Millfield Lodge News

W Bro Stephen Gould ProvGStwd has been Elected to be our Master for the next year and will be Installed on the 25th September 2010. Congratulations also go to Stephen on his promotion to PGStdB in North Wales.

W Bro Nigel Payne is organising a Lodge Table at the 75th Aniversary Dinner for the School at The Hilton Hotel in London in September. Please contact him for a place.

The Meeting in Glastonbury went exceedingly well and we all dines at the school after with other OMs. It was a success and we are looking forward to another trip next year.

News of the schools celebrations to mark its 75th are it seems underway with a big gathering and dinner on June 19th at the School. As agreed at our last meeting, we will be hoping to have our June meeting at the same time so we will be able to attend the Dinner in the evening in force. The date of the next meeting therefore will the 19th of June so put that in your diaries. There will be a London area celebration as well some time in September.

Dec 09 - Another Promotion for one of our members sees E Comp Graham best appointed as PPAGSoj for the Province of Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.

NEWS JUST IN ------ W Bro Henry Christopher Harding LGR PProvGStb (Somerset) is to be promoted to the rank of Past Provincial Grand Superintendant of Works (PPGSuptWks) at the next Provincial Meeting of the Provincial Grand Lodge of Somerset in March 2010. I know that all the members will join me in congratulating Chris on this fantastic news.

As always in our Lodge good news travels fast. Bro Vinay has secured his first position after leaving University and in fact works in buildings close to the WM. Bro Shagan is also fully employed and is looking forward to his 3rd in March when I hope we will have a few visitors attending who will again make our meeting somewhat special.

The Meeting on the 27th September took place at the Masonic Hall in Glastonbury when a group of members including guests enjoyed the atmosphere of this unique Temple. We then dined in the Conservative Club and were joined by the Ladies and guests especially the Head Master and the Chair of the OMs society. After a few toasts the Head Master gave an quick and informative talk on the direction the school was taking and his hopes and plans for the future. All were much impressed. This journey back to our roots was extremely fruitful and it will it is hoped become an annual and if possible more regular activity for us all.

The Lodge is making plans for the meeting in June to take place in Glastonbury again and as that will coincide with a school event it is hoped we can then all enjoy the OMs diner and the events taking place at the School.

Viv Morris is in the news in his capacity as a Ham radio enthusiast . To see the story click here VIV IN THE NEWS

News just in: W Bro N B Payne LGR has been appointed as PPGStB in South Wales. We all congratulate Br Nigel and hope he enjoys his new rank. The meeting on Saturday the 21st March will see Bro Shagan passed to the degree of a FC. There is also news of a joining member from Somerset as well so onwards we go.

Remember the Installation is in June and the Master Elect is hopeful that many will attend.

On Saturday 27th September in a small Temple at Mark Masons Hall we initiated Shagan Soni into the Millfield Lodge and in the same meeting Passed his close friend Vinay Marvani. To see two young old boys, both under 25, was a delight for us old codgers and we hope that they will over the years to come, fully appreciate the values and enjoyment that being a member of this ancient fraternity can bring. While our numbers at the meeting were small, that did not detract from the enormity of the occasion for us all. It was both sombre yet joyful and the festivities afterwards will be remembered by all who were in attendance. We all wait with anticipation the future of the Lodge. SW Bro Chris Harding was able to confirm the existence of the benches donated by the lodge to the school as he had had the good fortune to be at the school a few weeks ago and sat on one.

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At the last meeting the Lodge agreed to sponsor the Butleigh Ameteur Rugby Union Club with by taking space in its program for the 7-A-side tournament it holds every year for various charities . The date for this exciting day is on the 31st August from 11am to about 6pm when as usual players and spectators will find the nearest bar/pub/tent for refreshments. The event is held at Kingweston so you should all know how to get there.

As all will be aware, our next meeting has been changed to Saturday 27th September and will be a First and Second Degree. Volunteers have been asked for to assist our WM in the days proceedings.

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June has been special for the Millfield Lodge for on the 14th June we had an initiation and installation. Our new initiate is now looking forward to the next meeting when he can in his words " see what actually happened to me". As always the meeting went without a hitch and all enjoyed themselves at the Festive Board. Bro Steven Thomas promoted a charity fishing day which I know he has since attended and enjoyed, where brethren from all over London spent a day acting as the 'fisher' for a disabled/disadvantages child. While not breaking any records in catching fish, he did report he had a few bites. I have suggested that next time he take some insect repellent.

Later in June a few of us went to the Surrey Provincial AGM and were able to see W Bro Graham Best receive his promotion to PPDepGReg and now we have the wonderful news that the R W Metropolitan Grand Master is to appoint our own W Bro Henry Christopher Harding PProvGStB to London Grand Rank in October of this year. I am sure we all wish to congratulate Brother Harding on this special Honour. No doubt some members will wish to attend the meeting which is by Ticket only. Keep your eyes open on Porchway for the application form.

Inter Lodge Visiting

Amity Lodge 137 - The Editor was able to visit the Lodge of Amity in Poole Dorset to see a 2nd degree. The Lodge is the oldest in Dorset and has some very different way of doing things. A visit is highly recommended. They meet 18 times a year so a suitable date should be found. See W Bro Chris Harding for details

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Someone in the news - Now Who could that be with the pointed Hat?

Our own Andrew Davey attended in his official capacity as Provincial Prelate of Hertfordshire in both Temple and Priory, the Consecration of a new Knights Templar Preceptory, called Jacques de Molay (No 670) after the 23rd and last Grand Master of the Order. The Consecration on the 13/10/2007 at Cheshunt in Hertfordshire, was I believe on the 700th anniversary of the rounding up of Jacques de Molay and other influential Knights' . The history of the last Grand Master can be found at www.jacquesdemolay.org

My thanks go to the editor of Freemasonry Today for allowing us to reproduce this photograph on our website.

