hrh – Page 5 – Old Wellingtonian Lodge no. 3404

Report on meeting held on November 26th, 2009

November 26, 2009March 16, 2016
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A total of 43 brethren met at Freemasons’ Hall in London. This included five visiting from other Public Schools’ Lodges Council member Lodges and nine other visiting guests. This historic occasion marked the exact date Centenary of the consecration of the Old Wellingtonian Lodge, having been consecrated on 26th November 1909.

Exemplifying the health of the Lodge membership in recent years, a ceremony of Initiation was performed. W.Bro. Henry Hopking was the ruling Master for the ceremony, ably assisted by W.Bro. Tom Hawley.

The meeting recorded another historic moment, as HRH the Duke of Kent, KG, GCMG, GCVO, ADC, MW Grand Master and President of Wellington College was elected Permanent Worshipful Master of the Old Wellingtonian Lodge. As Grand Lodge required him to be physically installed, WM Henry Hopking proclaimed him as Honorary Worshipful Master in the meantime.

After the meeting, the members and visitors dined very well at Bucks Club.

Report on meeting held on 8th October, 2009

September 8, 2009March 16, 2016
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The brethren of the Old Wellingtonian Lodge met at Freemasons’ Hall, London for the annual Installation meeting. The Worshipful Master installed W.Bro. Henry R. Hopking (Anglesey 89-94) into the Chair of King Solomon as the Master to rule the Lodge during our Centenary year. The WM was ably assisted in the ceremony with members from Sir Thomas White Lodge No.1820, Christ’s Hospital Lodge No.2650 and the Old Cheltonian Lodge No.3223.

The Address to the Master was delivered by W.Bro. Geoffrey Baber, with fine style and aplomb. This was especially meaningful as W.Bro. Baber proposed W.Bro. Hopking into Freemasonry seven years previously. The Address to the Wardens and the Address to the Brethren were delivered by W.Bro. James Milne and W.Bro. Rory Shackleton respectively.

After the meeting the brethren retired to St James’s and they dined at the East India Club. The festive board was held in the Canadian Room where everyone enjoyed the superb cuisine and merry fraternal banter. Many have since commented that they hope the Lodge will return there for future festive boards.

The Master and members of the Old Wellingtonian Lodge look forward to the year ahead. It is an exceptional year with 2009/10 being the Centenary of the Lodge. The Lodge has a full programme of events planned. Our meeting on the 26th November will mark the historic date of the Centenary, from when the Lodge was consecrated in 1909. We then look forward to the summer meeting at College, where we will welcome a large number of visitors and guests to join us as we conclude our Centenary celebrations in fine style.

Report on meeting held on May 9th, 2009

May 9, 2009March 16, 2016
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The brethren of the Old Wellingtonian Lodge met at Wellington College for the annual college meeting. At the meeting Bro. Matthew Saunders and Bro. Simon Reed were raised to the sublime degree of a master mason. In the double ceremony the Worshipful Master was assisted by a Past-Master who recalled with élan the third degree tracing board attracting a deserved Masonic applause. The Working Tools were similarly explained in graphic detail by W.Bro. Rory Shackleton. W.Bro. Nigel Birch presented Bro. Matt Saunders with a Master Mason’s apron. Books of Emulation ritual were presented on behalf of their proposer by seconder Bro. Junior Warden, John Edwards.

A Grand Lodge Certificate was presented to Bro. Simon Wilson and explained in detail by W.Bro. Nigel Birch. All the other offices of the lodge did an outstanding job in assisting the Worshipful Master in the ceremony.

The lodge welcomed a number of visitors including visiting Masters from our sister public school lodges: Christ Hospital; Ardingly and Charterhouse. We also welcomed our newly elected Visiting Officer, Edward Bottomley. The lodge looks forward to welcoming him to future lodge meetings.

