The Official Journal of the United Grand Lodge of England Number 26 ~ Summer 2014 £3.

50
FREEMASONRY TODAY

MASTER
OF TIDES
Number 26 ~ Summer 2014

Why ocean explorer

and adventurer
Pete Bray decided to
start a lifelong journey
as a Freemason p22

DID YOU SEE PUTTING THE THE CRAFT

WHAT IT’S MASONRY IN BLACK UNITED
GRAND LODGE
ALL ABOUT? INTO BRASS AND WHITE of ENGLAND

The making of our film, p26 Meet Standard Lodge, p36 Understanding the press, p46

FROM THE
GRAND
SECRETARY
M
any readers will know of the Royal
Arch 2013 Bicentenary Appeal
for the Royal College of Surgeons.
The final result has just been announced as
£2.5 million. This is a fantastic sum and a great
example of our philanthropy. As Secretary
of the appeal, I know how much was done to
achieve this impressive figure and that much
of the praise is justly attributed to the Second
Grand Principal as Chairman of the appeal.
You will all be receiving a DVD copy of our
latest short film with this issue of Freemasonry
Today. It has been greeted with great acclaim
and we hope you will show it to your family.
It is different and exciting, designed specifically
for family members to show them about our
friendships, the importance of family and
the good we do in our communities. In other
words, Freemasonry is a great organisation
of which to be a member, and one of which
we should all be proud. Indeed, as we move
towards our Tercentenary we should show our
pride in being a member and look for people of
quality who can join us to share in that pride.
Interestingly, two of the Senior Insights in
this issue of the magazine discuss recruitment
and retention. HRH The Duke of Kent, our
Grand Master, explains that these tasks are
more important than ever and emphasises
the role of the mentoring scheme in retaining
members. The Pro Grand Master asks why so
PHOTOGRAPHY: DAVID WOOLFALL
few members recruit and urges us to become
‘In this issue of the magazine, we believe you will find
a great deal to inspire you about Freemasonry.’
freemasonrytoday.com
WELCOME
more active in this area. We encourage you
to read both of these excellent articles.
In this issue, we believe you will find a
great deal to inspire you about Freemasonry.
We profile Pete Bray, who, having survived
two hurricanes and a sinking ship, is now
embarking on a new journey as a Freemason.
Paul Calderwood traces the Craft’s faltering
relationship with the press throughout
the twentieth century and provides some
useful insight into how things have started
to improve. Meanwhile, four members of
a Salvation Army brass band explain why
playing together is the perfect complement
to being members of a lodge.
For some, the community of Freemasons
across England and Wales is a fantastic way
of sharing a common interest or raising much-
needed money for good causes. For others, it
provides a unique opportunity to bring people
together. We find out how fighter pilot Len
Thorne saw one of his squadron shot down
during World War II; and how forty-five years
later, at a Masonic Widows Friendship Club,
Len discovered his colleague was still alive and
living just eight miles down the road. Len is a
fantastic example of the breadth of people who
make up the Craft. I hope you enjoy reading
his story and the many others in this issue.
Nigel Brown
Grand Secretary
3
 CONTENTS

The Board of Grand

Lodge Publications 17 26
Ray Reed, Robin Furber,
Graham Rudd
Publishing Director
Nigel Brown
Editorial Panel
Karen Haigh, John Hamill,
Susan Henderson,
John Jackson,
Siobhan McCarthy
Editor
Luke Turton
Published by
August Media Ltd for
22
The United Grand Lodge
of England, Freemasons’
Hall, Great Queen Street, 46
London WC2B 5AZ
Editorial
Freemasonry Today,
Freemasons’ Hall,
Great Queen Street,
London WC2B 5AZ
editor@ugle.org.uk
Advertising contact
Square7 Media Ltd,
3 More London Riverside,
London SE1 2RE
Mark Toland
020 3283 4056 36 56
mark@square7media.co.uk
Circulation
0844 879 4961 GRAND SECRETARY 3 DELIVERING THE NEWS 46
fmt@ugle.org.uk Nigel Brown welcomes you to the summer issue Paul Calderwood’s 2013 Prestonian Lecture investigates
Masonic enquiries why Freemasonry and the national press went their
editor@ugle.org.uk NEWS AND VIEWS 6
www.ugle.org.uk separate ways in the 1980s, reports Andrew Gimson
The latest masonic news from around the country
020 7831 9811
Printed by SENIOR INSIGHTS 17 THE NEEDLE’S THREAD 50
Wyndeham Roche HRH The Duke of Kent appeals to every mason, John Hamill describes how two intrepid Freemasons
© Grand Lodge
whatever their rank, to focus on the critical issues managed to transport Cleopatra’s Needle from Egypt
Publications Ltd 2014.
of membership retention and recruitment to England in the nineteenth century
The opinions herein are
those of the authors or
persons interviewed only OCEANS TO EXPLORE 22 REACHING OUT 53
and do not reflect the Whether crossing the sea in a kayak for a good cause By introducing sensory gardens into its care homes
views of Grand Lodge
or attending a local masonic meeting, Pete Bray believes across England and Wales, the RMBI is helping residents
Publications Ltd, the
United Grand Lodge in looking after people to engage with the outside world
of England or August
Media Ltd. FREEMASONS ON FILM 26 AIR FORCE FRATERNITY 56
Mounted on the cover of this issue, a new film about the As a pilot in World War II, Len Thorne was considered
Craft interviews members, explains its charity work and a safe pair of hands. Barry Griffin shows how he carried
explores the organisation’s structure. Sarah Holmes finds these traits into Freemasonry
out why it is different from anything seen before
CHARITIES UPDATE 65
FILLING THE SHELVES 32 How Freemasons are helping out around the UK
Manager of Letchworth’s, Kevin Duffy reveals why the
internet has been good for the shop at Freemasons’ Hall LIBRARY AND MUSEUM 71
When Garibaldi came to Britain in 1864, he was greeted
BRASS BRETHREN 36 by crowds and celebrated by poetry in masonic magazines
Sophie Radice discovers why Freemasonry and playing in
a Salvation Army band can be the perfect combination LETTERS 73
Your opinions on the world of Freemasonry
ONE MAN IS AN ISLAND 42
Cover image: Matt Thomas When Augustus John Smith took possession of the Isles REFLECTION 82
This page: Rex Features, of Scilly, he introduced an education system that would The monetary value of masonic items may not be huge but
Matt Thomas, Paul Stuart,
Alun Callender transform the lives of the islanders their historic worth could be significant, says John Hamill

freemasonrytoday.com 5
NEWS You can now keep up to date with all the

AND
latest news from around the country on
our Twitter and Facebook pages

VIEWS
@freemasonry2day
@ugle_grandlodge
@grandchapter

FreemasonryToday
UnitedGrandLodgeofEngland
SupremeGrandChapter

GRAND MASTER’S
HISTORIC VISIT
TO GLOUCESTER
CATHEDRAL
Paying his first ever visit to Gloucester
Cathedral, the Grand Master, HRH
The Duke of Kent, was made welcome
among local brethren at their annual
church service.

The Grand Master first lunched at the masonic

hall in Stroud, accompanied by Dame Janet Trotter,
Lord Lieutenant of Gloucestershire, and the High
Sheriff, the Hon Hugh Tollemache. They were
hosted by Provincial Grand Master Adrian Davies
and his wife Angela.
Following a further civic engagement at
Brockworth, the Duke arrived at the cathedral with
the Mayor of Gloucester, together with county and
civic leaders. The congregation was welcomed by
the Dean, the Very Reverend Stephen Lake, and
lessons were read by Deputy Provincial Grand
Master Tim Henderson-Ross and the PGM. The
Grand Master presented the Dean with a cheque
for £20,000 towards the cathedral restoration fund,
representing £10,000 each from The Freemasons’ Above left: The Grand Master enters Gloucester Cathedral
Grand Charity and Gloucestershire Freemasons. Above: Cheque presentation to the Dean

6
 NEWS AND VIEWS

ROYAL NAVAL
CELEBRATES
SHIPSHAPE ON
MASTER THE QUEEN MARY
The spring edition of During the Queen Mary 2 voyage from Southampton
Freemasonry Today to Cape Town earlier this year, 18 masons and their
contained an article partners entertained the ship’s master, Captain Kevin
about the inventor
of the life preserver,
Oprey, in the Winter Gardens.
Francis Columbine Peter Elvey of Kenlis Lodge, No. 1267, Cumbria &
Daniel. Shortly before Westmorland, acted as the charity steward and Jim
its publication, a talk Duggan of Mowbray Lodge, No. 2993, Western Cape,
on the same topic was host and speaker, presenting a donation on behalf
was given in Royal
of the brethren to Captain Oprey for the Seafarers
Naval Lodge, No. 59,
by Senior Warden UK charities.
Forbes Cutler.
The talk was part
of the celebrations
held to mark the 275th
anniversary of the
lodge, of which Daniel
was master for many
years. The Metropolitan
Grand Stewards
Demonstration Team
also performed, and
a cheque to honour
the anniversary was
SEVEN MARATHONS received on behalf
Shown (l to r): Jim and Margaret Duggan,
IN SEVEN DAYS of the Royal Masonic
Benevolent Institution Captain Oprey, and Carolyn and Peter Elvey
Bristol Freemason Bill Doody ran seven by Dr John Reuther.

marathons in seven days in support of the

Masonic Samaritan Fund (MSF) and the
NSPCC. Fundraising on behalf of the
Province of Bristol’s 2019 Festival Appeal for
the MSF, he covered more than 183 miles in
one week. Bill began his incredible challenge
by running from Bristol to London, finishing
off with the London Marathon on 13 April.
He visited several lodges and attended
meetings at Wiltshire, Berkshire, West
Kent and Freemasons’ Hall in London.
Go to www.justgiving.com/samaritan
for more information
Help has come for victims of
the Somerset Levels floods
PHOTOGRAPHY: COURTESY BRITISH RED CROSS
SHORING UP
IN SOMERSET
Flooding in England and Wales caused
widespread damage and disruption to many
communities during the winter. Somerset
masons, backed by The Freemasons’ Grand
Charity and other Provinces, came to the
rescue with help for the Somerset
Community Foundation.
Grand Charity President Richard Hone, QC
Inventor and approved a £20,000 emergency grant for the
Freemason Francis British Red Cross in support of its UK flood
Columbine Daniel relief efforts.
The grant was backed by a special appeal
among Somerset masons, who raised more
than £175,000 for the Somerset Masonic Flood
Recovery Fund, becoming one of the four main
donors to the local appeal. Other Provinces also
sent generous donations.

The Grand Charity is working closely with

masons in other affected areas of England and
Wales to establish the best way to offer further
support. In parallel with support for wider relief
efforts, the charity will assist individual eligible
masons who have been affected by events, and
their dependants, by providing Masonic Relief
Grants to relieve hardship.

To find out more about how the Grand Charity

is supporting flood victims, turn to p65

freemasonrytoday.com 7
NEWS AND VIEWS

LODGE RAISES £10,000

FOR WEST WALES FESTIVAL
A team of West Wales Provincial Officers took over Aeron Lodge, No. 7208,
which meets at Aberaeron, with Provincial Grand Master Eric Mock leading
and raising Nigel Jones in a ‘Cash for Ritual’ deal. But it was value for
money – the lodge handed over £10,000 for the 2015 Festival on behalf
of The Freemasons’ Grand Charity.

Devonshire Masonic Art Group

members are helping charity

DEVONSHIRE ART
GROUP SUCCESS
An initiative by Devonshire mason Cyril Reed has
drawn upon the wealth of artistic talent in Freemasonry,
including widows of masons and those with close family
ties. As a result, a group was formed to exhibit artworks,
with profits going to charity. Several exhibitions have
already been held, raising money for both masonic and
non-masonic charities.

REACHING OUT
IN HEREFORDSHIRE Martyn Bolt is organising the
Megan Baker House at Moreton Eye near Leominster Provincial Perimeter Pedal
in Herefordshire is seen as a centre of excellence in
conductive education for children and adults with

neurological disorders. The charity is in the final year
of its three-year REACH OUT project, which takes its
services into schools and community centres for an
ever-growing number of beneficiaries. Herefordshire
masons, including Royal Edward Lodge, No. 892, in
Leominster, have contributed, while Paul Beaumont
recently donated £750 on behalf of Saint Peter’s
Lodge, No. 7368, in Bromyard.
Shown above: Richard James (l) and Paul Beaumont
(r) of Saint Peter’s Lodge with (l to r) Megan Baker
House lead conductor Judit Ziman, teaching
assistants Zoe White and Vicky Martin, and
students Isabelle and Chorley
TOUR DE YORKSHIRE
Yorkshire is to host the start of this year’s Tour de France in July, so
Martyn Bolt of Woodsmoke Lodge, No. 9317, suggested a cycle event
navigating the boundary of the Province of Yorkshire, West Riding to
raise funds for the 2017 RMBI Festival.
In the style of the Tour de France, the 280-mile Provincial Perimeter
Pedal will be broken into stages as the route takes in 23 masonic halls
after setting out from Tapton Hall in Sheffield.
The charity cycle will take place over the three days of the August
bank holiday weekend, enabling many more riders to join the core
group for part of the journey as they approach or leave a masonic hall.
For more information, go to www.provincialperimeterpedal.info

8
 NEWS AND VIEWS

MAKING
WAVES FOR
WATERAID
Edward Williams, aged 27, a
member of Lodge of Three Grand
Principles, No. 441, Province of
Cambridgeshire, is attempting to
swim the 20 miles between Ireland
and Scotland in August in support
of WaterAid. In 2006 he swam solo
across the English Channel, raising
more than £60,000 for prostate
cancer research.
The founder of coaching
company Elite Swimming Academy,
Edward is undertaking what is
considered by many to be the
most challenging channel swim
in the world. Only 19 people have
swum the North Channel before,
and the current record time for the
swim (set in 2013 by Michelle May of
the USA) is nine hours, 35 minutes.
Edward is aiming to complete the
swim in less than 12 hours.
Edward Williams trains for his challenge

FREEMASONRY TODAY CHANGE OF DETAILS

Please use this form to receive Freemasonry Name: New Address (for change of address):
Today, to notify change of address or request to
be deleted from the FMT database, and include
Current Address:
the reference found on the wrapper in which
Freemasonry Today arrived where this is known.
For change of address please fill both current
and new address.
Please tick the box below as appropriate:

I wish to receive a free copy of FMT

I wish to notify a change of address Postal Code: Postal Code:

I wish to be removed from the FMT

database Lodge Number:

Please state reason (resignation/not interested/ Please return to

deceased/receive duplicate copies, etc): GL Membership Number: FMT, Communications
Department, Freemasons’ Hall,
Great Queen Street,
Distribution Reference Number: London WC2B 5AZ

NOTE: Freemasonry Today should be received free of charge by every subscribing member of a lodge in London or a Province.
Freemasonry Today can be viewed on its website: www.freemasonrytoday.com

freemasonrytoday.com 9
NEWS AND VIEWS

HELPING HAND FOR

SPECIAL HORSE CHARITY
Nyanza Lodge, No. 1197, in Ilminster, Somerset, has presented
a cheque for £1,400 to the Horseshoes and Handprints charity,
which provides sensory therapy and special riding for adults and
children with behavioural and communication difficulties. Close
contact with horses can relieve stress within people with conditions
such as Asperger’s, autism and neurological disorders.
Nyanza Lodge raised £700 from a charity lunch that attracted
matched funding from the Charities Committee of the Provincial
Grand Lodge of Somerset, with the total figure of £1,400 adorning
the neck of one of the charity’s horses, Josh.
Shown (l to r): Den Challis, Grand
Superintendent Simon Rowe,
Norman Minto and Stuart Burgess
BUGLER TRIO INSTALLED
Of the four Armed Services, the Royal Marines is by far the
smallest, and so the bugler branch of the Royal Marines Band
Service is possibly the smallest branch of all. So it was a rare event
when three former Royal Marine buglers were installed as the three
Principals of Brent Chapter, No. 1284, in the Province of Devonshire.
First Principal Norman Minto was a Corporal Bugler; Second
Principal Den Challis, a Drum Major; and Third Principal Stuart
Burgess, a Bugler. In addition, Scribe E of the Chapter, Martin
Heskins, was also a Royal Marine Corporal Bugler.

