.

I am authorised to disclose that the structural engineering firm, Entech Development Associates Ltd., that the lodge engaged the day after the storm as its consultants, has been given the go-ahead to formalise a contract for the complete restoration of the building. Work will commence at the end of next month.

Entech, headed by its chief engineer Bruce Perinchief, has been in negotiations with four of the island's leading building contractors that were among builders who submitted bids for the restoration. Mr. Perinchief said the estimated time to complete the work is 12 to 14 weeks, subject to all materials being available.

The name of the contracting firm will be disclosed upon signing of the contract within the next few days. The lodge's original plan was for the restoration to be completed in time to tie in with the annual Somerset v St. George's Cup Match which is in Somerset this year.

That was out of regard for the role the friendly societies had in the origination of the Cup Match more than 100 years ago as an Emancipation Day celebration. But an earlier start was not possible because of current commitments by the builders.

Meanwhile, trustees of the lodge are considering proposals for the future use of the lower hall, best known as the Sandys Theatre. Up to the time that Fabian devastated the building, it was home for the congregation of the Manchester Street Somerset New Testament Church of God.

Loyal Irresistible Lodge and the Somerset District came into being in May 1883, with a Dispensation numbered 6587 granted by the Manchester Unity Grand Lodge in Manchester, England (as opposed to the Grand United Order of Oddfellows which was established in St. George's in 1848, and four years later in Hamilton with charters granted in the United States).

Founding members of Irresistible were largely skilled mechanics and other men employed at the Royal Navy Dockyard at Ireland Island.

Initially members held meetings in rented premises next to the building that is known as the Old Post Office on the shore road leading to Public Wharf. Towards the end of the 1800s plans were well in hand to construct their own building, which is the one Fabian hit on September 5.

It was actually ceremoniously dedicated and formally opened in May 1902.

Incidentally, Irresistible's sister lodge in the Hamilton District, the Loyal Flower of Day Lodge Number 6347, was also badly hit by Hurricane Fabian, suffering damage running into several thousand dollars.

Restoration of that two-storey building on the corner of Victoria and Union Streets is nearing final completion.

That lodge was formed in 1879. The first structure the founding members put on their valuable city corner site was the old Colonial Opera House, Bermuda's premiere entertainment and cultural centre which opened its doors for stage shows and movies in 1905.

Members later concentrated on building their Lodge Room which now exists. It was formally opened in November 1923. As fate would have it, the Opera House was partially destroyed by a severe hurricane in 1926.

Members laboured for the next two years restoring the place to its pristine glory. In May 1978 it was completely destroyed by a mysterious fire. At the time it was under lease to the New Testament Church of God.

The congregation subsequently built their own Heritage Worship Centre on the corner of Union and Dundonald Streets in Hamilton. Its Overseer is the Rev. Dr. Goodwin C. Smith.