The Province of Hampshire & Isle of Wight supports a strong community of around 8,000 Freemasons meeting in 250 Lodges. It is also home to one of the largest and internationally famous boating communities. 

The Solent – a narrow strait between the Isle of Wight and mainland England – boasts stunning natural scenery, safe anchorages and ideal sailing conditions. It’s estimated that more than 20,000 yachts and motorboats regularly use the area for recreation. 

In 2016, a group of local Freemasons decided to combine their love of sailing and boats with their interest in Freemasonry to form the specialist Spinnaker Lodge No. 9932. The aim was to take Freemasonry out to the sailing community by holding three summer meetings in Masonic centres close to the marinas. Friends and partners of Lodge members were invited along for a post-meeting dinner at one of the local yacht clubs. 

Over the years, the Spinnaker wives and girlfriends, or ‘SWAGS’ as they are affectionately known, have become firm friends. They have their own WhatsApp group and hold an annual SWAGS dinner on the night of the Lodge Installation meeting in November. 

The summer meetings are weekend affairs where many of the 28 boats owned by Lodge members arrive at the designated marina on a Friday afternoon, Lodge burgees and Masonic flags aloft, ready to meet informally for a drink and bite to eat in the evening. 

A pontoon party is usually held between the boats on Saturday afternoon, after which the members change into the Lodge dress code of blazer, chinos and deck shoes and make their way to the local Masonic centre for their Lodge meeting. The meetings themselves continue the nautical theme, with the three gavels being substituted by a belaying pin, a deadeye and a serving mallet – all items retrieved from classic sailing yachts – and the Lodge burgee flying on the Senior Warden’s pedestal. 

Afterwards, dining is less formal than at a normal Masonic meeting and regularly includes a short talk by a member or invited guest on a subject of nautical interest. In the past, these have featured a slideshow of a member’s sailing trip to Norway, personal experiences of the disastrous 1979 Fastnet Race and presentations by local sailing charities that the Lodge supports. 

The evening traditionally ends with a rendition of ‘What shall we do with a drunken sailor’ before retiring to the boats for a nightcap and an early sail home the following morning. 

In the words of the Primus Master, Frank Milner, 

‘It is important to us that the Lodge remains true to its purpose, develops its own traditions and points of difference and presents a contemporary and attractive image to the local sailing community - all of which are surely being achieved given that the Lodge continues to grow in strength and popularity.'

The Brothers in Alms exhibition has taken up residence at Freemasons' Hall. It's an immersive journey that unveils a remarkable assortment of rarely witnessed wartime photographs. In order to delve deeper into the captivating narrative of this exhibition, Craftcast: the Freemasons Podcast extended a warm welcome to exhibition curator Brian Deutsch as a special guest in the studio.

During his appearance on Craftcast, Deutsch shared the fascinating story of how he came to possess this extraordinary collection of images. In the late 1980s, during his tenure in the cable television industry, Deutsch obtained the collection that ultimately gave rise to the exhibition.

He told Craftcast, 

'Well, a strange thing happened. I got a message via telex from my office in London telling me that the BBC was thinking of selling the Hulton Archive.'

The large collection of photographs was named after Sir Edward Hulton, a prominent figure in the publishing world. Sir Edward was the owner of Picture Post, a UK magazine that shared captivating stories in a photojournalism style similar to Life magazine in the US.

From its creation in 1938, Picture Post ran for 20 years. It proved an instant hit and sales increased further during World War II, attracting more than 20 million readers.

Deutsch said, 

'The magazine was successful and featured many now-famous news photographs. It also amassed a vast collection of pictures.'

In addition, Picture Post explored historical events with centenary editions that featured fascinating images sourced from various libraries. Often, these images were bought by Picture Post, forming the Hulton Archive.

Despite his limited expertise with photography and the collection's contents, Deutsch acquired the Hulton Archive. To compensate for the gap in his knowledge, he recruited the head of Christie's photographic department for guidance.