The trio in
their days as
Royal Marine
Buglers

Shown (l to r): Charity treasurer Desi Fradgley with

Nyanza Lodge WM Hall Smith and Barry Scott of the
Somerset Masonic Charities Committee

TECHNOLOGY
BOOST FOR
THE BLIND
Henshaws Society for Blind People has received
a £50,000 grant from The Freemasons’ Grand
Charity to support its assistive technology
programme across its college and centres
in Manchester, Merseyside, Harrogate,
Knaresborough and Newcastle.

The society gives expert support and training to anyone

affected by sight loss and other disabilities, and the
grant will help to provide a wireless network at its The training provided
college, as well as broadband in the community houses. by Henshaws is aimed
The funds will also subsidise the salary of the assistive at building skills and
technology coordinator over three years. Henshaws’ independence
chief executive, Nick Marr, said, ‘The support committed
by The Freemasons’ Grand Charity will make a huge
difference to the lives of our college students.’
Sir David Trippier, East Lancashire Provincial Grand
Master, said, ‘I am delighted that we are supporting
Henshaws. It is a wonderful college.’

10
 NEWS AND VIEWS

SHALOM HOUSE HELP

In January, Provincial Grand Master Eric Mock
and Andrew Wood of Cambrian Lodge, No. 464,
attended Shalom House hospice in St Davids to
present a plaque to senior nurse Alison Burrows.
The plaque acknowledges the efforts of the
brethren of Cambrian Lodge and the Provincial

SUPPORT FOR Charity Committee, who raised money for the

purchase of a new bed – to which the plaque will be

MACMILLAN CHARITY attached. Masonic support is particularly welcome,

as the hospice receives no government funding.

Freemasons from Bromyard are championing Shown above (l to r): PGM Eric Mock, nurse
Alison Burrows and Andrew Wood
Macmillan Cancer Support in Herefordshire by
sponsoring the charity’s Not Alone campaign, which
was launched just over a year ago. Paul Beaumont of
Saint Peter’s Lodge, No. 7368, in Bromyard, together
with Richard James, Lodge Charity Steward, presented
£600 to Jenny Goddard, fundraising manager of
the Herefordshire and Forest of Dean branch, with
matched funding from The Freemasons’ Grand Charity.
The presentation took place in the Patient Garden Area
of the Macmillan Renton Cancer Unit, Hereford.

CUTTING CANCER
TREATMENT WAITING TIMES
The Peterborough Cancer Treatment Appeal
is dedicated to fundraising for equipment
used in the treatment and diagnosis of cancer
for the Peterborough and Stamford Hospitals
NHS Foundation Trust.
Peterborough lodges in the Province of
Northamptonshire & Huntingdonshire –
led by Mervin Roberts, Charity Steward of
Petriburg Lodge, No. 8767 – and the Provincial
Grand Charity have raised £27,500 for the
appeal. This tremendous sum has helped
to cut cancer treatment waiting times in
Peterborough and its districts.

freemasonrytoday.com 11
NEWS AND VIEWS

CORNWALL BACKS
28 LOCAL CHARITIES

A recent charity event held by the Province of Cornwall was
attended by more than 100 people from 28 local charities – as well
as many friends and volunteers – who received donations totalling
more than £46,000. Provincial Grand Master Peter George said,
‘A joint event like this, with the national masonic Grand Charity and
the Cornwall Masonic Benevolent Fund, allows us to make larger
combined donations across a wide range of local charity groups.’
Shown above: PGM Peter George with charity representatives at Newquay
FAREWELL TO
OLD SESSIONS
The Central London Masonic Centre has completed
the sale of Old Sessions House (above) and is now the
owner of the new Clerkenwell Centre. Stephen Ayres,
Centre Chairman, said, ‘It should be less expensive on
operating and maintenance costs, considerably more
flexible for both masonic and commercial business
and much more accessible, particularly for those with
restricted mobility.’
Stephen explained, however, that there were some
issues with the new building, and some reconfiguration
may be needed to satisfy masonic needs. He added: ‘We
have already put in hand some of the changes needed,
which should answer the majority of the problems.’

SYMPOSIUM FOR UGLE

BICENTENARY
Lodge of Research, No. 2429, in the Province of Leicestershire
& Rutland, has marked the 200th anniversary of the formation
of the United Grand Lodge of England by organising
a symposium and dinner at one of its regular meetings.
There were both masonic and non-masonic visitors,
including the then Assistant Grand Master David Williamson
and Provincial Grand Master David Hagger, who heard a
number of papers delivered by prominent masonic historians,
including Professor Andrew Prescott. Among other guests
was Philippa Faulks, publishing manager at Lewis Masonic,
which sponsored the event. PHOENIX HALL RESTORERS
One of England’s oldest purpose-built masonic temples,
in Henden, Sunderland, is to be given a new lease of life.
A large audience attended the symposium
Students at Sunderland College are set to take on other local
colleges in a competition to design a revival and extension scheme
for Phoenix Hall, a Grade I listed building. The hall was the first to
be purpose built by Freemasons to hold their meetings in 1785.
Still in use today, Phoenix Hall is in need of an update and
it is hoped that the winning project will be carried out with
funding from Heritage Lottery Grants. The hall has many original
features, including a pipe organ built by John Donaldson and an
18th-century organ, which sits in its own purpose-built gallery.
The project has received help from local firm Precision
Geomatics, which carried out a laser scan of the building,
providing intricate details of the structure itself.

Above: The Sunderland College team ready for the competition

12
 NEWS AND VIEWS

SUPPORTING Bubble football

SCOUTING
STAFFORDSHIRE tests the players AND
MASONIC
HOSPICES PARALLELS
Staffordshire Provincial Grand Master Mirfield Masonic Hall
Sandy Stewart paid a visit to Katharine in West Yorkshire was
House Hospice in Stafford recently, and packed to capacity
presented cheques totalling £2,443 to when Woodsmoke
representatives of three of the hospices Lodge, No. 9317,
within the Province, all seven of which which is a member
received grants. of the Kindred
The funds were distributed by The Lodges Association,
Freemasons’ Grand Charity as part of hosted an additional
its annual grants to hospices. A total of presentation of the
£600,000 has been distributed to the 239 2012 Prestonian
hospices in England and Wales, £23,000 Lecture by Tony Harvey.
of which has been given to the hospices The lecture, ‘Scouting
in Staffordshire. and Freemasonry: two
Katharine House Hospice chief executive parallel organisations?’,
Dr Richard Soulsby said, ‘This donation will was adapted to allow
make a real difference to the support we non-masons to be
can provide to our patients.’ present and among
the audience of more
than 100 were 40
BUBBLING OVER non-masonic members
of the Scout movement.
It was an unusual way to raise money for
Among those who
charity when representatives of 28 lodges and attended the event
11 chapters from Slough joined in a game were David Pratt,
of bubble football. The eye-catching event, Provincial Grand
Master for the Province
organised by Denver Lynn of Bucks masons,
of Yorkshire, West
saw participants encase themselves in a large Riding and Mayor of
Shown (l to r): Lindsay Stewart (Acorns, plastic cocoon before kicking for goal and Kirklees, and a Grand
Walsall), Dr Richard Soulsby, PGM
raised £1,000. As a result, help will be provided Officer, Cllr Martyn Bolt.
Sandy Stewart, Lisa Courtney (Donna
Louise, Stoke) and Kat Hindmarsh for those who have fallen on hard times
(Katharine House, Stafford) through redundancy, illness or bereavement.

MASONIC AUCTION
FETCHES TOP PRICES
International collectors converged on south London
auctioneers Roseberys for a collection of masonic jewels,
medals, ceramics, glass, books and ephemera belonging
to the late Albert Edward Collins Nice, who died in
1969. Albert was a chemist, dental surgeon and a mason.
He joined Globe Lodge, No. 23, in 1925, became a Grand
Steward in 1935 and Past Grand Deacon in 1964.
One artefact, a large masonic silver and paste set square
and compass jewel, sold for £3,000. Set with multicolour
PHOTOGRAPHY: LAURIE FLETCHER

paste, it had Scottish interest with the inscription: ‘To the

Tony Harvey
Honorable Captain Jocelyn, from his friends in the Celtic
gave the 2012
Lodge, Edinburgh, 1845.’
Prestonian Lecture
The auction also included 35 masonic jewels by the
pre-eminent 18th-century designer and maker, Thomas
Harper. The book section saw several museums from around To read about the
This set square and compass the world bidding. The highest price paid was £5,500, for 2013 Prestonian
jewel sold for £3,000 a Scottish Rite album. Lecture, turn to p46

freemasonrytoday.com 13
NEWS AND VIEWS
The memorial tablet
at St James’s Church
in Piccadilly
TRACING
MASONIC
ANCESTRY
An article about tracing ancestry through
Freemasonry has appeared in the March issue of the
BBC’s Who Do You Think You Are? magazine. It was
produced through a collaboration between St David’s
Lodge, No. 393, Berwick-upon-Tweed; The King’s
Own Scottish Borderers (KOSB) Association
Regimental Museum; and Berwick Record Office.
‘We get a lot of people researching family trees
asking us about their masonic ancestry and we can
trace Freemasonry in Berwick back to 1647,’ said
Master of St David’s Lodge, Steve Newman.
‘The regiment had its own lodge,’ added KOSB
Association secretary and lodge member Ed Swales.
‘Many soldiers joined St David’s Lodge when they
were stationed here at the depot.’
Shown (l to r): Jim Herbert (Berwick Time Lines)
and Linda Bankier (Berwick Record Office) with
the 1874 order of service for the dedication
of the masonic hall, and Steve Newman and
Ed Swales with a copy of the BBC magazine
14
RMTGB HONOURS
FOUNDER RUSPINI
On 5 March, the Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys
(RMTGB) held a church service to dedicate a memorial
tablet in honour of its founder, Chevalier Bartholomew
Ruspini, at his burial place, St James’s Church, Piccadilly.
The service was attended by more than 100 people,
including current and former trustees, staff from the
masonic charities, and staff and pupils from the Royal
Masonic School (RMS), established by Ruspini in 1788. 
David Williamson – at his final formal engagement
as Assistant Grand Master – delivered the first of two
readings, the other being read by RMS Headmistress
Diana Rose. The main address was delivered by RMTGB
President Mike Woodcock, who spoke about the world in
which Ruspini lived and his pioneering contributions to
dentistry and philanthropy. 
King Rat Rick
Wakeman does
the double
KING RAT LANDS A NOTABLE DOUBLE
Keyboard legend and Chelsea Lodge Master Rick Wakeman has been elected
King Rat of the showbiz Grand Order of Water Rats (GOWR), the first time
that the same person has been at the helm of the two showbusiness fraternities.
Formed in 1889, GOWR has a long association with Chelsea Lodge,
No. 3098, which was founded in 1905. Many GOWR founders were masons
and its rationale, centred on the lodge format with charity objectives, is based
on Freemasonry.
One reason for the formation of the Rats may be that in those days,
as most entertainers were working when lodges were meeting, they formed
a quasi-masonic body that met on Sundays – as they still do – the one night
of the week when entertainers were at rest.
 SENIOR INSIGHTS

GOOD
EXAMPLES
HRH The Duke of Kent explains
why recruitment and retention
should be your responsibility,
whatever your rank

W
hether you have been appointed to or promoted
in Grand Rank, I want to emphasise that two
of your key tasks are recruitment and retention.
It has become clear from the research carried out by the
Membership Focus Group, chaired by the Deputy President
of the Board of General Purposes, that these tasks are more
important than ever before.
I am particularly concerned to hear that very few
members recruit at all, and that there is an unacceptably
high loss rate after each of the three degrees – and, indeed,
during the first ten years of membership.
The Membership Focus Group has been formed to
analyse the statistics and to make proposals to stem the loss
of members. It is already clear that the mentoring scheme
will play a vital role going forward. It is therefore important
that lodge mentors appoint appropriate personal mentors to
look after each new candidate, rather than trying to do all
the mentoring themselves.
Naturally, I expect you will also be good examples to
others, whatever their rank – not only in your good conduct
and supportive approach but also by demonstrating your
enjoyment of Freemasonry.
I hosted a dinner for Provincial and District Grand
Masters. The support of and direction from your respective
Provincial and District Grand Masters is paramount and
I am pleased to hear how closely they, in turn, are working
with the centre at Freemasons’ Hall. This inclusive approach
is core to the future of the English Constitution.
I continue to hear of the good work done by the Provinces
in their local communities and there is no better example
than the help given to the victims of the recent floods,
especially in the West Country. This good work was
supported when I had the opportunity to visit two Provinces
– in Gloucestershire, where I also attended their annual
service in Gloucester Cathedral, and in Cornwall. I was
impressed by the enthusiasm of the members I met in both.
PHOTOGRAPHY: REX FEATURES