W.Bro John Ross-Barnard announced that he would be stepping down as secretary after ten years serving the lodge so that he can go on a world trip. The brethren thanked him for his hard work and dedication to the lodge over the years. We were reminded how much work W.Bro John Ross-Barnard has done behind the scenes to ensure all our meetings happen and that all Masonic business is conducted and communicated promptly and correctly. There was a spontaneous and enthusiastic round of applause to thank the retiring secretary from the rest of the brethren.

The brethren then dined in the Driver rooms in College. A few of the brethren met at the bar in the Waterloo Hotel for further libations!

Report on meeting held on February 12th, 2009

February 12, 2009March 16, 2016
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The brethren of the Old Wellingtonian Lodge met at Freemasons Hall, Great Queen Street to raise Bro. Simon Wilson to the sublime degree of a Master Mason. The Worshipful Master was assisted in the ceremony by a member of Old Reptonian Lodge 3725, who delivered the Exhoratation, a Past-Master who delivered the Traditional History and W.Bro Rory Shackleton who explained the Working Tools. All those assisting the WM delivered their parts not only with great accuracy but also communicating the true meaning of the ritual in fine style.

Due to bad weather, transport problems and illness a number of brethren were unable to make the meeting. The following brethren did an excellent job and stood in at the last minute to fill the following offices. W.Bro Hew Dunn as Director of Ceremonies, W.Bro Robin Tilbrook as Immediate Past Master, a Past-Master as Inner Guard and W.Bro Derick Barrett as Mentor. The WM was very grateful for their last minute assistance. Similar problems occur every year at the February meeting and W.Bro John Ross-Barnard raised the idea of changing the meeting to March for future years. This was generally favourably received.

The rest of the regular offices of the lodge did a fine job in assisting the WM in raising Bro. Simon Wilson.

A member of Old Westminster Lodge No. 2233 did a splendid job of playing the organ for the lodge. The organ has not been played in the OW lodge for some time. This gave an extra dimension to the raising and made it a truly memorable occasion for the candidate and the brethren of the lodge.

We welcomed five visitors to the lodge four of which were from our sister PSLC lodges (Repton no. 3725, Westminster no. 2233, Marlborough no.3533 and Dulwich no. 4165). It is always a great pleasure to welcome visitors to the OW lodge.

Congratulations to W.Bro John Ross Barnard JP on advancement to Past Provincial Grand Sword Bearer (Warks) and W.Bro Nigel Birch on his advancement to Senior London Grand Rank. Congratulations to W.Bro James Milne on his recent marriage.

The brethren dined afterwards at Beoty’s.

Report on meeting held on November 11th, 2008

November 11, 2008March 16, 2016
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The brethren of the Old Wellingtonian Lodge met at Great Queen Street to initiate Jonathan Rance (O 84-89) into Freemasonry. A number of guests were present including members of our sister lodges the Old Tonbridge, Taunton, Cheltenham, Uppingham and Clifton Lodges.

Meeting on Armistice day Bro John Ross Barnard read out a moving description of Masonic activity in the second world war (it was the second if I recall correctly) and Bro James Milne read out the names of known members of the lodge killed on active service which Bro John Ross Barnard had diligently retrieved from the lodge records. A minutes silence was held to remember them and other brethren killed on active service.

We were delighted that the WM of Clifton accepted our invitation to pass Bro Jonathan Rance of the Old Wellingtonian Lodge in January. The Old Wellingtonian Lodge are glad to be able to share work with its sister public school lodges.

Brethren dinned after at Beotys.

Report on meeting held on October 9th, 2008

October 9, 2008March 16, 2016
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W. Bro Chris Collins (Hopetoun 53-57) installed the new Worshipful Master of the Lodge with great skill and dedication. W. Bro Chris Collins was assisted by brethren from Whitehill Lodge No. 8425, Old Rugbeian Lodge No. 3551 and the Old Etonian Lodge No. 4550.We were also honoured with a visit by a brother from the Philippines. Freemasonry being a global organisation enables men of similar principles to share those with fellow brethren in other lodges in the UK and abroad (subject to recognition by Grand Lodge).