'What I discovered was not just these wonderful photos from the war and 1938 onward, but an amazing archive of historic images. We used to go around in the middle of the night - what I called "Hulting" - and open drawers and find these amazing pictures. The collection was outstanding, but what do you do with it? As a private collection, it's not going to be of much use, so I said that we've got to make this available to other people.'

Deutsch explained how the only way to share the images was to drum scan 100,000 pictures, a time-consuming and expensive process. During that period, Deutsch had the opportunity to meet Bill Gates and invited him to see the magnificent collection of images. Gates unfortunately declined the invitation.

Deutsch added, 'The joke is, after £1 million was spent on scanning them, Gates paid me £2.5 million a couple of years later for 50,000 images for the digital encyclopedia Encarta.'

The collection of images was transformed into CD-ROMs, with each disc containing 5,000 pictures spanning 1900 to 1950.

'People started to see what these images meant and were able to copy them and get rights for them for much more than just sending them out. It became quite a meaningful business and I ran it for nearly 10 years,'

After a period of time, shareholders of Deutsch's company decided to sell it to Getty, the online image library. For 20 years, Deutsch had not revisited the Hulton Archive. However, his friend and Freemason Quentin Humberstone approached him with a compelling request - to return to the image archive and curate an exhibition commemorating the centenary of the end of World War I.

To start, Deutsch handpicked 240 pictures from the archive, as well as from a diverse range of sources such as Alamy, the National collections of Scotland and other image libraries.

The purpose behind the exhibition was to shine a spotlight on the acts of benevolence performed by individuals during the war, including the contributions of Freemasons.

Deutsch aimed to shift the narrative away from the prevalent emphasis on bloodshed, injury and tragedy, and direct attention towards the positive endeavours of humanity amid the tumultuous period.

'We needed to show the spirit of brotherhood,'

When asked about the inspiration for the exhibition, Deutsch explained how there was something really special about pictures.

'Since I bought this collection in 1988, I've always believed that a picture says a thousand words. Pictures are the most evocative way of sharing stories, especially if they recall real events. You look at a really good image of someone's face and you can see the pain or the pleasure.’

Deutsch highlighted the extraordinary nature of these captivating pictures, showcasing aspects that surpass the limitations of history books, allowing them to convey stories that words alone cannot capture. Highlights of the exhibition include images of a number of remarkable Freemasons and women Freemasons who served throughout the war, such as Field Marshals Horatio Kitchener and Douglas Haig. Deutsch had no intention of singling out Freemasons – it just so happened that there were quite a few in the exhibition’s images. 

‘I was quite surprised. Yes I knew some of the leaders were Freemasons, but to find so many that were fighting in the war who were lower down in the ranks was absolutely amazing.” 

During the Craftcast interview, Deutsch revealed his two favorite images from the exhibition, both of which gained the favor of the Grand Master, HRH The Duke of Kent when he gave him a personal tour. Deutsch said of The Duke, 'He was fascinated by the whole thing and he loved it all.' Within the collection, Deutsch showed His Royal Highness two pictures featuring his own grandfather, King George V. The first image depicted the King presenting one of 500,000 medals to a soldier on the front line during World War I. The Duke was astounded to learn of his grandfather's regular visits and involvement with the front line during the conflict. The second image held equal importance, capturing Haig using his cane to illustrate the details of the momentous battle of Thiepval to King George V. The King is portrayed sitting on a small chair, attentively listening to Haig's explanations about the battle's course. 'It's a marvelous picture,' he said. 'You can see the closeness of these two human beings.' During his discussion on Craftcast, Deutsch highlighted the correlation between World War I and the surge in membership within the Freemasonry community. 

He said, 

'It's one of the reasons people came into Freemasonry. They thought: “Where can I go to have this camaraderie that I have had for these four horrible years?”'