‘The support of and direction from your Provincial and District

Grand Masters is paramount and I am pleased to hear how closely
they are working with the centre at Freemasons’ Hall.’

freemasonrytoday.com 17
 SENIOR INSIGHTS

UNITED WE
STAND
surveys that are quick and informative. For example, we ran
a survey seeking opinions on communication strategies for
Pro Grand Master Peter the English Constitution. More recently, we had a survey
on potential new branding as we move towards 2017. 
Lowndes considers how Let us not forget the Districts, which form an important
part of the English Constitution. Last year, accompanied
the future of Freemasonry by the Grand Secretary, I attended business meetings with
depends on every part of the groups of District Grand Masters in Trinidad, Harare
and Lagos, while the Deputy Grand Master attended the
organisation working together inaugural Asia Oceanic Conference of District Grand
Lodges in Kuala Lumpur. In addition, I hold a dedicated

F
meeting for all District Grand Masters who attend the
or men of quality to join, the unity of the English
Investitures in April.
Constitution is crucial to our survival as a relevant
As a united English Constitution, we are working more
organisation in society. In particular, I want to
closely together than at any other time in our history. At
emphasise the importance of all the component parts of
a strategic level, I believe that continuing to work together
our organisation working together. Enormous progress has
will not only stem the decline in membership but also
been made in the liaison between the centre, London, the
start to increase it to ensure the future of Freemasonry.
Provinces and Districts.
At an individual level, consider the fact that the more
The consistent approach from the centre is now very
members there are, the better chance Grand Lodge has
much a consultative one: working directly to seek views
of keeping the dues down.
before making proposals for consensus approval. This is
typically through the Grand Secretary; on behalf of the
Rulers and Board of General Purposes; by direct contact
or online surveys; or by Provincial Grand Masters
championing or being members of committees looking
into and ensuring the future of Freemasonry. This inclusive
approach is working well and I am keen that it continues.
This is an exciting time for Freemasonry, with several
initiatives dealing with future recruitment and retention, as
well as business effectiveness in running a large membership
organisation. The brief of the newly formed Membership
Focus Group is to advise the Board of General Purposes
on how best Freemasonry can concentrate the minds
of members, lodges, Provinces and Rulers to work in a
collaborative, focused manner in stemming the decline in
membership and meeting the long-term needs of the Craft.
The Tercentenary Planning Committee is working with
the Board of General Purposes looking at the overall plans
for celebrations in 2017. Although there will be a final event
in London towards the end of the year, I am determined
that the Provinces and Districts run their own celebratory
events throughout the year at times convenient to them.
I have talked about Provincial Grand Masters being
involved with helping to set the strategy as members of
PHOTOGRAPHY: LAURIE FLETCHER

committees, but wider views are also sought with online

‘We are working more closely

together than at any other
time in our history.’

freemasonrytoday.com 19

TAKING
THE RIGHT
APPROACH
Pro First Grand Principal
Peter Lowndes emphasises the
importance of making ritual
enjoyable and marks the
Royal Arch’s achievements
G
rand Rank does come with responsibilities.
For example, you have a duty to be mindful
of both recruitment and retention in the Order.
On recruitment, I would first ask who among you does
in fact recruit and, to those of you who do recruit new
members, are you sensitive to the right time to approach
each potential exaltee? This sensitivity is also a challenge to
Royal Arch representatives in Craft lodges and emphasises
the reason why this is such an important appointment.
Those of you who do not recruit, why not? Recruiting to
the Royal Arch is, after all, simply a matter of persuading
someone to extend their knowledge about a subject of
which they are already partly aware and enjoy. It is not
introducing them to something completely alien.
On retention, you can help by actively showing your
enthusiasm for and enjoyment of the Order. Also, by
guiding the new Companion through the various stages
of his progression, making sure that, wherever possible, the
work is shared, so that the ritual is enjoyed by him and does
not become a burden to him.
In October last year we celebrated the Bicentenary of the
Holy Royal Arch. The First Grand Principal announced then
PHOTOGRAPHY: RUY TEIXEIRA
‘Those of you who do not recruit, why not? Recruiting to
the Royal Arch is, after all, simply a matter of persuading
someone to extend their knowledge…’
freemasonrytoday.com
SENIOR INSIGHTS
that the Royal Arch Masons 2013 Bicentenary Appeal for
the Royal College of Surgeons had exceeded £2 million and
that the appeal would remain open until the end of 2013.
Companions, as you have already heard from the President
of the Committee of General Purposes, the figure is now
£2.5 million. This is a wonderful achievement and a great
credit to the Royal Arch.
I turn now to the Grand Temple organ restoration
project, which is a Royal Arch initiative using existing
funds. Designed and built by Henry Willis and Sons, the
organ has been in place since Freemasons’ Hall was opened
in 1933. It is possibly the largest complete, unaltered Willis
instrument in full working order after eighty years. It is,
however, in need of substantial restoration.
English Heritage and Camden Council have agreed to
the restoration plans with full completion in early 2015
– in good time for the Craft’s Tercentenary in 2017. Not
only will this fine organ be restored, the Royal College
of Organists will also be approached to investigate the
possibility of encouraging young organists to use the
Grand Temple Organ, as well as conducting organ recitals
that are open to the public.
21
 LIFE’ S
ADVENTURE
Whether it’s kayaking across the harshest seas or
attending a masonic meeting, for Pete Bray life is all
about helping other people. Caitlin Davies joins him
for a paddle off the Liverpool coast

22
 MASONS IN THE COMMUNITY

R
ecord-breaking British adventurer Pete Bray has
completed seven major expeditions, survived
a sinking boat and two hurricanes, and has a
medal for bravery. Now the climber, marathon runner,
cross-country skier and microlight pilot is embarking
on a new journey: Freemasonry.
Born in Plymouth in 1956, Pete counted polar
explorer Sir Ernest Shackleton among his childhood
heroes: ‘He taught me that if you plan, you succeed, and
you live to fight another day.’ Pete learnt this the hard
way when, at the age of eleven, he got his first kayak. Not
content with splashing around in the sea, he set off from
Torpoint in Cornwall wearing a World War I life jacket
with virtually no knowledge about currents and tides.
After reaching Cawsand, Pete decided on the way
back to have a look at HMS Ark Royal in the Plymouth
docks, at which point the Ministry of Defence (MOD)
intervened. ‘They explained the tides and they picked
me up and took me home. I got grounded by my dad
for a week, but it was all very exciting.’
Perhaps it was this early brush with the MOD that
led to Pete joining the army; he worked for twenty-four
years as a soldier, including fifteen years in the SAS.
‘I loved to race while I was in the regiment,’ he explains,
‘and in 1984 I entered a seven-day race between
Sweden and Finland. It was the first time I’d been in
a racing kayak. Imagine ice skating for the first time;
that’s what it was like: you get in, you tip straight
out. When I arrived for the race they asked where my
support team was and I replied, “You’re looking at him’.”

RISING TO CHALLENGES
In 1996, Pete kayaked around Great Britain with Steve
McDonald, a partially sighted friend, then in 2000 he
set off to cross the Atlantic alone. But ‘the valve had
been put in wrongly and so the boat sank’. He survived
for thirty-seven hours in freezing waters before being
picked up. It took him months to learn to walk again
g
23
MASONS IN THE COMMUNITY
‘After saving the lives of his crew
when they were struck by Hurricane
Alex, Pete was awarded a medal by
the Royal Humane Society.’
after suffering from cold-water injuries, but the next
year Pete became the first person to kayak solo across
the North Atlantic from west to east.
This seventy-six-day expedition was documented in
Pete’s book Kayak Across the Atlantic, and for ten years
he held the world record for the longest open-water
crossing undertaken by a kayaker. ‘I hate to fail,’ says the
fifty-eight-year-old. ‘If something is in the way, it’s just
a hurdle to overcome.’
Pete is clearly a determined man and has had to
face many other hurdles along the way. In 2004 he
was part of a four-man team attempting the fastest
row crossing from Newfoundland to the Isles of Scilly.
After thirty-nine days at sea, the boat was struck by
Hurricane Alex and split in two. Having saved the lives
of his crew, Pete was awarded a bronze medal by the
Royal Humane Society in 2005. The same year, Pete
and three others spent thirteen days kayaking around
South Georgia, setting the record for the fastest
circumnavigation of the island.
Then in 2009, drama hit again during a solo row
from Newfoundland to the Isles of Scilly. After forty-
two days he needed rescuing; faced with winds of one
hundred and twenty-five miles per hour and twenty-
foot waves, he was in the path of Hurricane Bill.
For his next challenge, Pete has two ideas: a ‘paddle
around Wales’ and ‘motorbiking to the twenty-eight
capitals of the European Union with disabled soldiers’.
And if all that isn’t enough to keep him busy, last year
he branched out into previously uncharted waters,
joining Phoenix Lodge, No. 3236, in Cheshire.
Pete, who is the director of a security consultancy,
Primarius, explains his decision: ‘My business partner
Harry Glover asked if I wanted to join his lodge, and
one of the attractions was the fundraising aspect of
Freemasonry. Being a mason is all about looking after
people, which I like, so it seemed logical to join.’
PADDLING FOR POUNDS
Pete is also planning a sponsored kayak crossing of
the Bering Strait between Russia and Alaska, just south
of the Arctic Circle. He will be raising money for the
Teddies for Loving Care Appeal, which gives teddy
bears to children in hospitals, and the Royal Masonic
Trust for Girls and Boys (RMTGB), which relieves
childhood poverty and supports education.
Ray Collings has been fundraising manager at the
RMTGB for seven years and has worked with masons
who have climbed Kilimanjaro, run marathons or
24
completed the National Three Peaks Challenge. But
when Pete rang and told him his plan to kayak across
the Bering Strait, ‘I thought he was joking,’ laughs
Ray. ‘Then when I realised what he has done in the
past, I saw it was almost normal for him. He’s always
supported children’s charities and was keen to do
something for a masonic charity. A lot of people do
sponsored events, but there has never been anything
as adventurous as this in my memory.’
The RMTGB gives its fundraisers advice, provides
the paperwork and processes the donations, and
Ray meets many of them at the end of their trip.
This summer, for example, masons from Middlesex
and Hertfordshire are cycling from Gibraltar to
Southampton. ‘I’ll meet them at the finish,’ he says,
‘but I’m not sure if the Trust would allow me to
meet Pete when he finishes! It’s a bit extreme for
me to fly to Alaska.’
PREVIOUS PAGE: Pete, meanwhile, says he wouldn’t describe becoming
Pete Bray takes a mason as an adventure: ‘It’s more of a learning curve.
a break from It’s about improvement and bettering yourself. An
kayaking off the adventure is about getting from A to B and succeeding;
coast of Liverpool becoming a Freemason is more of a lifelong journey.’
ABOVE AND
RIGHT: Pete has
been splashing
PETE BRAY’S
about in his own TOP FIVE KAYAKING TIPS
kayak since the
age of eleven; 1. Pick a boat for where you want to kayak
it’s this level of (in rivers or the sea). There’s a wide range
experience that available and you need the right one.
has enabled him
to accomplish 2. Make sure you have the correct paddle;
so much – on they come in all different shapes, sizes
and off the water and lengths.
3. Choose a boat you like the colour of;
you’re going to have to really want to
be with it. My favourite colours are blues
and reds.
PHOTOGRAPHY: MATT THOMAS
4. Learn from a professional, like myself.
5. Enjoy it and do it for the right reasons.
People say I should be sitting in an armchair
but even now I’m still paddling! If you get off
your backside, you can do something.
 ‘I hate to fail. If something
is in the way, it’s just a hurdle
to overcome.’ Pete Bray
COMMUNICATIONS

GRAND PREMIERE
Forget the box office. There’s a movie
exclusive on the front cover of this issue
of Freemasonry Today. Sarah Holmes goes
behind the scenes of a new film about
the Craft, and meets the cast and crew
bringing it all to life

26
 COMMUNICATIONS

A
film crew is recording Sam Colling as he tears
a Subaru Impreza around a muddy racetrack
in Oxfordshire. Attempting a hairpin bend,
Sam is in his element. While others might consider
this a nightmarish experience, for thrill-seeking Sam
– one of three Freemasons chosen to appear in the
United Grand Lodge of England’s (UGLE’s) latest film No stranger to
– it’s a great way of unwinding. The short film, to be movie-making,
found on the front cover of this issue of Freemasonry Freemasons’ Hall
Today, aims to convey to people outside of the Craft is one of the
exactly what Freemasonry is all about by showcasing locations in the
the diverse mix of people who enjoy it as a hobby. film. But the crew
With his love of extreme sports, and a Navy career also captured
that sees him regularly navigating the stormy North masons in their
Atlantic Sea, Sam isn’t what people may typically element, from
expect of a Freemason. Fortunately, London-based following Sam
director Lee Cheney had no intention of playing to round a racetrack
preconceptions when it came to casting the film. in Oxfordshire to
Part of visual communications specialist VisMedia, joining Anthony
Cheney was commissioned by UGLE in May 2013 for a walk in the
to create a modern portrayal of the masonic world, park with his
as told by the members themselves.
g grandson

freemasonrytoday.com 27
COMMUNICATIONS

‘This film is very different

from anything I’ve seen on
Freemasonry before, and that
is the real merit of it.’
Nigel Brown

