Lodge News
~ 2007 ~

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Meeting dates

HRH Duke of Kent - Honorary member

~ 2008 ~

February 2008

~ 2007 ~
Departed Merit Alastair Shackleton

Departed Merit Arthur Crosswell

February 2007 - June 2007 - October 2007 - November 2007

~ 2006 ~
The Prestonian Lecture - 2006

February 2006 - May 2006 - September 2006 - November 2006

~ 2005 ~
February 2005 - May 2005 - October 2005 - November 2005

~ 2004 ~
Departed Merit John Underdown

October 2004 - November 2004

Report on meeting held on November 13th 2007

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.

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Report on meeting held on Wednesday October 3rd 2007

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)

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Departed Merit ~ Alastair Shackleton ~ 1951–2007

It is with sadness that I report that my brother Alastair Shackleton was called to the Grand Lodge Above last Friday morning 28th September 2007.

It was only at our last meeting in June that I reported that he had be taken ill after suffering a series of strokes but at that time it was felt that with care and time he would recover. I regret to say that was not to be and last week he went down-hill very quickly suffering a series of stokes dying suddenly on Friday morning. He died a dignified death in the arms of his wife Victoria.

My “Big Brother” was well known to many in the Craft. He was born in 1951 brought up in the family home in Moone Co Kildare in Ireland, the eldest son. He started his education at Aravon coming to Wellington College, in the summer of 1965, he was followed 2 years later by his brother Ian both joining the Lyndoch.

He enjoyed his sports, however he was a late developer on the academic side completing his MSc in 1987. He took his GAP year in Mexico where our father was Defence Attaché in 1970 working on a ranch in Monterrey. This Alastair thoroughly enjoyed and became an accomplished cowboy. I recall he at one time got lost and after many futile hours of trying to find his way home threw down the reins and let the horse take him home. After spending hours in the saddle he had a very interesting gait to his walk.

This lifestyle quickly came to an end as Alastair followed in our father’s footsteps going to Sandhurst and joining the Royal Tank Regiment in 1971. He didn’t particularly get on with his tanks and for the most part found his vehicles were constantly off the road so he soon transferred to the RAOC.

My father died in 1977 and Alastair had the responsibility of being head of the family thrust upon him and for me he became very much a father figure. In the early 80’s he met and married Victoria but came out of the Army in 1991 to set up a computer consultancy company before joining EDS where he remained until his death on Friday 28 th September 2007.

He greatly enjoyed his Masonic life. According to the declarations book he was initiated into the lodge on 8 th Feb 1996, proposed by Nigel Birch and seconded by Alan Mulliner, witnessed by Arthur Crosswell. He was initiated, passed and raised all in the same year and as Junior Deacon initiated me into the lodge. He was Worshipful Master between 2002 and 2003 and represented the lodge well, visiting many other lodges during his year in the chair where he was well known by their officers. He was also a member of Rose Croix and Public Schools Chapter. I know he greatly enjoyed his time the chair and always took a very active part in the lodge becoming Secretary last year when I went into the chair.

Good humoured, easy going and conscientious. He was always willing to help even if it was inconvenient. He always enjoyed the company of his brethren and particularly was proud to be a member of the Old Wellingtonian Lodge. He took an active part in his local parish church in Semington, Wiltshire where he was Church Warden and as such he was well known in the village.

He leaves his wife Victoria and children Henrietta, Tom and Emily. Victoria, I know was greatly appreciative of all the kind letters and calls of support over the last few months. We will miss Alastair, and he won’t be forgotten.

W.Bro. Rory Shackleton
3rd October 2007

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Departed Merit ~ ARTHUR CROSSWELL ~ 1921–2007

W. Bro. Arthur Crosswell, senior London grand rank, was called to the Grand Lodge above shortly after our summer meeting.

Arthur tyled for us for almost two decades and many brethren will recall his professional approach to ensuring that “his” candidates were always properly prepared. He ensured that an initiate knew just enough to make the OW officers perform well but not enough to spoil the pleasure of the ceremony for the candidate. It was not without reason that he was appointed SLGR.

Arthur was an intensely private individual with both fine war and post war records in the Royal Air Force. On leaving the service he transferred his engineering skills to the Rank Film Studios at Denham where his expertise made life easier both for film directors and performers. He was at Denham during the heyday of the Doctor films that included such stars as Dirk Bogarde & Brigitte Bardot where Arthur and his crews made them look even better actors than perhaps they were.

And did he ever talk about it to any of us? No he did not.

He was a remarkable man who was part of the tyler team for Grand Lodge and tyled for several PSLC lodges but when forced to give up his other PSLC commitments through illness chose to be tyler for us, the Old Wellingtonian Lodge, until the very last day of his active Masonic career. He had, he said a soft spot for Wellingtonians. We had a great respect for him and we missed him both then and now.

JRB

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Report on meeting held on Saturday June 9th 2007

The brethren met at Wellington College in June rather than May this year due, in part, to our usual accommodation being required for examinations on our regular day, the first Saturday following the Bank Holiday in May.

The Master of the Lodge, W. Bro. Rory Shackleton, welcomed 25 brethren to witness a fine third degree ceremony. Later the Master of Wellington College, Dr. Anthony Seldon addressed the brethren in the Wellesley Suite before dining and expressed his pleasure that so many OWs should meet annually to play a regular part in the life of the college. The treasurer presented Dr. Seldon with a donation of £500.00 which he undertook to ensure would be put to a good and charitable purpose within the college. (Details to follow from the Bursar). A new joining member was welcomed and it was noted that several young OWs would be applying for lodge membership in the autumn.

Our next meeting – installation of a master for the ensuing year - will be held also on an irregular day, October 3rd 2007 at 4.30pm at Freemasons Hall, Great Queen Street, London WC2, followed by dinner at Beotys. Suitably qualifiedvisitors are welcome, please contact the pro tem secretary through this website.

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Review of the February 2007 Meeting

Having welcomed Lodge Guests and Members, the Lodge was opened. Numbers attending were less than expected as a result of the heavy snow that had brought chaos to the transport system particularly for those travelling from the North and South West. We were grateful for those members who volunteered to stand in for missing Brethren, with particular thank to Bill Green who undertook Senior Warden and Robin Tillbrook who deputised for Inner Guard.

Having confirmed the minutes of the last meeting, a Ceremony of Passing was conducted and Brother Bob Bartlett was passed to the Second Degree. The Ceremony ran smoothly with excellent work being done by the Deacons: John Edwards and Henry Hopking who also gave a most excellent long version of the second degree working tools. The Worshipful Master was then called on to give the Second Degree tracing Board, which he delivered with meaning and perfection.

With the remaining reports given to the lodge, business was concluded and the Brethren and their guest retired to Beotys for a splendid festive board. This was a first visit by the Lodge and from the favourable reports fed back by the Brethren it hopefully won’t be the last. With the weather greatly improved Brethren managed to return home safely and in reasonable time.

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