Deutsch went on to explain how many soldiers in the trenches had friends around them that were already Freemasons, which inspired them to join after the war. When asked about how he came up with the name for the exhibition, Deutsch said that it was important to highlight brotherhood rather than charity. ‘It’s a bit corny but the idea is that you usually say brothers in arms. But I thought the truth of the matter is that what this building [Freemasons’ Hall] is all about is the alms, the charity, the good deeds that are done, the hospitals that were set up by Freemasons during the war.’

Tours of the ‘Brothers in Alms’ collection will be available monthly, but Deutsch is happy to do them as often as people want for groups of Freemasons as they pass the collection on the second floor on the way to Lodge rooms.

He said, 

‘I’m very happy to take those people and say let’s show you what this is really all about and how this relates to you and this great building.’

Members of the public can view the collection without a guided tour, but to get the real story and narrative behind the pictures Deutsch suggests it’s best to go on a guided tour.

If you’re interested in booking a tour with him, email: [email protected].

To see a digital gallery of the 'Brothers in Alms' exhibit, visit our website.

Tune into Craftcast: the Freemasons Podcast, to hear the full interview with Brian Deutsch about the exhibition. It’s available on all major podcast platforms.

Adrian was confirmed as Grand Secretary in September 2022, replacing the outgoing Chief Executive and Grand Secretary David Staples. He will take the traditional Grand Secretary role, while still performing many of the functions of a Chief Executive within UGLE’s organisational structure.

The offer to be Grand Secretary came from Pro Grand Master Jonathan Spence in 2022. Adrian was already part of the wider UGLE team, using his skills as finance director of a FTSE 100 company to help the Board of General Purposes. Jonathan had discovered that Adrian was thinking of retiring from his professional role – which he announced in September 2022 – and invited him to lunch, having spotted an opportunity to add another name to the first-rate executive team he has built to execute UGLE’s seven-year Strategy.

‘Having heard Jonathan’s vision, I found myself nodding very enthusiastically and saying I wanted to support Jonathan with his ambition. He asked me candidly if I thought we could get things working, was the Strategy doable and did I want to be part of it. While I wanted to retire from executive life, I didn’t plan on doing nothing. It was very exciting, and I definitely wanted to get involved.’

Adrian originally became a Freemason, he confesses, partly to impress his future father-in-law– a member and long-term Secretary of Strong Man Lodge No. 45. Adrian loved the experience and soon became an active Freemason. After stepping away from Freemasonry to focus on his career and family, Adrian has engaged with the Craft with renewed enthusiasm in recent years, having found that some of the themes and principles have taken greater resonance over time. It has helped that he can share his Freemasonry with his family – he presided over his son’s third degree in June and recently attended his son-in-law’s Initiation at Watford Lodge No. 404.

‘He knew I would turn up at the ceremony, but didn’t know I would carry it out. So it was very amusing on entering the Lodge that the first voice he heard was mine.’ 

Having spent almost four decades in the City, Adrian joins a leadership team at UGLE that has a potent mix of talent and experience. His role as Grand Secretary involves acting as the link between the Rulers and the Board of General Purposes. With his background in finance and commerce, Adrian is exploring ways to optimise commercial income from Freemasons’ Hall while also exercising a tight grip on cost management. There will be innovations, such as closer collaboration with the women’s orders, Royal Arch and companion orders and, in Wales in September, the first Quarterly Communication to be held outside London since the war. 

Above all, he wants to improve the experience for members.

‘We are a membership organisation. The member experience needs to be the most important thing – whether it’s the process of joining, when you receive Grand Rank, when you come to Grand Lodge or when you are visiting or have a meeting at Freemasons’ Hall. The Grand Secretary’s role is to ensure we are organised effectively to deliver that members’ experience and optimise our unique asset – Freemasons’ Hall – to be enjoyed by members and maintained for future generations. My role is to apply the industry approach to UGLE. That means sharing best practice, allocating resources and facilitating change – but not sitting in an ivory tower pointing a finger and saying this is what you should be doing.’