A CHANGE OF SCENE
It’s a step in a new direction for UGLE, which was
eager to investigate the potential of rich media for
expanding awareness of Freemasonry. As a non-
mason, Cheney brought a fresh perspective that fitted
perfectly with UGLE’s aim to nurture a more relevant,
outward-facing perception of the Craft.
‘This film is very different from anything I’ve seen
on Freemasonry before, and that is the real merit of it,’
says Grand Secretary Nigel Brown. ‘Lee immediately
understood it should be angled from the perspective
of the non-mason, and particularly that of the families.’
Nigel was keen that the film – funded by UGLE at
a cost of just 20p per member – supported the families
of masons. ‘It needed to give them an understanding of
what Freemasonry is and show them that their nearest
and dearest are part of a fine community.’
Cheney’s brief was to demonstrate Freemasonry’s
compatibility with a modern, balanced lifestyle – one
that prioritises family and work over lodge meetings
and dinners. So it’s no coincidence that Sam, Alastair
Chambers and Anthony Henderson were chosen to
provide a glimpse into the life of a Freemason.
‘We were concerned about presenting Freemasonry
in an honest way, so it was paramount that we
cast real, everyday people,’ explains Cheney. ‘Sam,
Alastair and Anthony were ideal examples. They are
just three interesting, friendly guys from completely
different backgrounds who share a great set of values.’
The national response to the casting note was
overwhelming, and a UGLE panel was tasked with
the job of whittling down the one hundred and fifty
applicants to a shortlist of thirty. After interviewing
candidates on camera, the panel finally decided on
these three. So began a busy winter of filming, which
saw the crew trailing the length of the country to
capture the starring masons and their families at FROM TOP: One
home, at work, and even in the local pub. of the film’s stars,
The sets ranged from a living room in Bedfordshire Alastair at home
to a windy rugby field in Gloucester. And although the with his young
project was storyboarded, Cheney reveals that ‘it was family; the Library
completely unscripted; our masons provided all of the and Museum in
content, which was then brought to life by the fantastic London is open to
crew’. The improvised dynamic was something that visitors, who can
Anthony, a Freemason of thirty-one years, found also take a tour
particularly challenging: ‘I was apprehensive,’
g of the Hall itself

28
COMMUNICATIONS

‘We were concerned about

presenting Freemasonry in an
honest way, so it was paramount
that we cast real, everyday people.’
Lee Cheney

he recalls, ‘but Freemasonry has given me so much

over the years, I’m just glad I could finally give
something back.’
Giving back is a key feature of masonic life. With
The Freemasons’ Grand Charity donating more than
£100 million to a wide range of causes since 1981, the
film shines a light on the Craft’s enduring history of
charitable initiatives. We meet Ian Simpson, the
founder of one such venture, Teddies for Loving Care
– a charity that gives teddy bears to children visiting
A&E. And we hear from nurses and families who
explain the therapeutic effect a teddy bear can have.
While it’s unsurprising that charity is important to a
society where kindness, honesty, tolerance and fairness
are core values, myths continue to abound about
Freemasonry. ‘The truth is, it’s open to everyone,’ says FROM TOP:
Sam. ‘It’s not a closed door society – anyone can visit Freemasons’ Hall
the lodges.’ As the film shows, even Freemasons’ Hall hosts catwalk
in London plays host to a wealth of external events, shows for London
including the catwalks of London Fashion Week. Fashion Week;
In its quest to challenge preconceptions, the film Teddies for
shows masonic life to be more multifaceted than Loving Care is
many could have imagined. It presents a community one of the many
that is all at once passionate and accommodating, charity initiatives
modern yet historical – and always welcoming. set up by masons

MEET THE STARS

Sam Colling,
twenty-three, joined
Portus Felix Lodge,
No. 6712, in Yorkshire
three years ago.
When he’s not away
at sea working as a
Merchant Naval Officer he counts
snowboarding and scuba diving
among his many hobbies.
‘Freemasonry is relevant to
anyone who wants to become
a better person and be able to
help others. It’s that simple.’
Alastair Chambers,
thirty-two, joined
Via Lucis Lodge,
No. 9443, in
Gloucester two
years ago. He is a
father of five, runs
a construction company, is partner
of a recruitment firm and manages
a prison rehabilitation scheme.
‘Although we might all come
from different walks of life and
have different interests, we all
share the understanding that
everyone in the lodge is equal. No
matter who you are, you will fit in.’
Anthony Henderson,
fifty-seven, joined
Russell Lodge, No.
4413, in Bedfordshire
thirty-one years ago.
As official babysitter
for his grandson Finley,
Anthony is a master Scalextric racer,
although he intersperses track time
with a career as a European business
manager in the healthcare sector.
‘In the eighties, Freemasonry was
surrounded by taboo. Now, thanks
to films like this, I hope people
will realise it’s nothing more than
a social club that’s open to everyone,
regardless of age or background.’

30
FIRST PERSON

With Freemasons from across the world flocking through

its high-arched doors, Letchworth’s is proving to be a popular
draw for visitors. Manager Kevin Duffy reveals why the shop
at Freemasons’ Hall offers so much more than souvenirs

ATTENTION
TO RETAIL
What attracted you to the position of shop manager?
I applied to work in Letchworth’s eleven years ago.
I’d managed high street stores before; I’m not a mason
myself, but the idea of working for Freemasonry was
intriguing. The shop was much smaller then, perhaps
twelve foot by twelve foot with some cabinets and a till.
There was nothing there really, but Diane Clements
(Director of the Library and Museum) handed me the
keys and said, ‘Off you go.’ It was the perfect challenge.
How have things changed in the shop?
For one thing, it’s three times bigger! We’ve just
completed our third refit to include a clothing section
and a jewellery counter. What started as a modest
collection of Grand Lodge publications has expanded
into nine different product ranges, including regalia,
homeware, audio and the usual quirky gifts like teddy
bears, book lights and heraldic shields.
Why has the shop been so successful?
The shop wouldn’t be anything without the knowledge
of the Freemasons in this building. With so many
products, it’s impossible to know everything about all
of them, so I rely on the expertise of the people around
me. Whether it’s a London Grand Rank Association
volunteer relaying customer requests or somebody
from the Library and Museum giving me advice about
regalia, I listen to what they have to say. All that has
come together to produce the incredible shop we have
now; it’s been a communal effort to get to where we are.
32
How has the internet affected sales?
Some people see it as a threat, but for Letchworth’s it’s
been a massive advantage as so many members live
outside London. Ever since we launched the website
eight years ago, the number of overseas visitors has also
grown tremendously. It’s been a fantastic resource for
spreading the Letchworth’s name, as well as bringing in
sales of its own. In 2007, online accounted for twenty
per cent of all sales, but today it brings in just under half
when combined with mail order. It’s fantastic when you
get visitors from the other side of the world coming in
and saying they wish they had something like this where
they come from. They also spend more than the British
customers; average spend for overseas masons is from
£70 to £80, but for UK Freemasons it’s from £20 to £30.
Is there competition in the world of masonic retail?
There’s a friendly rivalry with the external masonic
shops, especially those based across the road from us.
We all want Freemasonry to be a good experience.
All the profits that we make in Letchworth’s are gift-
aided to support the work of the Library and Museum.
Kevin Duffy heads
up the shop at Are masonic items always high quality?
Freemasons’ There are always some companies out there who
Hall, with the try to get involved in any market in the cheapest way
help of staff and possible. You can tell in an instant if it’s a poor product,
volunteers from and we won’t touch it. If you stock bad-quality products,
the London Grand word will spread – one customer will tell ten others
Rank Association and then your business goes backwards. On the
g
 FIRST PERSON

freemasonrytoday.com 33
FIRST PERSON
it’s been a communal effort to get to where we are.’
flip side, if you provide good products and great service,
it cements a good reputation.
How has Freemasonry changed over the past decade?
Freemasons’ Hall has become much busier, and that’s
had a direct impact on the shop. Seven years ago, the
building had maybe six lodge meetings on a Saturday;
now there can be up to twenty-nine. There’s also a
more open feel about the Hall. That’s probably down
to the public tours and an increased international
interest in Freemasonry.
What’s your favourite part of working at the shop?
I love working here, but it’s the people who really make
it. The camaraderie is what helps drive the business
forward. I rely so much on the input of my staff and
volunteers, especially when it comes to expanding the
range. My performance as a manager is very much tied
up with theirs, and fortunately we have a dynamic team.
What does the future hold?
My ultimate goal is to keep developing the shop.
You’ve always got to keep moving forward in business,
and that’s what I strive to do by challenging the staff,
volunteers and United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE)
to keep coming up with new ideas. We could easily fill
a shop three times the size of what it is now. But we
wouldn’t fill it with any old product; it would have to
have good-quality stock that I would be proud to sell.
34
WORDS: LUKE TURTON. PHOTOGRAPHY: LAURIE FLETCHER
‘The shop wouldn’t be anything without the
knowledge of the Freemasons in this building...
Letchworth’s
has recently
completed a refit
to accommodate
HOW IT ALL BEGAN
an ever-growing
range of products Past Junior Grand Deacon and long-
time member of the UGLE team, Ken
Garrett recalls Letchworth’s early days
Our first purchases were very modest and
in line with items that could be found in most
museums and buildings open to the public
– key rings, coasters and a set of postcards of
sites within the building. We were able to back
these up with the Grand Lodge publication
Freemasons’ Hall, which had colour slides and
an explanation of most of the photos.
We recruited sufficient brethren from the
London Grand Rank Association to man the
shop full-time, then we waited to see what
the outcome would be. After a slow start the
shop got accepted, first by visitors and then –
somewhat reluctantly, it seemed – by members,
who usually only made a quick visit before
going to a meeting. We steadily increased the
number of items for sale as demand arose.
From small beginnings, Letchworth’s has
blossomed into a major shop and I trust
fulfilled the hopes of all who recall its birth.
SPECIAL INTEREST LODGE

A band of brethren
(l to r): Russell Crosby,
trombone; Colin Crosby,
tuba; David Mortlock,
baritone horn; and
Alex Mitchell, trombone

BRASS
STANDARDS
What do you get if you
cross two trombones, a
baritone horn and a tuba?
For four Freemasons,
playing in a Salvation
Army brass band is the
perfect complement to
being a member of
Standard Lodge

S
tanding in The Salvation Army’s Reading
premises on a fresh spring morning,
Colin Crosby, David Mortlock, Alex
Mitchell and Russell Crosby are chuckling
as they try and come up with different
ways of posing with their musical instruments. The
four players belong to the Reading Central band of
The Salvation Army and can be found performing in
the town’s main thoroughfare most Fridays. They are
also members of Standard Lodge, No. 6820, London,
which believes that Freemasonry and The Salvation
Army share core fraternal and charitable values.
WORDS: SOPHIE RADICE. PHOTOGRAPHY: PAUL STUART

Founded in 1949, Standard Lodge’s invitation letter

stated that it was desired that the founders and future
initiates should be members of The Salvation Army
or associates. It was to be a strictly temperance lodge
and is one of three such lodges originally founded by
Salvationists, the other two being Lodge of Constant
Trust, No. 7347, and Jubilate Lodge, No. 8561.
The strong musical tradition of The Salvation Army
means that many members of Standard Lodge have
also played, or currently play, in a Salvation Army
brass band. Colin Crosby joined Standard Lodge in
the sixties and says that of the three lodges founded
g
by the Salvationists, Standard is the only one that

36
 SPECIAL INTEREST LODGE

freemasonrytoday.com 37
 SPECIAL INTEREST LODGE

‘The great thing about a brass

band is that it can be very rousing
and uplifting but it can also be
very subtle and moving.’
Colin Crosby

has kept to the strict Salvationist ethos of no alcohol,

no smoking and no gambling. ‘That means that we
can’t have raffles to raise money so we have to think
of other ways of fundraising.’
Colin’s son Russell, an engineer by profession, feels
strongly that The Salvation Army and the Freemasons
have much in common. ‘There is a great deal of
misunderstanding about Freemasonry. I see it as my
personal mission to put things right and point out that
there is a strong morality within Freemasonry,’ he says.
‘Like The Salvation Army, there is a great tradition of
charitable giving and consideration for the well-being
of others. I have talked about this with many of my
fellow Salvationists – I think it really helps with the
understanding of Freemasonry if all aspects of it are
discussed openly.’
Colin plays the tuba and switches between the
E-flat and the B-flat, while David plays baritone horn
and Alex plays the trombone. Explaining his choice of
instrument, Colin says: ‘I like to be in the engine room
of the band, which is what I consider the tuba to be.’
Russell used to play tenor horn but switched to the
trombone: ‘The opportunity came up because the band
was short of trombone players and although I had to
learn from scratch, I saw it as a challenge and managed
to pick it up. I think I have a fairly decent tone now.’

CROWD PLEASERS
The Reading Central Salvation Army band has played
on many auspicious occasions, including at the Royal
Military Academy. The band has performed in the ABOVE: Russell
forecourt of Buckingham Palace to celebrate its one Crosby, previously
hundred and twenty-fifth anniversary and has also a tenor horn
played at the annual carol service in Grand Lodge for player, switched
a number of years, as well as many other engagements to trombone,
up and down the country. In 1994 they toured, playing learning the
in the Republic of Korea and Hong Kong, while 2007 instrument
took them to Ontario, Canada. from scratch.
The band plays a wide range of music, from hymn RIGHT: Retired
tune arrangements (many of which were composed music teacher
specifically for The Salvation Army) through to Alex Mitchell
popular film scores. ‘We mix up classical music with helps to train
well-known tunes from films like The Great Escape or up younger
The Wizard of Oz,’ explains Colin. ‘Just as the audience members of
are relaxing into it, we hit them with a nice old- the Salvation
fashioned hymn or classical song. That’s the great
g Army band

freemasonrytoday.com 39
SPECIAL INTEREST LODGE

thing about a brass band; it can be very rousing and

uplifting but it can also be very subtle and moving.’
David Mortlock joined Standard Lodge in 1987.
Also an engineer, he lived in the United States
and India for many years. Although he used to be
a bandmaster, David now plays the baritone horn. He
misses conducting and echoes Colin’s pride in the range
of music played by the Salvation Army band: ‘Music is
such a powerful tool and can be used for inspiration,
praise and worship, as well as meditative prayer.’
Many of the most well-known brass players in the
country have come out of The Salvation Army band
tradition. ‘Philip Cobb is the principal trumpet player
with the London Symphony Orchestra,’ explains David.
‘Dudley Bright, who is principal trombonist for the
London Symphony Orchestra, has also composed
a number of pieces of music for The Salvation Army.
His most recent composition, “The Cost of Freedom”,
was given its first performance by The International
Staff Band of The Salvation Army at the Sage
Gateshead in May 2008.’
Alex Mitchell is a highly qualified musician outside
of the brass band world, too. And as a retired school
music teacher, he uses his teaching skills with the
young people of the junior band and as a pianoforte
and brass teacher.
All four men describe the feeling of fraternal
companionship both in the band and in the
Freemasons. ‘In both situations there is a feeling
of solid friendship and moral support if you need it,’
says Alex. ‘In that way, Standard Lodge members are
very lucky because they have both.’

