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.
W. Bro Chris Collins (Hopetoun 53-57) installed W. Bro Quentin Hunter (Talbot 85-90) as 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.
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.
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. Eddie Bowron 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