Growing the membership will require evolution and flexibility to meet the demands of a younger generation. That might mean more Lodge meetings in the early evening rather than late afternoon, and adapting the Festive Board to suit the pockets of younger members. After his son’s third degree, the Festive Board took the form of pizza in the courtyard at Freemasons’ Hall, while others have featured sharing a curry rather than a traditional three-course meal. Adrian knows himself it can be hard to maintain Masonic life while juggling young children and/or professional commitments.

Here, Lodges can support absent members by keeping them informed of developments and making them feel appreciated and welcome.

‘These are things everybody can do, and we want to support and facilitate the energy and ideas and good practice. We use the Magazine for that as much as we can, but it has to be done at the grassroots level – and we are already seeing some great examples. As I wind down from my executive life, I’m starting to get out and about and I can see that energy in Lodges across all of UGLE.

At HQ, we’ve made changes to the leadership team and put in place a new structure, and are looking to build a team for the future. We want to bring out the best in people and ensure we are all aligned to the Strategy and understand the importance of the membership experience. That’s the excitement for me, working with a team who share that desire and enthusiasm and have a similar view on what success might look like. The key to any success, though, is that it must resonate at Lodge level.

Freemasons from each of Lincolnshire’s 75 Lodges gathered to witness the Consecration of its 76th – the Armed Forces Lodge of Lincolnshire.
Its first ruler, Bob Chalklin, a former RAF Regiment member, has promised it’ll be a place of friendship and welcome – but with a sprinkling of good-natured banter as befits a Lodge which will draw its membership primarily from serving and former Armed Forces members.

After the Consecration at Grimsby’s Masonic Centre, led by Provincial Ruler Dave Wheeler, Bob said he felt relieved it had gone well. The run-up to the creation of this Lodge had been just the same as the day of the Consecration itself, succeeding through the combined efforts of many people, to whom he was effusive in his thanks. Those thanks included a special mention for Peter Hegarty, APGM for the Province of East Lancashire, who had assisted by providing equipment worth about £3,500 – all of which will retain references to the Lodges it came from.

The new Lodge will be peripatetic, meeting around the Province of Lincolnshire, though its nominal base will be Sleaford, home of Daedelus, its Mother Lodge. 

At the festive board, the Provincial ruler Dave Wheeler presented the Lodge with a framed reminder of the basis for its existence, with crests from the Navy, Army, and Air Force – though he pointed out that the framer had put them in the wrong order, and had to rearrange them before the presentation could be made. He said he thought it was important that the Lodge had something to display at its meetings.

Dave Wheeler said: 

“The Armed Forces Lodge of Lincolnshire is part of the county’s long association with the Armed Forces, and it is fitting that we, as Freemasons and members of one of the oldest fraternal bodies in the world, should help sustain that tradition. The oration by our Provincial Chaplain Brian Roberts during the Consecration told an important story, which is deserving of our thanks.”

Provincial Chaplain Brian Roberts said: 

“Servicemen have found that our values of integrity, friendship, respect, and charity are a natural fit with their values, and many ex-servicemen have commented that the camaraderie they find in a Lodge is similar to that they experienced whilst serving. Indeed, the Core Values in each of the Services, in many ways, replicate our values as Freemasons. Our charities and individual Lodges have a long history of supporting the armed forces.”

Frodyr mae can mlynedd ers i’r cyfarfod yma gael ei gynnal i ffwrdd o Lundain ac heb ddigwydd am wythdeg pum mlynedd. Dyma’r tro cyntaf iddo fod yng Nghymru ac rwy’n hapus ein bod yn gwneud hyn heddiw

Brethren it is one hundred years since the Quarterly Communication was first held outside London and this has not occurred for eighty-five years. This is the first occasion a Quarterly Communication has been held in Wales and I am very pleased we are doing this today.

The original initiative to hold a Quarterly Communication outside London came from the then Pro Grand Master, Lord Ampthill, and Deputy Grand Master, Sir Frederick Halsey, in response to representations from a significant number of Provinces distant from London. To hold such a Quarterly Communication  required a change to the Book of Constitutions, which had hitherto stipulated that Quarterly Communications must be held at Freemasons’ Hall. 