NOTES IN A
BRASS BAND
TROMBONE
Invented in the 1500s, it wasn’t until the
eighteenth century that the trombone
became popular in England. Composers
such as Beethoven described the trombone
as the ‘voice of God’ because it has the ability
to achieve perfect intonation at all times.

BARITONE HORN
The marching band perennial was first
invented in the 1700s, when it was played by
stroking the instrument’s glass rods. Not to be
ABOVE: Colin confused with the euphonium, the baritone
Crosby plays tuba, has three valves and less tubing in the horn.
an instrument he
considers to be TUBA
‘the engine room Since its introduction into symphony
of the band’. orchestras in the mid-nineteenth century,
RIGHT: David the tuba is considered the anchor of
Mortlock, an the orchestra’s brass section. It comes in
ex-bandmaster, a range of pitches, from the deep bass of
joined Standard the subcontrabass to the much higher pitch
Lodge in 1987 of the tenor tuba.

40
MASONIC LEGACIES

THE
WELFARE
ESTATE
When Augustus John Smith signed a lease to run the Isles
of Scilly, he created an infrastructure that would transform
living conditions for the poor. Richard Larn OBE charts
the life of this enthusiastic Freemason and philanthropist

42

W
hile the Victorian era produced countless
well-educated young men from wealthy
British families, Augustus John Smith
stood out. Provincial Grand Master and Chapter
member of both Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly, Smith
saved the five off-islands of Scilly from starvation.
The Smith family originated from Nottingham,
where grandfather Smith had made his fortune in
textiles. His son James took over the business before
moving into banking and property investment,
purchasing Ashlyn’s Hall in Berkhamstead, where
Augustus was raised. The young Smith was at Harrow
when his mother Mary died while visiting Paris.
Graduating from Christchurch College, Oxford,
Smith greatly missed his mother and her guidance.
Her love of horticulture encouraged him to later create
the now world-famous Tresco Abbey Garden on the
Isles of Scilly. However, his great passion in life was
education and improving the lot of the working class.
While in his twenties, Smith’s father gave him
a very large sum of money. With such serious funds
in a bank account, many young men would have
embarked on the Grand Tour, seen Europe end to
end and thoroughly enjoyed themselves, but not
Smith. A studious and serious young man, he toured
Britain, studying the working class – their living
conditions, employment, finances and education.
At his own expense, Smith established two schools
in his home town where ‘the three Rs’ were taught
alongside instruction in industry. He suffered abuse
from his peers for his support of the poor, with
wealthy industrialists fearing that education would
make workers unwilling to slave for the pittance they
were paid. It was this opposition to progress that
caused him to seek pastures new, somewhere he could
turn his dream of reformation into reality. Smith
‘A studious and serious young man, Smith toured
Britain, studying the working class – their employment,
finances, living conditions and education.’
freemasonrytoday.com
MASONIC LEGACIES
toured England and Ireland looking for such a place
before setting his heart on Scilly.
The needs of the islands, owned by the Duchy of
Cornwall and deemed ‘unprofitable’ by their previous
tenant, were summed up in a Duchy Report that
stated: ‘No corner of Great Britain stood in greater
need of help than Scilly.’ A similar comment was
voiced by the Rev George ‘Bosun’ Smith, who stated
in 1818, ‘Oh, that some of our wealthy and benevolent
countrymen, whose hearts are as generous as their
means are ample, could but witness these things.’
DEVOTED TO REFORM
The reverend was referring to the conditions he found
during a tour of the off-islands, which revealed men,
women and children in the depths of poverty. He wrote
in his journal: ‘What strength could they have from
limpets and dried leaves off the hedge, which they mix
with hot water? ... Scarcely any clothes and no shoes,
the woman frequently goes out at twelve at night to any
family who can hire her, and stands washing till the
next night for four pence and a little food.’
After signing a lease for ninety-nine years at an
annual rent of £40, Augustus Smith was asked by the
owners to pay a fine of £20,000 – a refundable surety,
he was told. The five off-islands were in a deplorable
state; the Duchy wasn’t prepared to invest in its own
property, yet still it demanded this sum.
Smith also had to promise to spend £5,000 building
a new quay, and a further £3,400 on the parish church.
Any lesser man would have walked away – but not
Smith. He arrived on Scilly in 1835 as Lord Proprietor
and embarked on a huge construction plan, offering
employment and paying wages out of his own pocket.
Smith set out a policy that cut to the quick of the
g
old Scillonian ways. In future, every child would
43
MASONIC LEGACIES

‘Smith set out a policy that

cut to the quick of the old
Scillonian ways... and upset
a lot of people who were
reluctant to change.’

attend school until the age of thirteen. New dwellings

went up, quays and roads were repaired, and new ones
created, all at his own expense. He banned smuggling,
introduced a magistrates’ court and upset a lot of
people who were reluctant to change.
With no property on Scilly sufficiently large enough
for his personal needs, Smith built Tresco Abbey as
his private residence, overlooking two lakes in the
grounds of the old St Nicholas Priory.

THE MORAL MAN

One of Smith’s great passions was Freemasonry.
He was initiated into the brotherhood in Watford
Lodge, No. 404, in London in 1832 at the age of twenty-
seven, and later became a member of numerous other PREVIOUS PAGE:
lodges. In 1855, aged fifty-one, the Phoenix Lodge in An aerial view
Truro sponsored his election as Deputy Provincial of Tresco, the
Grand Master; by 1863 he was chosen as the sixth second-largest
Provincial Grand Master of Cornwall. of the Isles of
Just when Smith joined Dolphin Lodge, No. 7790, Scilly; a portrait of
Isles of Scilly, is uncertain. There had been a lodge Augustus Smith
on the island from 1755, but in 1783 it changed its
name to Godolphin Lodge, possibly out of respect
for the family who held the tenancy of the islands for THIS PAGE,
centuries. In 1851, for reasons unknown, the lodge FROM TOP:
surrendered its warrant and closed. Tresco Abbey,
While this could have been due to a lack of support, first built as
it does not seem likely. With shipbuilding on the main Smith’s private
island of St Mary’s at its peak, the island was packed residence; the
with workers and countless ships’ captains, many of sub-tropical
whom were masons. There is a possibility that Smith Abbey Garden
initiated its closure, since as a mason he was morally is home to
obliged to support the lodge and attend its meetings, thousands of
but his role as Lord Proprietor placed him in an exotic plants
impossible position. We shall never know.
In 1872, Smith died aged sixty-seven from gangrene EXOTIC SPECIES
of the lungs in Plymouth. He was buried in St Buryan,
Cornwall, choosing that location over the islands as Tresco is the second-largest of the Scilly
a death-bed protest against the Duchy of Cornwall, Isles. Exceptional hours of sunshine and
which he felt had treated him badly. a mild winter climate mean that Tresco
Smith had worked tirelessly for the benefit of Scilly. Abbey Garden can welcome plants
PHOTOGRAPHY: ALAMY

He got the post office to connect the islands to the collected from around the world. Many
mainland by telegraph cable, established a regular of the exotic species cannot be grown
packet service, mail collection and delivery, and outdoors anywhere else in the UK, not
encouraged new enterprise including the island’s even on the Cornish mainland, a mere
burgeoning flower industry. twenty-eight miles away.

44
PRESTONIAN LECTURE 2013

46

PRESSING
MATTERS
In his Prestonian Lecture, Paul Calderwood traces
Freemasonry’s faltering relationship with the press
throughout the twentieth century. Andrew Gimson
finds out why things have started to improve
W
hy did Freemasonry’s public image
change so much for the worse during the
twentieth century? This question struck
Paul Calderwood many years before he
delivered the 2013 Prestonian Lecture on the subject.
He became a Freemason in the early 1970s and towards
the end of that decade began to notice the declining tone
of newspaper coverage: ‘By the 1980s, it was pretty dire.
I was amazed at the things I read in newspapers. These
reports didn’t match my experience.’
On investigating the image of Freemasonry, Paul found
that it had ‘a very positive profile in newspapers in the late
nineteenth century. It was very much part of the public
sphere’. How and why did things go wrong? On retiring
from business, Paul decided to conduct a scholarly
inquiry into this question, and enrolled at Goldsmiths,
University of London, where he researched and wrote
a doctoral thesis, which has now been published.
‘Throughout 1900-1940, the largest part of the
fraternity’s press profile was derived from the strong
involvement of the Royal Family, which played a key role
in the administration of the Order,’ explains Paul. ‘Three
‘Throughout 1900-1940, the largest part of the fraternity’s
press profile was derived from the strong involvement
of the Royal Family.’ Paul Calderwood
freemasonrytoday.com
PRESTONIAN LECTURE 2013
of the four kings of twentieth-century Britain were Past
Grand Masters of the United Grand Lodge of England
(UGLE) – as were kings of Sweden and Denmark. They
provided Freemasonry with publicity on a lavish scale.’
Thanks to its royal favour, Freemasonry drew eminent
people from many different walks of life. Archbishops,
aristocrats, government ministers, judges and mayors
flocked to become Freemasons, commending the
fraternity as ‘the key to model citizenship’.
But Paul has identified another, less obvious factor
that contributed to the positive image: the openness
of Freemasonry itself. ‘There can be little doubt that
the raised masonic profile between 1916 and 1936 was
directed by the most senior members of UGLE,’ says Paul.
‘The nature of the press coverage – its detail, frequency
and, above all, volume – are clear indications that the
in-trays of the leaders of the Order were being officially
scanned on a daily basis for news items.’ During those
twenty years, the number of masonic articles in the
national press increased fourfold. Indeed, there were
times when as many as four articles appeared on the
same day in the same newspaper.
g
47
33
PRESTONIAN LECTURE 2013
‘Many members of the public saw a secretive organisation
that did nothing to rebut the conspiracy theories that
multiplied around it.’
News outlets including the Press Association,
The Times and The Daily Telegraph employed masonic
correspondents. Lord Ampthill, who in 1908 became
Pro Grand Master of UGLE, had a high opinion of
journalism, while Alfred Robbins, who in 1913 became
President of the Board of General Purposes, was a well-
known journalist. Robbins knew exactly what journalists
needed, and he had a network of contacts through
whom it could be supplied. Freemasonry in these years
did not fear the press; it embraced it. Paul, who himself
worked in public relations, sees UGLE as a pioneer of
these methods that we now take for granted.
A STEP BACKWARDS
So what went wrong? Robbins died in 1931, but his
network continued to function for a few years. Ampthill’s
death in 1935 led to the decisive change: ‘There was a
change in leadership at Grand Lodge, to people with
a very different attitude to communications, and they
effectively withdrew from the public sphere.’
The abdication in 1936 of King Edward VIII showed
that publicity ‘can be a two-edged sword’. The high
profile of Freemasonry had been maintained by his active
participation during his years as an immensely popular
Prince of Wales, and now, in Paul’s words, ‘his reputation
went into free-fall, and an asset proved more of a liability’.
The rise of fascism on continental Europe, with
Freemasons facing persecution, was taken in England
as confirmation of the wisdom of keeping a low profile.
In the years after World War II, Freemasonry in
England continued to grow substantially in numbers,
only levelling off in the late 1970s and then, in common
with most membership organisations, going into decline.
But the press no longer carried masonic stories. Paul
observes that news values had changed; editors were less
interested in printing reports about such bastions of the
establishment as Freemasonry.
Some of the churches, too, having once welcomed
Freemasonry as an ally, now began to see the Order
as a rival. But the greatest single factor in the decline
48
in coverage was the decision by Freemasonry itself not
to make news available, and to be an organisation that
jealously guarded its privacy.
ADDRESSING THE DAMAGE
Even when Freemasonry came under attack, no reply was
made. ‘Critics had the field to themselves,’ explains Paul.
‘They were able to fill the vacuum with their insinuations.’
In the 1980s, a ‘witch-hunt’ developed, and for a long
time no attempt was made to counter these stories.
As Paul explains, the attitude of many Freemasons was:
‘Let them think what they want. We know we’re right.’
The problem with taking the high road was that
many members of the public saw a secretive organisation
that did nothing to rebut the conspiracy theories that
multiplied around it. At length, the need for a policy of
greater openness was seen. According to Paul, this was
‘quite controversial’, even though it was a return to the
greater openness of 1916-1936.
With so little material published about Freemasonry
in the twentieth century, Paul has broken new ground
both with his book and his lecture – which he has now
given about thirty-six times in England and Wales:
‘There is a lot of interest in the subject of our public
image and what can be done to improve it.’ Provinces
in England and Wales have appointed publicity officers,
who are trying to communicate better with the media,
and many are also successfully using social media.
As a young man, Paul read history at the University
of Leicester before qualifying as a journalist and working
for a short time on local newspapers. He understands
journalism and, from his days in public relations, has
absorbed the lesson that ‘the prelude to understanding
is communication’. What a pity it is that having learnt
this lesson earlier than many other organisations,
Freemasonry then forgot it for half a century.
To order a copy of the 2013 Prestonian Lecture,
‘As we were seen: The Press & Freemasonry’, from
Amazon, visit http://tinyurl.com/prestonianlecture
 PRESTONIAN LECTURE 2013