News just in - W Bro Harold Lewis elected as Master Elect. Installation is in June when we will also have an initiation on the same day.

Memoires of the Banner Dedication and Oration - Click here

JAN 08 The date for the Banner Dedication has now been set as Thursday 13th March at Great Queen Street. Our Metropolitan Grand Inspector, W Bro S Fenton PSGD will be in attendance to dedicate the banner for us. The Master is hopeful that we can make this a very special occasion. All members he hopes will endeavour to attend this special day when our first Banner is dedicating during the year of our first initiate taking the chair. Remember there is a discount on the guest dining fee for this meeting for up to 4 guests

23rd October 07 Members will be delighted to know that another OM who has just entered the Craft. Yesterday a number of members made the trip to Somerset to witness the initiation of Ashley Maunder who has lived at Home Farm, Kingweston, for most of his life and was a day boy back in the early 1970's. It was a magnificent occasion at the amazing Hanging Chapel of St. Mary in Langport, Somerset, where Ashley was initiated into the Somerset Farmers' Lodge in a beautifully presented ceremony. W Bro Andrew Davey PDepGChap along with W Bro Tudor Morgan SLGR PPJGD, W Bro Harold Lewis PPGSwdB our Senior Warden, W Bro Chris Harding PPGStB and Bro Viv Morris gave greetings to the Somerset Farmers Lodge and welcomed Ashley into Masonry.

6th Oct 07 Members will be delighted top know that the WMs Mother is making good progress after her recent illness. We all wish her well.

30th Sep 07 Unfortunately no 2nd yesterday as the candidate Chris was sent to Dubai for his company. That's life but as always sometimes out of adversity comes some thing positive and we were all enthralled by a wonderful description of the tracing board given by a guest much of which I had not heard before. That and the happy festive board made the fact that only 10 were able to come seems of little consequence. The meal was a delight and the speeches short. The two prospective members were interviewed and gave a good impression to the committee. Once all other formalities are in place they will I hope be able to join us sometime soon.

Members were also informed that an old boy of the school was to be initiated into the Somerset Farmers Lodge in Glastonbury in October OOO AH!!!!!. Their Lodge secretary had sent an open invitation to our members should they wish to attend. I do know that there will be a number of us there so it should be a good day.

The Master again reiterated his wish to have a Sunday Lunch event in London and was working to get that arranged. Members who have any other ideas of events should contact him.

June 07 With the new Masonic season fast approaching and our first regular meeting due on Saturday 29th September, members, especially the WM, are no doubt hard at work learning their words for the coming 2nd Degree. This meeting will also see I hope two new candidates read out. These candidates, fresh out of (or in fact still in) university, are I hope the advance party of a stream of like minded Old Boys looking to have an fresh outlook on life which although on one hand a bit serious, still with much to enjoy and be proud of.

Our new Master W Bro Andrew Selby between his public vocation of being at the Bar, legal not liquid, is looking forward to his first full meeting as the WM. A lot of work to do and words to learn but we all have much faith in his abilities which so far have assist him excel in what ever he puts his mind to. His idea for a Spanish trip this year had wakened the Millfield urge to travel to far off climates in many. The adventure of a round of golf in strange surroundings with the added attraction of the worlds finest Sherry houses close by in one that has tickled many a members tonsils and even encouraged the DC to get his clubs out of the Loft, brush off the cobwebs, clean off the rust and have a practice on the range. Clubs now safely back in loft. Dreams of a come back shattered due to lack of balls.

The WM is also keen to arrange a Sunday Lunch Time Jazz booze up and from e-mails received it looks like we could have W Bro Peter Wong PDGM with us as he will be in England on a trip from Hong Kong. Good to see Peter again. This I hope will be well attended and should prove an eventful occasion for all. Mind you we must remember that some of us are on strict diets. How's' yours going Steven?

Our IPM W Bro Chris Harding PPGStB has as we are now all aware is now safely ensconced in Poole in Dorset and from what I hear has already made his mark by being chosen for a local Bowls team. Strange to say I have received word that his efforts have enabled the team to make the county finals so good luck to him and them.

Good news to for W Bro Graham Best PPGStwd who has been elevated to active JGD in Surrey. Graham and his family have raised over £2,500.00 for charity last year when they took part in a sponsored climb of a mountain somewhere. I understand his daughter actually climbed the furthest overtaking her old man with a smile and chuckle and the words "eat my dust". Massive effort by them all and a enormous effort I am sure to get Graham up the hill. Graham will of course be accompanying one of the Surrey APGMs around the province and we wish him well in this responsible position.

While Graham sheds his red Apron for a Blue one we hear that W Bro Stephen Gould has been appointed as an active Steward in North Wales. Fantastic news for the Gould family and we wish him well for his year. We should now all feel safer that we have a qualified Steward to look after us at the festive board. in any case he cannot be worse than the last one we had who wore a red apron.

We have a new Visiting Officer W Bro Roger Warr PAGSuptWks who takes over from W Bro Peter White PGPurs who will be sorely missed by us all. We wish him well and hope he will come and see us soon

Contacting old pupils and friends -Your editor has through Friends Reunited been contacted by 2 old house mates from Etonhurst. One is living in the USA but does come "home" often, and one lives and works in Singapore and is also a Mason. How do I know this. Well I put the Lodge web address in my write up. I have also put that address in with my details for the school as well. There is another name I recognise so I will contact them as well. While on this subject I have been in contact with Frazer who emigrated to Australia. Should any Australian Mason in the Sydney / Darling Point area read this please contact us as he is looking to join a Lodge over there. News in is that Frazer has found a Lodge and became a joining member last year.