The amendment allowing one Quarterly Communication per year to be held away from Freemasons’ Hall, with the permission of The Grand Master was approved by Grand Lodge in September 1922 in the face, I might add, of some stiff opposition from some, predominantly London-based, Brethren as “we had always done it this way”. Does this sound familiar Brethren? In fact it had been forgotten by those opposing the change that the Duke of Sussex, Grand Master from 1813 until 1843, periodically convened a Grand Lodge when he visited a Province away from London in the 1820s and 1830s. 

Following the approval of the amendment the September 1923 Quarterly Communication was held in Liverpool. Other September Quarterly Communications were held in Birmingham in 1928, Newcastle upon Tyne in 1934, and Leeds in 1937. So we are following the example of our forebears in holding this Communication today not in London but in Wales.

I do hope you are all refreshed from a break over the summer months and that you are ready for the new Masonic season. You will have heard me say before in respect of the Strategy for Freemasonry, 2022 and beyond that this year is one for putting in place the organisation and infrastructure to ensure delivery of our common objectives for a thriving organisation. You will also know Brethren that to achieve this the Membership Challenge must be made relevant to all our members in the individual Lodges and Chapters.

Provincial Rulers and their teams, including Visiting Officers, should be communicating with each and every Lodge and Chapter what the Challenge means for them and how they might address it. I have seen some excellent examples from a number of Provinces demonstrating how it is possible to put the Challenge in terms to which members can relate. It might be in terms of comparing the Lodge or Chapter to its position ten years ago and asking what steps do the Lodge intend to take to restore that position. It could be by asking each Lodge to increase the number of initiates by one and reduce the number of  resignations by one each year, as well as cessations and exclusions of members who drift away, often unnoticed…the masonic equivalent of conceding a penalty try or being banned for a no arms tackle! 

There is no single, correct answer. There are a number of different ways this can be done but it is important the members of each Lodge and Chapter take on the challenge and the responsibility. Provinces cannot solve the challenge for the Lodges and Chapters but they can and must support them in their efforts by excellent communication and advice through such tools as the Members’ Pathway. I am sure those Provinces yet to communicate with their Lodges and Chapters on the membership challenge they face will be doing so shortly. I strongly encourage you and your teams to meet your members face-to-face: the Members will respond, I am sure, with greater enthusiasm to the personal approach. It is so much more effective than just using and relying on email communications. 

I am aware that there are many Lodges throughout England and Wales  where there is a waiting list for candidates to join, often with five or six potential members on the list, yet the Lodge customarily only works ceremonies for individual candidates. If a Lodge only meets four or five times a year then it will be only possible to bring one or, at best, two candidates in to the Lodge in any one year. There may even be a consequent, possibly inordinate, delay in the candidate becoming a Master Mason and being able to participate fully in the Lodge. Needless to say, if the number of resignations, cessations, or deaths amongst the existing members exceeds the number of new initiates the Lodge will not thrive, even with a waiting list.

There are many myths, misconceptions, and errors surrounding doing ceremonies for more than one candidate at a time. One such myth, which I think is profoundly misguided, is that being part of a multiple ceremony detracts from the experience. Some Lodges have done multiple ceremonies for many years, in the case of one Lodge of which I am aware it has done multiple ceremonies since its foundation more than two hundred years ago. For those who have gone through Initiation, Passing and Raising as a group of two or more have a natural bond and friendship through this common experience that they would not trade, nor has it detracted from their experience.

In order to assist Lodges where there is a waiting list and where they wish to undertake multiple ceremonies, but have not yet done so, a film is being produced involving the Rulers, The Grand Director of Ceremonies and members of his team, and volunteers from a number of Lodges where it is the custom to perform such ceremonies. This film will show how best to manage such ceremonies, particularly in the work of the Deacons, Wardens, and Master. This is so a Lodge can do the ceremony well for both the benefit of the candidates as well as its members. The film will also feature interviews with some Brethren who have experienced being one of the candidates in multiple ceremonies. I hope that the film will be available in the Autumn and I would strongly encourage all Lodges where there is a waiting list to use multiple ceremonies where at all possible.