Paul Calderwood’s
PHOTOGRAPHY: ALUN CALLENDER

2013 Prestonian Lecture

explores the shift from
Freemasonry being
viewed as the model of
citizenship to being seen
as a secretive society

freemasonrytoday.com 49
MASONS IN HISTORY
FROM THE
NILE TO THE
THAMES
One Freemason proposed the idea of presenting
Cleopatra’s Needle as a gift to the British government.
John Hamill explains how its eventual arrival in
London was organised and paid for by another
L
ike St Paul’s Cathedral, the Tower and Big Ben,
Cleopatra’s Needle is one of London’s most
recognisable landmarks. It was presented to
the British government in 1819 by the ruler
of Egypt and Sudan to commemorate the victories of
Lord Nelson at the Battle of the Nile and Sir Ralph
Abercromby at the Battle of Alexandria. But it was to
lie in the sands outside Alexandria for nearly sixty years
because successive British governments refused to pay
the enormous costs of transporting it to London.
Giovanni Battista Belzoni (1778-1823) was born in
Padua. After various adventures in Italy, Prussia and
Holland he arrived in England in 1803 and made his
living as an entertainer. At six feet seven inches in
height and with enormous strength, he was often billed
as the ‘Patagonian Samson’.
Belzoni came into contact with some of the small
circle who were to become the advisers to HRH The
Duke of Sussex when he became Grand Master. It is not
known where Belzoni was initiated, but he entered the
Royal Arch in Cambridge and the Knights Templar in
Norwich. His splendid Royal Arch jewel is worn today
by First Principals of the Chapter of St James, No. 2.
UNCOVERING THE ANCIENT
In 1815, Belzoni was persuaded by the agent of Egypt’s
Turkish ruler, Pasha Mohammed Ali, to go there to try
and help restore that country’s prosperity. Arriving in
Cairo, he became fascinated by ancient Egypt and from
1816 to 1820 carried out excavations at Abu Simbel,
Thebes, Philae, the Valley of the Kings and Fayum.
Belzoni made many discoveries, not least the tomb
of Pharaoh Seti I, making careful notes and extensive
drawings of the temples, tombs and wall decorations
that he discovered. He is rightly considered to be the
father of modern Egyptology, but modern archaeologists
would abhor his practice of removing statues, wall
paintings and artefacts from his discoveries.
50
In 1821, Belzoni exhibited his Egyptian treasures
in Piccadilly, to huge public acclaim. A narrative of his
activities, published in the previous year, quickly went
through three printings and was translated into French,
German and Italian, while his collections were later
auctioned off and bought by the British Museum.
It was Belzoni who suggested to Pasha Mohammed Ali
that the obelisk now known as Cleopatra’s Needle be
FROM TOP: Portraits
presented to the British government. Belzoni organised
of Italian adventurer
its transportation to Alexandria but did not have the
Giovanni Battista
finance to move it any further.
Belzoni and London-
born surgeon and
MASONIC INTERVENTION Freemason Sir
It was not until 1877 that the interest of another
William James
Freemason, Sir William James Erasmus Wilson
Erasmus Wilson
(1809-1884), led to the obelisk finally making its
journey to England. Wilson was a surgeon who made
his name and fortune by specialising in dermatology.
One of the first in this field, he wrote a number of
works that became the standard textbooks on the
subject. He is credited with introducing the idea
that a daily bath was a simple way of remaining
healthy, and was involved in the movement to
provide local bath and wash houses to promote OPPOSITE PAGE,
hygiene and public health. CLOCKWISE FROM
Elected Fellow of the Royal College of Surgeons, TOP LEFT: A cylinder
Wilson served on many of its committees and was is constructed to
its president in 1881. He was also elected a Fellow encase the obelisk
of the Royal Society, and knighted for his services on its journey to
to medical science and his extensive philanthropy. London; in position
Wilson was much involved in Freemasonry in in Westminster,
London and Kent. circa 1878-1882;
Having heard of the obelisk, Wilson began to plan workmen raise
for its transportation. On the advice of engineers, it Cleopatra’s Needle
was encased in an iron tube around which a pontoon on the Embankment;
was built, complete with rudder and sails. It was to be a plan of the method
towed by a merchant vessel, with a small crew steering for transporting
it from a covered ‘bridge’ built over the tube. the monument
 MASONS IN HISTORY

‘The whole exercise

of transporting Cleopatra’s
Needle and organising its final
resting place in London cost
Wilson almost £10,000.’

THE FINAL CHAPTER

The journey from Cairo through the Mediterranean
and out into the Atlantic was largely uneventful.
However, disaster struck on entering the Bay of
Biscay on 14 October 1877. A sudden storm almost
overturned the pontoon, the tow lines broke and it
was at the mercy of high seas. The small crew was
rescued but in the attempts to retake control of
the pontoon, several sailors perished. Eventually the
pontoon drifted to the coast of France from where
it was salvaged and reconstructed at a cost of £2,000.
The Needle was eventually towed up the Thames,
and the wrangling then began as to where it should
be erected. Initially it had been planned to stand the
PHOTOGRAPHY: ALAMY, GETTY IMAGES, SUPERSTOCK

obelisk near the Houses of Parliament, but both

Houses objected. Finally it was agreed that it should
be erected on the new Victoria Embankment, then
being constructed as a river road linking Westminster
and the City of London. Wilson engaged architects
to design a plinth and surroundings, to include two
sphinxes, to display the obelisk.
The foundation stone of the plinth was laid with
masonic ceremonies and on 12 September 1878 the
obelisk was raised. The whole exercise of transporting
Cleopatra’s Needle and organising its final resting
place in London cost Wilson almost £10,000.

freemasonrytoday.com 51
 DEMENTIA CARE

APPEALING
TO THE
SENSES
A blossoming sensory garden initiative by the
RMBI is helping to both lift the spirits of care
home residents and connect with their past,
as Sarah Holmes discovers

freemasonrytoday.com 53
DEMENTIA CARE

W
hile gardens are a source of pleasure
during the summer months, imagine if an
uneven paving stone was enough to limit
your enjoyment of a flower bed in full bloom. For the
older generation, the great outdoors can sometimes
feel like a hazardous place, with the security of indoors
often seeming a far more sensible option.
Forty-one per cent of adults over the age of seventy
take a twenty-minute walk less than once a year,
according to statistics published by the British Heart
Foundation National Centre for Physical Activity and
Health in 2012. In care homes, the figures are more
worrying still, with seventy-eight per cent of men and
eighty-six per cent of women classified as inactive.
At Queen Elizabeth Court in Llandudno, however,
the scene could not be more different. The Royal
Masonic Benevolent Institution (RMBI) care home is
set in an acre of sprawling lawns that play host to an
award-winning patchwork of raised flower beds and
vegetable plots. And thanks to a network of pathways,
the garden is completely accessible to its residents. But
it is the home’s sensory garden, funded primarily by
local Freemasons and volunteers from its Association
of Friends, that’s the real pièce de résistance.
One of the four central masonic charities, the RMBI
is dedicated to looking after Freemasons and their
dependants in retirement, and sensory gardens are
its latest initiative to improve the lives of residents
in its care homes. Designed to stimulate all five senses,
the gardens are especially therapeutic for people with
dementia. ‘We want all of our residents’ lives to be as
fulfilling as possible,’ explains Debra Keeling, Dementia
Care Advisor at the RMBI. ‘The sensory gardens are
fine-tuned to provide a safe, stimulating space that
benefits all residents, including those with dementia.’
Working with landscaping specialist Ward
Associates, which has links with the University of
Stirling’s leading dementia centre, the RMBI developed
a sensory garden blueprint in 2011 that could be used
in its homes, with the help of grants.
In a sensory garden, colours, shapes and special
features are introduced to assist visual impairment.
Wind chimes and water features aid hearing, with
specially surfaced paths creating noise when residents
walk on them. Plants with different textures are grown
so that people can touch and enjoy the variety, while
cultivating herbs and vegetables means the residents
can taste fresh, home-grown produce.

54

‘We want all of our residents’ lives to be as fulfilling as
possible. Sensory gardens provide a safe, stimulating
space that benefits all residents, including those
with dementia.’ Debra Keeling
With an expanding dementia support unit, Queen
Elizabeth Court was a natural candidate for a grant,
and its sensory garden helped the RMBI home take
second place in the 2013 Llandudno in Bloom awards
– adding to its roster of wins.
While his work may be award winning, for Alan
Roberts, the horticulturalist at Queen Elizabeth Court,
outstanding resident care is the only priority when it
comes to maintaining the garden. ‘It’s nice to win
awards, but at the end of the day it’s the residents’
garden,’ he says. ‘It’s here to benefit them.’
Roberts acknowledges that without the RMBI’s
investment and expertise, the sensory garden would
never have happened. From flower beds raised to
wheelchair height through to sheltered seating areas,
the garden is an accessible and engaging space for
all. Plants and flowers that appeal to the senses are
particularly important for residents with dementia, for
whom the smell of lavender or the sight of a daffodil is
enough to reinvigorate a host of comforting memories.
ENCOURAGING INVOLVEMENT
There are plans for more improvements, too. ‘We’ve
decided to create a water feature to get the residents
out more, and eventually we’ll have decking with more
raised flower beds outside the dementia wing, so it’s
easy to access,’ Roberts explains. At present, the home
has eleven raised beds where residents plant their own
produce, such as tomatoes, lettuce and strawberries
– and it is up to the residents to nurture everything
through to harvest, when it will go straight to the
kitchens, then onto their plates.
‘It’s a great confidence booster,’ says Gary Carr,
Activity Coordinator at Queen Elizabeth Court. ‘Our
residents’ faces light up when somebody compliments
them on something they’ve grown.’
Although it can be difficult to entice people out of
their rooms, Carr and Roberts are never deterred.
They regularly organise sessions to make hanging
PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES, ALAMY
baskets and sunflower-growing competitions. ‘It’s an
incredibly useful space,’ says Carr. ‘It adds another level
of engagement to the activities, and is a great source of
stimulation for residents in the dementia wing.’
By high summer, many residents will be visiting the
garden at least once a week – some even two or three
times a day. One resident in particular, Valerie Morris,
adored the garden. Having been a keen gardener
throughout her life, Val could often be found planting
freemasonrytoday.com
DEMENTIA CARE
her favourite geraniums or engrossed in a gardening
book. When she was moved to the dementia wing
during the last four years of her life, the sensory
garden provided a great source of comfort.
‘Val was a lovely lady,’ recalls Roberts. ‘The garden
really helped in the last few years. It reminded her
of when she used to garden with her son. We
always made sure there was a vase of geraniums
in her room.’
It’s the willingness of staff like Carr and Roberts to
go the extra mile, combined with the RMBI’s strategic
sensitivity to evidence-based innovation, that allows
the care homes to excel in the field of dementia care.
‘We are experts in this area, and the sensory
gardens are a key part of our offering for people with
dementia,’ says Keeling. ‘It’s all about facilitating
people’s interests, and the great thing is that the
gardens can be enjoyed by everyone. All RMBI care
homes with specialist dementia units already benefit
from sensory gardens, so the next step is to introduce
them to our other homes. It’s something that we will
continue to develop to give real quality of life to our
residents every day.’
SOWING THE SEEDS
In addition to central funding from the
RMBI, each care home has a dedicated
volunteer group known as the Association
of Friends. Their activities support care
home provisions, such as the sensory
gardens, and members also volunteer
as companions for residents.
Every year, their efforts culminate in
LEFT: In an RMBI a big outdoor event. This year, Queen
sensory garden, Elizabeth Court will be gearing up for its
colours and annual summer fete, which will see more
shapes help with than twenty lodges and local businesses
visual impairment, arrive to peddle their wares from
wind chimes and marquees. Last year’s attractions included
water features artisan cheeses and charcuterie, a dog
aid hearing, display, the West Mercia Lodge brass
while plants with band and a residents’ strawberry stall.
different textures
and scents appeal To find out more, visit www.rmbi.org.uk/
to touch and smell pages/association-of-friends.html
55
WORLD WAR II REMEMBERED

FLYING
AS NE

56

When fighter pilot Len Thorne saw one of
his squadron shot down in World War II, little
did he think that more than forty-five years
later he would meet that pilot again thanks
to his Freemasonry. Barry Griffin, Len’s
son-in-law, explains the chance encounter
freemasonrytoday.com
WORLD WAR II REMEMBERED
F
or a couple of years before his death, my
father-in-law Len Thorne had been working
on memoirs based on his World War II
pilot’s logbook as a front-line fighter and his time
as a test pilot in the Air Fighting Development Unit
(AFDU). His daughter, my wife Gill, promised Len
that we would try to complete his book and have
it published. The following extract not only gives
a breathtaking account of mid-air battle, but also
reveals how important Freemasonry can be in
bringing people together:
‘On a “sweep” operation on
12 October 1941, I flew as Yellow
three, sub-section leader on the
port side of the leading section
and slightly above it. We swept
south from Gravelines to Hardelot,
inland ten to fifteen miles from
the French coast. Blue section,
off to our right and slightly below us, were attacked
by a group of 109s just as we made a starboard turn
to leave France. The rest of us were immediately
involved in several brief individual combats, and
for a few moments, the sky seemed full of aircraft.
‘In a momentary lull I saw Blue four off to my
right spinning down, with the Spitfire completely
engulfed in flames. I broke violently to port to
avoid an attacker and became separated from
the somewhat scattered squadron, so joined up
with one of the “Keyhole” (452 Australian) Squadron
boys and got home safely. We later learned that Blue
four was Sergeant Ted Meredith of B Flight and, at
that time, he was believed to have perished in his
flaming aircraft.
‘In March 1987, over forty-five years later, my wife
was helping at a masonic meeting of the Warwickshire
Masonic Widows Friendship Club. I was waiting for
her with the husband of another of the helpers in an
anteroom. We chatted as one does and he noticed my
RAF Association lapel badge and asked what I did in
the RAF. Learning that I had been a fighter pilot, he
told me of a friend of his named Ted Meredith, who
had also been a fighter pilot, and wondered whether
I knew him. I said that I had known a Ted Meredith
but it could not be the same chap, as I saw him shot
down in flames.
‘A quick phone call revealed that it was, indeed,
the man I had known; not only was he alive and well
but lived only eight miles away in Bromsgrove! Ted
was also a Freemason and we agreed to meet at the
next meeting of his lodge. A mutual friend tipped
off a reporter of the local newspaper. The story not
only appeared in the local papers, but also made
headlines in the Daily Express. A few days later we
were interviewed by a team from the BBC Six O’Clock
News and were featured in the television news that
evening. Instant fame!’
g
57
WORLD WAR II REMEMBERED

OPENING PAGES:
The AFDU in
‘In a momentary lull I saw
1944, pictured in Blue four off to my right spinning
front of a Tempest
down, with the Spitfire completely
THIS PAGE, engulfed in flames.’
FROM TOP:
Flight Lieutenant
Len Thorne in
1944 with his Their Freemasonry had brought Len and Ted
ME109, which together and the two pilots remained firm friends
crashed on the until Ted passed away in 1996. Len’s involvement in
runway; Len and the Craft was a natural accompaniment to his military
Estelle on their and civilian career. As a pilot, he was considered a
wedding day safe and careful pair of hands; he wanted to complete
in September his mission, concentrate on his security and that of his
1941; the flight colleagues and return home to a safe landing. In his
logbook Freemasonry he showed similar traits; he did not take
chances but made sure that thorough preparation
enabled him to perform to the best of his ability.