Eton informed our lodge of their plans to hold the annual Public Schools Festival at Eton this year and in particular the quality of wine that had been purchased in 2000 for the festival! The public Schools Festival being an annual meeting of public schools lodges hosted in rotation by the different public schools on the Public Schools Council. Wellington will be hosting the festival in 2015.

Unfortunately W. Bro Sir Kenneth Newton Bt.OBE TD PSGW passed away on 12th August 2008. W. Bro Jervis Kay QC recorded a personal tribute to his distinguished career and his contribution to Freemasonry and the Old Wellingtonian Lodge.

Report on meeting held on May 10th, 2008

May 10, 2008March 16, 2016
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The brethren, their wives and partners met to celebrate the 2nd degree passing of our two newest brethren at Wellington College itself.

During the afternoon we were privileged to visit the Royal Military Academy at Sandhurst at the invitation of the Chief of Staff, Col. Tim Checketts OBE., an OW of course, a visit that prompted us to make an immediate donation to the charity Help for Heroes, a new organisation formed to help those who have been wounded in Britain’s current conflicts.

It is a proud tradition that Wellington College continues to provide high calibre men and women to be commissioned into the army. Additionally funds were raised for the Wellington College Bevir fund, the Haemotology unit at the Royal Shrewsbury hospital and the Royal Masonic Benevolent fund.

As usual there was a warm welcome from the staff who provided a splendid dinner in the Wellesley Suite where we were also joined by our guests who wished to find out a little more and consider becoming freemasons. This is an opportunity open to others and the secretary would be pleased to receive enquiries either from OWs who are already members of the craft or OWs who wish to find out a little more.

Report on meeting held on February 14th, 2008

February 14, 2008March 16, 2016
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A small gathering as many were on St. Valentine’s Day duty.

The ceremony went well, the candidate in the capable hands of our Deacons had learned his part well. A Past-Master delivered the Traditional History in record time and Charles Goblet d’Alviella the Working Tools; he did well, I believe it was his first time.

Two EA’s and an FC were dispatched early for a libation or two and recalled by mobile phone by James Milne when the main ceremony was over; modern technology!

As usual the proceedings were planned and orchestrated by Stephen Dudley & James Milne, to whom my grateful thanks.

We dined at Beotys and as we were only 12 we joined with Trinity Lodge (Cambridge) in the downstairs room. Their Junior Warden is an OW, this made for a very enjoyable evening.

I look forward to seeing as many as possible and with wives., partners and if possible new potential members at College in May.

WBro Christopher Collins

Report on meeting held on November 13th 2007

November 13, 2007March 16, 2016
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A unique ceremony in which three brethren were initiated ‘in trandem’ applying the principles of order and command no doubt learned by the brethren during their formative years at Wellington College and possibly reinforced in their subsequent professional lives in military service.

It was attended by the Provincial Grand Master for Surrey, RW Bro. Eric Stuart Bamford, who proudly witnessed the initiation of Matthew Saunders, Simon Reed and his son Alexander. A splendid occasion and ceremony not only for Bro. Matthew & Bro. Simon but also for the lewis present, Bro. Alex.

The lodge paid tribute to the late VW. Bro. Robin Atkins, sometime Dep. Gnd. Master of Hampshire & Isle of Wight, a regular visitor to and supporter of the OW Lodge over many years.

Report on meeting held on Wednesday October 3rd 2007

October 3, 2007March 16, 2016
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W. Bro. Christopher Collins (PPGndSwdB Shropshire) [Hopetoun 53-57] was installed into the chair of King Solomon in fine style by the installing master W. Bro. Rory Shackleton. The evening was however marked by the very sad event of just five days previously with the passing to the Grand Lodge Above of W. Bro. Alastair Shackleton, secretary of the lodge. Bro. Rory gave a moving tribute to his elder brother and the lodge stood to order to record departed merit; also for a previous tyler of many years standing, W. Bro. Arthur Crosswell SLGR. (Eulogies see elsewhere on this website)