Brethren, as you are aware, there are three pillars to the Strategy we are following and we have emphasised the pillars of  a Thriving Membership and a Coherent Organisation. We are not avoiding pursuing enhancements to the third pillar of Community Engagement. I am pleased to tell you that the Deputy Grand Master will chair a review of this aspect of the Strategy. This work will commence shortly and I look forward to being able to update you on progress in due course. 

One conclusion the Rulers and members of the Strategy Working Party have reached is that the current, modern explanation of our principles in the terms of, “Integrity, Respect, Friendship and Charity”, does not quite do justice to the breadth of your engagement in your communities. We believe it would be more appropriate to articulate the principles in terms of “Integrity, Respect, Friendship, and Service”. Charity is one of the fundamentals of being a Freemason but is now often seen in monetary terms, rather than the broader terms of the past, which is true up to appoint. Time, skills, and the willingness to do, however, are every bit as valuable to the communities in which we live, if not more so. I think Service captures more fully our engagement in our communities. I hope you will agree with this amendment to the modern statement of what are our principles.

You will all be aware that this experiment of holding a Quarterly Communication outside London was flagged as being likely to happen when we launched the Strategy for Freemasonry, 2022 and beyond. I would like to reiterate my thanks to the Deputy Grand Master and his working party for the recommendation to come here. I would also like to thank the Grand Secretary and the Grand Director of Ceremonies and their respective teams and express my appreciation for the considerable amount of work that went into ensuring today happened so effectively.

Mae hyn wedi bod yn arbrawf a gwersi wedi eu dysgu ond fel dywed Y Prif Feistr ‘ heb drio ni fyddwn yn gwybod be sy’n gweithio.

Gobeithiaf bydd pawb yn fodlon mynd a trio rhywbeth gwahanol yn y Gyfrinfa a’r Siapter. Mae’r Prif Gyfrinfa wedi gwneud hyn heddiw am y tro cyntaf yng Nghymru

Dymunaf dymor cryf i bawb.

Today has been an experiment, there will be lessons we can learn, there will always be naysayers but, as the Grand Master himself says, “If you do not try something how will you know if it works or not?”. I hope you will all take away some inspiration to try new or different things in your Lodges and Chapters and remember, Grand Lodge has now done what it advises others to do, try something new and engage members, and did it first here in Wales!

I wish you all a successful forthcoming Masonic season.

Pro Grand Master, Jonathan Spence

Over the weekend of 9th-11th June, the Province of Cheshire’s Light Blues Club - the Masters’ and Masons’ Forum - paid an official visit to Lancaster Lodge which meets in Estoril near Lisbon.

Lancaster Lodge is one of the four Lodges which meets under UGLE’s jurisdiction in Portugal. There are also three Royal Arch Chapters.

Freemasonry in Portugal has had a difficult time over the years. After the 1933 revolution, the dictator Salazar banned the Order. It was not until more recent times that it has begun to revive. There is the Regular Grand Lodge of Portugal (Legal) which is recognised by UGLE and also the Lodges and Chapters governed directly by Great Queen Street under the Grand Inspector, Robert Levitt.

Cheshire’s MMF members are actively dedicated to improving themselves masonically and in the world at large. They are led by Chairman, Michael Shiels, Past Assistant Grand Standard Bearer, and his deputy, Mike O’Brien. 

The visit by the Cheshire MMF arose from a chance conversation more than two years ago at a conference for Light Blue clubs. It is a great example of how engaged and switched-on younger masons are really helping to shape the future of Freemasonry.