TAKING TO THE SKY

Len was born in Waddesdon, Buckinghamshire. After
his grammar school education he went to work as a
junior clerk for High Duty Alloys (HDA) in Slough,
moving to Redditch when HDA opened a new factory
in 1938. But World War II intervened and in 1940
Len joined the Royal Air Force (RAF). He flew with
many of the top ‘aces’ of the war and talks with clear
affection in his memoirs about Al Deere, Brendan
‘Paddy’ Finucane, TS ‘Wimpy’ Wade and James
‘One-Armed Mac’ MacLachlan.
After two tours of duty as a fighter pilot, Len was
seconded to the AFDU, which tested, under extreme
conditions, new Allied aircraft and captured
g
58
WORLD WAR II REMEMBERED

‘A quick phone call revealed that

it was, indeed, the man I had
known; not only was he alive and
well but lived only eight miles away
in Bromsgrove!’
CLOCKWISE
FROM TOP:
enemy planes. Len flew the Focke-Wulf Fw 190 in Len leads an ATC
simulated combat and was nearly shot down by his lecture on combat
own side. He briefly flew the Messerschmitt Bf 109, manoeuvres in
which crashed on the runway. He also test-flew the Southwark; in
P-51 Mustang and was part of the team to suggest 1944 with a P-51
the modifications that turned it into a war winner. Mustang, a plane
he tested as part
A NEW PATH of the AFDU; and
Len left the RAF in September 1948 and returned to in 1990, by which
HDA in Slough. The following month he was initiated time he had been
into Industria Lodge, No. 5214, in the Province of reunited with Blue
Buckinghamshire. Returning to Redditch, Len became four, Ted Meredith
a regular visitor to Ipsley Lodge, No. 6491, becoming a
joining member in 1959. Len was installed in the Chair
in 1972, which was when he initiated me into the HISTORY PRESERVED
lodge, and in 1998 received his fifty-year certificate.
Len was a very good ritualist and a good organiser. Len Thorne’s diary and
He regularly performed the Mystical Lecture in Royal logbook, A Very Unusual
Arch, was happy to take the Chair for any ceremony, Air War, is available from
and raised substantial funds for masonic charities. The History Press (£16.99).
In early 2008, he was offered a promotion to Past All authors’ royalties will
Provincial Junior Grand Warden, but did not accept go to the Royal Air Force
it as by then he was feeling his age. Len passed away Benevolent Fund and the
on 6 June 2008, the anniversary of D-Day, just before British Legion, in line with
he was due to receive his sixty-year certificate. Len’s wishes.

60
 CHARITIES UPDATE

THE FREEMASONS’ GRAND CHARITY

COMING TO
THE RESCUE
IN FLOODED
AREAS
Working with the Provinces,
the Grand Charity has been
providing help to those in
need following winter floods

T
he start of 2014 saw the wettest January reported
since records began, and the severe weather
continued into February, causing widespread
damage. Entire villages were cut off and thousands of
people had to abandon their homes and businesses. It is
estimated that more than five thousand properties were
flooded, with many underwater for up to six weeks.
Richard Hone, QC, President of the Grand Charity,
said: ‘The thousands of people whose homes were
flooded have had their lives turned upside down. Not
only do they face financial hardship as a result, they
also face tremendous emotional difficulties as so much
of what they held close to their hearts may have been
lost. Months of living in temporary accommodation
while they coordinate repairs to their homes will take
a tremendous toll on their well-being. We should not
forget how damaging the floods have been to people’s
lives, and why it is so important that we help.’

PROVINCIAL NETWORK
ABOVE: British Red
Cross volunteers at
THE SUPPORTING ROLE
The Freemasons’ Grand Charity liaised with Provinces a landslip on the Isle OF THE FREEMASONS’
in affected regions to work out the best way to deliver of Wight
support. Provincial funding efforts in Somerset, GRAND CHARITY
Berkshire, Devonshire and West Wales were matched The charity’s grants are given to assist communities
with grants totalling £12,500. In addition, two in desperate need of help due to disasters such as the
emergency grants were issued in February 2014. major earthquake in New Zealand in 2011, the typhoon
The first, for £25,000, was donated to the Somerset in the Philippines in 2013 and monsoon flooding in
PHOTOGRAPHY: BRITISH RED CROSS

Community Foundation via the Provincial Grand Lodge
of Somerset. A second grant of £20,000 was awarded to
the British Red Cross to help fund its relief efforts across
England and Wales.
In addition, Freemasons across the country rallied
together and generously contributed to fundraising
efforts in the Provinces of Essex and Somerset, whose
appeals have so far raised more than £185,000.
India in 2013. The Grand Charity has also consistently
supported relief efforts for flood victims with emergency
grants, while hundreds of thousands of pounds have
been donated through the Relief Chest Scheme thanks
to additional support from Freemasons nationwide.
To find out more about emergency grants for
disaster relief, go to www.the-grand-charity.org

60 Great Queen Street, London WC2B 5AZ

Tel: 020 7395 9261 Fax: 020 7395 9295 Email: info@the-grand-charity.org
Facebook: TheFreemasonsGrandCharity Twitter: @TheGrandCharity
www.the-grand-charity.org

freemasonrytoday.com 65
CHARITIES UPDATE
MASONIC SAMARITAN FUND
Hugh Stubbs
helped those
in need
A TRIBUTE
TO HUGH
STUBBS
I
t is with great sadness that the Masonic
Samaritan Fund (MSF) reports the passing
of Hugh Stubbs. Following a short illness, he
passed away on 31 January 2014. Hugh was first
appointed to the Board of the MSF in September
1996. For five years, he was Chairman of the
Grants Committee and spent three years on
the Board of The Freemasons’ Grand Charity.
Hugh then returned to the MSF in 2007, where
he served for six years as President of the Board
of Trustees until his retirement in April 2013.
During his fourteen years with the Fund,
Hugh dedicated his time, energy and experience
on behalf of those in need. He was instrumental
in many of the changes that have seen the Fund
continue to develop to meet the evolving needs
of its beneficiaries. The MSF Counselling
Careline is the most recent initiative introduced
under his enthusiastic leadership. Hugh will be
sadly missed by all those who had the privilege
to know and work with him.
60 Great Queen Street, London WC2B 5AZ
Tel: 020 7404 1550 Fax: 020 7404 1544 Email: info@msfund.org.uk
Facebook: msfund.org Twitter: @MS_Fund
www.msfund.org.uk
66
COUNSELLING CARELINE DEMAND
The MSF Counselling Careline was launched in January 2013 in order to help
people negotiate change in their lives and proactively deal with problems.
Following a bereavement, or perhaps retirement, redundancy or family
breakdown, the MSF Counselling Careline can connect callers with a qualified
and experienced counsellor.
The MSF Counselling Careline offers up to six face-to-face or telephone
counselling sessions. Since the launch, two hundred and forty-four people have
had access to this vital support line at a total cost of £151,808.
Freemasons, their wives, partners, widows and dependants can access the free
and confidential helpline by calling the Grants Team on 020 7404 1550, who will
issue callers with an individual reference number and access to the Careline.
CONSULTATION AND ASSESSMENT GRANTS
During 2013, the MSF
announced that small grants
are available to fund initial
consultations and occupational
therapist assessments for those
waiting in excess of eight weeks
on the NHS or local authority.
Since then, two hundred and
thirty-two people have received
a consultation and assessment
grant at a total cost of more
than £92,000.
PHOTOGRAPHY: ISTOCKPHOTO
Applying for a grant is simple,
with no forms to complete or
financial assessment required.
Enquiries can be made by calling
Grants Team Administrator
Hema Chouhan (pictured right)
on 020 7404 1550
 CHARITIES UPDATE

ROYAL MASONIC BENEVOLENT INSTITUTION

HAPPY
WITH
OUR
HOMES
After canvassing the
opinions of residents
and their families, the
RMBI has revealed the
results from its 2013
Satisfaction Surveys

C
onducted among residents and their
relatives across its seventeen care
homes in England and Wales, the
RMBI’s Satisfaction Surveys are a key indicator
of the charity’s performance each year. They
help to ensure that its services continue to meet
the needs and expectations of those using them.  and is shared with the public and authorities.
Encouragingly, RMBI residents’ overall
satisfaction levels remain consistent at 96%;
67% of whom are very satisfied – an increase
from 61% in 2012. Relatives’ overall satisfaction
levels also increased, from 92% to 96%. The
RMBI gathered relatives’ opinions through
its own independent survey, but the residents’
surveys were, for the first time, conducted
through a new care sector initiative, Your
Care Rating (YCR).
Launched in 2012, YCR is an independent
survey representing the views of residents
from one thousand and fifty-five homes
across more than thirty service providers.
YCR provides service users and care homes
with comparable data to inform decisions
RMBI’s Satisfaction Surveys cover key topics
such as home environment, staff, food and
drink, help and support, and communication
and complaints. Overall, the RMBI saw
year-on-year improvements in many areas.
Asked about their home environment, 93%
of RMBI residents said that overall they are
happy living there – slightly above the average
score indicated by YCR. Relatives were also
positive, with 94% reporting they are happy
with the welcome they receive as visitors. Both
groups agree that staff treat them with dignity
and kindness; the statement is supported by
97% of residents and 96% of relatives.
In addition, 96% of residents are happy with
the care and support provided, which is in line
with YCR, and 91% say they are happy with
their access to healthcare professionals. There
was a notable increase in the number of
residents agreeing that they have a say in how
staff provide care and support – 81% in 2013
compared to 71% in 2012. Likewise, relatives
gave more positive responses this year. 
The RMBI would like to thank all residents
and relatives who participated in the surveys;
this input is vital in helping to ensure that the
charity continues to deliver excellent care.

AWARD RECOGNITION FOR JAMES TERRY COURT

Staff at James Terry Court in Croydon welcomed judges of the
Pinders Healthcare Design Awards earlier this year, following the
home’s nomination for 2014 Best Care Complex. Following a three-
year, £12 million redevelopment, the site now boasts a purpose-built
state-of-the-art care home and thirteen independent living flats
in an attractive ‘old-meets-new’ design. At the awards ceremony in
London, the care home was named a national finalist in the category
along with one other home, narrowly missing out on first place.
In 2013, recognition for the RMBI spanned its staffing,
employment, catering and care initiatives. Accolades included
winning the Ancillary Worker Award (North East) and becoming
a finalist for the Care Employer Award (London) at The Great British
Care Awards; the Outstanding WhiteOaks Contract for Scarbrough
Court; and for the Recipes and Reminiscences cookbook, the UK
Gourmand Award for Best Charity & Fundraising Cookbook, as well
as a commendation at the Nursing & Residential Care Awards.

60 Great Queen Street, London WC2B 5AZ

Tel: 020 7596 2400 Fax: 020 7404 0742 Email: enquiries@rmbi.org.uk
Facebook: thermbi Twitter: @thermbi
www.rmbi.org.uk

freemasonrytoday.com 67
CHARITIES UPDATE

ROYAL MASONIC TRUST FOR GIRLS AND BOYS

TALENTAID
CELEBRATES
FIRST OLYMPIAN
E
arlier this year, the impact of the RMTGB’s
TalentAid scheme was demonstrated when
Lloyd Jones – a former beneficiary – took
part in the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games
mixed ice dancing with his partner Pernelle Carron.
Lloyd has been ice skating since the age of five.
During the first few years he had weekly coaching
sessions, and by age nine he was skating six days
a week and competing – and winning – nationwide.
At junior level, it became clear that Lloyd could
develop his talent into a successful career; indeed,
he was compared to Christopher Dean and received
praise from leading figures in skating such as Robin
Cousins, now a judge on ITV’s Dancing on Ice. At
the age of sixteen, Lloyd took the decision to leave
school and concentrate on his ice-dancing career.
His family were keen to support him, but the
costs of training, equipment and travel began to
increase. His grandfather, a Freemason, provided
some assistance and Lloyd received limited funding
from various sports and skating organisations, but ABOVE: Lloyd and
it was not enough to cover his essential costs. Pernelle in action during
Lloyd began receiving support from the RMTGB the 2014 Olympic Winter
in 2006, and for four years he received assistance Games. RIGHT: The pair in
towards coaching, skates, clothing and travel to the Sochi Olympic Village
ensure he could attend competitions and continue
his career development. Once an established
professional, Lloyd moved to France to partner
with Pernelle and within a few years realised one of
his ambitions by participating in Sochi. Lloyd said,
‘I want to thank the Trust for the support I received
when I was younger. It really helped me achieve
my dream of competing at the Olympic Games.’

ABOUT TALENTAID SUMMER GRANTS

During the past twelve years, the financial support
the RMTGB has provided to young people with
career ambitions in sport, music or the performing
arts has enabled many to realise their potential.
Children love the school holidays, but for many families the long summer break
can be a financial struggle. That’s why, each summer, the RMTGB provides grants
of up to £175 to children from masonic families with particularly low incomes.
On average, around two hundred children under the care of the RMTGB receive
PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES

All applicants enter a competitive process and
undergo a financial test, with around fifty receiving
support each year. Successful applicants can
expect to receive contributions towards the
cost of equipment, travel or coaching expenses.
For more details, go to www.rmtgb.org/talentaid
a summer grant to help their family pay for essential costs – which often increase
during the holiday months – and to provide them with the opportunity to enjoy
a few days out together.
The grants may be small but they make a big difference to the well-being of the
children supported by the RMTGB, many of whom have experienced tragedy and
distress in their early years.

60 Great Queen Street, London WC2B 5AZ

Tel: 020 7405 2644 Fax: 020 7831 4094 Email: info@rmtgb.org
Facebook: rmtgb Twitter: @rmtgb
www.rmtgb.org

68
 LIBRARY AND MUSEUM

GARIBALDI
IN LONDON
To mark the one hundred
and fiftieth anniversary of
Garibaldi’s trip to London,
the Library and Museum
explores his extraordinary
impact on Victorian society

I
n April 1864 the Italian patriot Giuseppe Garibaldi
arrived in Britain. His leadership of the Expedition of
the Thousand in southern Italy in 1860 had already
captivated public opinion. On his arrival Garibaldi was
greeted by vast crowds, met the Prince of Wales and
dined with the nobility. The Italian also met with exiled
revolutionaries, working men and those who had fought
alongside him in the struggle for Italian unification.
Garibaldi was ruler of the Supreme Council Grand
Orient of Italy based in Palermo, so English and Scottish
Freemasons also responded to his visit. He received
a deputation from Polish National Lodge, No. 534, led by
ABOVE: Contemporary its Master, the artist Sigismund Rosenthal, and the lodge
picture of Garibaldi. presented him with one of its distinctive lodge jewels.
RIGHT: A poem While Garibaldi was at the theatre, one of his
published in honour entourage, Giuseppe Basile, attended a meeting of
of Garibaldi in The Salisbury Lodge, No. 435, in Soho. He relayed Garibaldi’s
Freemasons’ Magazine request for membership of the lodge, which was agreed.
and Masonic Mirror, Towards the end of his trip, Garibaldi also visited
September 1862 Colonel John Whitehead Peard, known as ‘Garibaldi’s
Englishman’ and a member of Fowey Lodge, No. 977.
Garibaldi’s ‘celebrity’ was marked in contemporary
media and through souvenirs. The summer exhibition at
the Library and Museum will include many of the items
associated with him, including one of his swords, now in
the possession of an English lodge, Italia Lodge, No. 2687.

The exhibition at the Library and Museum runs until

29 August 2014, Monday-Friday. Admission is free

Library and Museum of Freemasonry

Freemasons’ Hall
60 Great Queen Street
London WC2B 5AZ
Tel: 020 7395 9257
Email: libmus@freemasonry.london.museum
www.freemasonry.london.museum
Shop: www.letchworthshop.co.uk

freemasonrytoday.com 71

LETTERS
TO THE
EDITOR
MEN OF HONOUR
Sir,
My grandfather was initiated on 9 November
1908 into Royal Rose Lodge, No. 2565,
a military lodge formed by officers from the
Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment).
He appears on the masonic roll of honour.
Charles Arthur Murray was a volunteer
soldier who fought in the Boer War for the
Royal Fusiliers and subsequently in the Great
War, where he was killed in 1915. Apart from
his campaign medals, he was awarded the
Distinguished Conduct Medal just before
he was killed by shrapnel. This was awarded
as a result of his actions in preventing the
slaughter of German troops who had
surrendered when his battalion engulfed
a German trench.
As a result of an email discussion with
my cousin (sharing the same grandfather),
we visited his grave last June. As part of the
tour we had a personal trip to his marked
grave in Windy Corner, Cuinchy, the Guards
Cemetery in Northern France and we laid
a wreath. We think we were the first family
members to do so. It was very moving,
as you can imagine.
This trip to France stimulated me to make
further enquiries and I contacted the very
helpful Secretary of Royal Rose Lodge, Colin
Woodcock. His records also produced my
grandfather’s brother, Henry Murray, who
I discovered had been initiated and passed on
the same dates as his brother, and who became
Master in 1922. Colin Woodcock invited
me to attend Royal Rose, which I did on 13
November in the company of eight members
of my lodge, Sunbury Lodge, No. 1733.
What a special occasion that was – to
make the link going back over ninety years.
A wonderful welcome was given to all of us by
Royal Rose, which subsequently granted me
the great privilege of honorary membership.
My request to give the visitor’s speech was
granted, as I wanted the opportunity to
record how Freemasonry benefited me.
freemasonrytoday.com
Write to: The Editor, Freemasonry Today,
Freemasons’ Hall, Great Queen Street,
London WC2B 5AZ
Email: editor@ugle.org.uk
Letters emailed to the editor should not be sent as attachments.
Please include a home address and telephone number. An S.A.E.
should accompany any photographs to be returned. The opinions
expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect
the views of the United Grand Lodge of England.
As a result of my grandfather being
a Freemason, his three sons were enrolled
in the masonic school and received a good
education. This enabled them to become
professionals in their employment and, in
turn, give their own sons a good start in life.
I would not be in a good position today if it
were not for that.
We at Sunbury hope to welcome brethren
of Royal Rose to our April meeting, where
they will be gladly received.
John Murray, Sunbury Lodge, No. 1733,
Staines, Middlesex
Sir,
While on a cruise from the UK to the
Adriatic, my wife noticed an item in the
ship’s daily bulletin, referring to a proposed
meeting of Freemasons on board. Being
between meals and excursions, I went
along and found various groups of men
chatting in the bar.
LETTERS
Most of us had never experienced an
informal meeting like this. To break the ice,
we decided to introduce ourselves by name,
rank and Province, and found that there
were members from London, Devon, Dorset,
Monmouthshire, Cheshire, Yorkshire, Essex,
East Kent, Cumberland, Leicestershire,
Middlesex, Durham and Surrey.
Someone suggested we could do
something for our ladies. A meal was not
really appropriate as we had food aplenty,
so a light afternoon tea with some drinks
was arranged for fifteen brethren and their
partners, plus two widows. We had a raffle
that raised £145 for the ship’s charity, and
we gave a toast to the Queen.
We are still in contact, which is great,
considering it sprung from a mention in the
ship’s bulletin. This is Freemasonry at its best
– being happy and spreading happiness.
John Banks, The Friends’ Lodge,
No. 9789, Surbiton, Surrey
SURPRISE VISITOR
Sir,
A word of warning for younger Freemasons:
be careful what you wish for! Eighteen months
ago as part of the annual visit made by the
masons of the southern area of the Province
of East Lancashire, one of the younger
visitors, Steve Stanley, was making his first
visit. He was the Junior Warden of the Lodge
of Union, No. 268, from Ashton-under-Lyne.
During luncheon, the Deputy Grand
Master, Jonathan Spence, spent some time
chatting to every brother who was present.
When Steve took his turn to have a few words
with such an eminent guest, he didn’t miss
the chance to ask, ‘Would you like to attend
my installation on 16 January?’ There was
a pause before the Deputy Grand Master
responded, ‘We’ll have to see what is possible.’
And that was that.
The Deputy Grand Master must get similar
requests all the time and the other members
of the lodge had to work on Steve to
g
73
LETTERS

LEFT: Deputy Sir,

Grand Master Thank you for your great publication, which I
Jonathan Spence always look forward to receiving. After falling
surprised a young ill in November, I was recovering from a life-
Freemason at his threatening illness but my spirits were lifted
installation when my lodge, Lodge of Hope, No. 2153,
came to my rescue. The number of calls, visits
and emails I received from the members was
fantastic. Should anyone doubt the good that
our fraternity does, they should join and they
will see the true meaning of friendship and
brotherly love.
Andrew George, Lodge of Hope,
No. 2153, Waterlooville, Hampshire
and Isle of Wight

convince him that there was little, if any,
chance of his actually receiving a visit from
such an august Freemason.
However, some sixteen months later it
became clear to one or two members of the
Lodge of Union that there was a distinct
possibility that something special might
syllables that demonstrated that he
understood what was about to happen.
The Deputy Grand Master entered with
a small retinue, and as he walked past, he
gave the Master Elect a clear and definite
wink. Nor did the surprise end there. Right
Worshipful Brother Spence accepted the
WELCOME CHANGES
Sir,
One of the most welcome changes in
Middlesex Freemasonry since I was initiated
in 1982 is the increasing inclusion of first
names on summonses. As it was customary
back in 1982 to use initials only, rather than
first names on summonses, it took a couple
of years before I learnt the majority of first
names of the brethren of my mother lodge.
Some years ago, a recommendation was
sent out by the Province of Middlesex
suggesting that first names be included on
the summonses of its lodges and chapters
to promote friendliness. It has subsequently
caught on and there are now very few
summonses issued with just the initials of
members. Perhaps encouragement could be
given to London and other Provinces to adopt
this practice? Obviously, this should only be
a recommendation, and not a directive.
Paul Huggins, Norman Moore Lodge,

PHOTOGRAPHY: LAURIE FLETCHER

just be about to happen. On the evening of
16 January, after Steve was presented, it was
announced that the Deputy Grand Director
of Ceremonies sought entry into our lodge!
When he announced that Jonathan Spence,
the Deputy Grand Master, demanded to be
admitted you could have heard a pin drop.
Steve looked up and I saw him mouth a few
gavel, took the Chair and performed the
whole ceremony in a brisk, exact and perfect
way that demonstrated to seventy-eight other
masons just how it could be done. Steve was
well and truly installed. The rest of us saw
a ceremony that will not soon be forgotten.
Kevin Hall, Lodge of Union, No. 268,
Ashton-under-Lyne, East Lancashire
No. 7976, Harrow, Middlesex
HELPING OUT
Sir,
While I was at the University of Surrey I spent
a year working as an intern at publishing
companies in London. It was thanks to the
Freemasons and to Freemasonry Today that

‘A wonderful welcome was given to us

by Royal Rose, which granted me the
great privilege of honorary membership.
My request to give the visitor’s
speech was granted, as I wanted the
opportunity to record how Freemasonry
benefited me.’ John Murray

74
 LETTERS

‘By learning, practicing and performing

ritual, we reinforce the principles of
masonry in ourselves and, hopefully,
encourage others to take up those
principles.’ Alan Booth

this was possible. My ambition is to work RIGHT: The

in the field of publishing, but as almost all RMTGB’s Ruspini
publishing houses are in London and I live House in central
in Dorset, I was becoming despondent. London provides
I knew I could not afford to take up offers accommodation
of unpaid internships in London, but then for students
my Grandad read, in his Freemasonry
Today magazine, an article about Ruspini
House and about the help given to the
children and grandchildren of Freemasons.
I was given a grant and accommodation in
Ruspini House several times during that year
whilst completing internships at different
publishing companies.
I was so grateful for the help of the
Freemasons and went on to complete
my course and gain a BA Hons in English
Literature. How surprised and delighted I was
to be given my degree by HRH The Duke of
Kent, who I know is also Grand Master of the
United Grand Lodge of England. So, thank
you Grandad and Freemasons everywhere.
Hollie Graham

INDIAN DEGREES
Sir,
In an item on the Oklahoma Masonic Indian
Degree Team you quoted a comment, ‘No one
has ever seen anything like it in England.’
I can advise you that one such display was
received with enthusiastic acclamation in my
own lodge, and I understand the team have
demonstrated their unique ritual to lodges
throughout the country. ‘Inculcate’ is defined as ‘to instil by Sir,
Norman Speed, Lodge of Equity and forceful and insistent repetition’. By learning, Regarding the ongoing controversy about
Appleton, No. 1384, Widnes, West practicing and performing ritual, we reinforce the pronunciation of the word ‘hele’, in our
Lancashire the principles of masonry in ourselves and, ceremonies. Surely the country folk in Devon
hopefully, encourage others to take up those have the correct pronunciation of the word?
WORD MATTERS principles. I think it follows that, no matter I have only ever heard all the farms called
Sir, how good or bad a brother may be at ritual, ‘... Hele’ down here in Devon referred to
I’ve always considered one of the most every effort is made to encourage him in the as ‘... heel’. The three at the end of the village
important aspects of ritual was to inculcate effort and if bringing some of the language are known as ‘... heel’ for sure, and I used to
the brethren in the principles of masonry, of masonry into the twenty-first century live in one.
and the word is repeated often in ritual and encourages this, so much the better. Bruce Brown, Lechmere Volunteer
lectures. I do not believe that ‘inculcation’ Alan Booth, Earl of Chester Lodge, Lodge, No. 1874, Birmingham,
occurs simply by reading the rituals. No. 1565, Lymm, Cheshire Worcestershire

freemasonrytoday.com 75
REFLECTION
WHAT’S HERITAGE
WORTH?
While historic masonic items may not have huge
monetary value, Director of Special Projects John
Hamill explains why they are still national treasures
A
few years ago the Library and Museum of
Freemasonry, with incredible assistance
from a dedicated team of brethren in the
Provinces, conducted one of the largest national
archive surveys that has ever taken place in this
country. The result was a formidable database of
all the lodge and chapter records in masonic hands
in this country. It will be a veritable gold mine for
future researchers into English and Welsh masonic
history and is also proving to be a major source for
local historians.
The survey was limited to ‘words on paper’ and,
partly because of time constraints, did not include
regalia, furniture, masonic equipment or artefacts.
That leads me to one of my hobby horses: that
masonic historians in the past have primarily
depended on only the written records that are
available and have largely ignored what can be
learnt from non-documentary items.
During the twenty-eight years I was involved in
the Library and Museum, I was privileged on many
occasions to be invited to speak in the Provinces.
I soon developed a habit of arriving early, if visiting
a masonic hall I had not previously attended, in
order to have a look at what they might have
hanging on their walls or in, often dusty, display
cases. I soon began to appreciate the wealth of
material that still survived and began to keep notes
of anything unusual or rare. I also began to realise
that very few of those running the halls were aware
of the treasures in their custody, or that some of
them had a monetary value.
Happily, that neglect and ignorance has been
changing since the late 1990s with the creation of
the Masonic Libraries and Museum Group, which
is formed of dedicated volunteers with a love of
masonic history. The group has gradually persuaded
‘An item can have very little monetary value to the outside
world but be of major importance to the history
of the organisation concerned.’
82
their respective Provinces that they have collections
of importance, which should be properly catalogued
and looked after because they form an important
part of our heritage – and in many cases, include
items that are irreplaceable.
HISTORY FOR SALE
A recent auction sale in south London illustrates
the value certain masonic objects can have. The
first part of the sale was probably the last major
collection of masonic jewels and artefacts in private
hands in this country. Formed by Albert Edward
Collins Nice between the 1930s and his death in
1969, it was rich in eighteenth- and nineteenth-
century jewels, which, in addition to having masonic
importance, were superb examples of the jeweller
and silversmith arts. Competition was fierce and
some surprising prices were paid for the star items.
The Antiques Roadshow and its many spin-offs
have given the public a false sense that because
something is old it must be worth money. Monetary
value, however, is not everything. Particularly in
a specialist area, an item can have very little
monetary value to the outside world but be of
major importance to the history of the organisation
concerned. In my early days in the museum, people
would wander in with an item and ask what it was
and if we would be interested in having it. Today,
thanks to antique-valuing programmes on
television, they ask what it is and what it is worth!
We live in an age in which the importance of our
heritage in all parts of our lives is being increasingly
recognised. We took the major step of finding out,
and taking steps to preserve, our archival heritage
in Freemasonry. Perhaps now is the time to take the
same steps in relation to the treasures, in the widest
sense of that word, that rest in our buildings.