Lancaster Lodge is named in memory of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster. He was the fourth son of King Edward III and established friendly diplomatic and trading relations between England and Portugal. These quickly became so good that King Edward III and King Fernando I of Portugal signed the Treaty of London on 16th June, 1373. It has never been rescinded. Thus, England and Portugal are the oldest diplomatic allies in the world with an unbroken history of 650 years of friendship. The Cheshire MMF visit was designed to mark and emphasise this deep amity.

The highlight of the visit was on the Saturday afternoon when everyone assembled in the room at the Clube do Lago which the Lodge uses for its meetings. The Lodge being opened, Cheshire MMF demonstrated a very informative ceremony entitled The Preparation of the Candidate for the First Degree. The candidate was one of MMF’s newest members, Leon Williams-Imazenobe, who is originally from Nigeria but now lives with his wife and children in the North West. He is a member of Townfield de Tatton Lodge.

After the meeting, we had a celebratory Festive Board at the Intercontinental Hotel, joined by our partners. Aside from the great food and service, this had a really impressive and productive, yet relaxed, atmosphere. 

The whole event cemented the bonds of masonic friendship between Portugal and England and in his speech, the Deputy Provincial Grand Master of Cheshire, Judge Simon Medland, Kings Council, Provincial Grand Sword Bearer, had great pleasure in extending an invitation to Lancaster Lodge for the ‘return leg’ next year in Cheshire. 

Cheshire MMF will also be extending the invitation to the Master and Wardens of Lodge of the Oldest Ally which meets in Daventry, Northamptonshire. Several of the Lancaster Lodge brethren are also members of that Lodge and – as its name implies – it specifically celebrates this unique international bond of friendship which our two great countries have. 

Six Ukrainian ex-patriot organisations in Yorkshire have received a significant boost for their programmes to assist Ukrainian refugees, who are settling in Yorkshire, with a £40,000 donation from the Freemasons’ West Riding Masonic Community Fund.

The Masonic funding has been shared between the following organisations:

James Newman OBE, Provincial Grand Master of the Freemasons’ Province of Yorkshire, West Riding, said: “The plight of people, who have been forced to flee from Ukraine to escape the war that is raging in their country, has touched the hearts of everybody in our country.

“I am incredibly proud that the generosity of Freemasons both nationally and from Lodges from across Yorkshire will enable the organisations, who are helping the refugees to settle in Yorkshire, to tackle the challenges facing them.”

Olga Callaghan, Chair of the Association of Ukrainians GB, Leeds Branch, said: “We have never had so much money given to us before and it has made an amazing difference to what we are trying to do for the refugees in Leeds.

“When we first received the money, we took our time in deciding how it would be best spent for the benefit of the refugees. It was a new experience for us having that much money available to spend so we wanted to use it wisely.

“It enabled us to prioritise what we needed most and where we could find the most competitive prices.

“We have spent some of the money on freezers because they are really useful for us. Having them enabled us to prepare and keep Ukrainian-style meals and serve them when everybody from the Ukrainian community gathers on a Saturday morning. It has also helped us feed the children and their mothers. 

“And that’s so important for people coming to Leeds from the Ukraine. It’s something they know and recognise and helps them feel more at home in West Yorkshire.” 

“We are so grateful to the Freemasons for their generous donation.”

In addition to the above donations, the national Masonic Charity, the Masonic Charitable Foundation, has distributed over £1.1 million to various charities and organisations, at home and abroad, to support those affected by the war in Ukraine, mainly refugees and families, who have been separated because of the war. The Freemasons of the Province of Yorkshire West Riding contributed a further £40,000 towards this important support.

Devon’s Freemasons and the Masonic Charitable Foundation (MCF) are very pleased to award Bideford-based ‘Families in Grief’ (FiG) a grant of £15,000, this is split over three years to provide a guaranteed income in support of the work they do.

They are a childhood bereavement charity helping families to rebuild their lives after the death of someone close to them. They believe that they can have a greater impact on a bereaved child, if we support the parents/carers around the child too.

Many areas of North Devon contend with low salaries and high levels of unemployment. According to Devon County Council figures, at least one in five children live in income-deprived families in Barnstaple and Ilfracombe. They offer this crucial bereavement support completely free to ensure that families regardless of social-economic circumstances can get the help they need.

From the point of contact, they work together with the main carer to plan the appropriate pathway of support for their child and family. With the parent’s permission they can also contact the child’s school to offer strategies and tools to help to help the child in the classroom.

Tailoring support to the child and their situation, coming up with strategies to help get them into school, or sending a list of appropriate books to help the child, or an information sheet on for example, ‘Sleeping Tips for Teens’. This addresses their individual needs. Offering group support to reduce feelings of isolation and loneliness. 

FiG have seen how difficult it is for children and young people to talk about their feelings, so at their groups they encourage expression through creative and physical activities. Sitting side by side rather than face to face to encourage conversation. They support the parents/carers of the children too. They have their own group which runs at the same time.

Ages of those helped range from around 5-year-olds to early 20s, at any one time around 80 families are supported over a six-week period, but there's no “fixed” end of support time. The team of around 20 volunteers often come from childcare backgrounds.

Assistant Leader of Devonshire Freemasons Timothy Golder said:

'Bereavement is difficult at any stage of life but especially for children and young people.

'FiG is providing long-term support for those who have suffered loss, perhaps of parents and siblings, and who might be experiencing a range of emotional and physical difficulties. 

'Guardians and carers can often be overlooked but FiG also offers help to those with responsibility for those affected. 

'We hope that our donation will provide much-needed support to FiG to continue their outstanding work.'

Families in Grief CEO Naomi Jefferies said:

'The donation of £5,000 for three years from the Freemasons will make a huge difference to us. 

'It allows us to be more dynamic in our initiatives, it allows us not to worry so much about the costs of phone calls, coffee at family meetings etc. 

'Some other funding can be more restrictive to us. We’re very grateful.'

Six Ukrainian ex-patriot organisations in Yorkshire have received a significant boost for their programmes to assist Ukrainian refugees, who are settling in Yorkshire, with a £40,000 donation from the Freemasons’ West Riding Masonic Community Fund.

The Masonic funding has been shared between the following organisations:

James Newman OBE, Provincial Grand Master of the Freemasons’ Province of Yorkshire, West Riding, said: “The plight of people, who have been forced to flee from Ukraine to escape the war that is raging in their country, has touched the hearts of everybody in our country.

“I am incredibly proud that the generosity of Freemasons both nationally and from Lodges from across Yorkshire will enable the organisations, who are helping the refugees to settle in Yorkshire, to tackle the challenges facing them.”

Olga Callaghan, Chair of the Association of Ukrainians GB, Leeds Branch, said: “We have never had so much money given to us before and it has made an amazing difference to what we are trying to do for the refugees in Leeds.

“When we first received the money, we took our time in deciding how it would be best spent for the benefit of the refugees. It was a new experience for us having that much money available to spend so we wanted to use it wisely.

“It enabled us to prioritise what we needed most and where we could find the most competitive prices.

“We have spent some of the money on freezers because they are really useful for us. Having them enabled us to prepare and keep Ukrainian-style meals and serve them when everybody from the Ukrainian community gathers on a Saturday morning. It has also helped us feed the children and their mothers. 

“And that’s so important for people coming to Leeds from the Ukraine. It’s something they know and recognise and helps them feel more at home in West Yorkshire.” 

“We are so grateful to the Freemasons for their generous donation.”

In addition to the above donations, the national Masonic Charity, the Masonic Charitable Foundation, has distributed over £1.1 million to various charities and organisations, at home and abroad, to support those affected by the war in Ukraine, mainly refugees and families, who have been separated because of the war. The Freemasons of the Province of Yorkshire West Riding contributed a further £40,000 towards this important support.

Once each year an Emergency Meeting of a London based lodge is held at the Lodge building in Tiverton, Devon.

This is Blundell’s Lodge No.5467 most of whose members are past pupils of the world-renowned school of the same name. It was founded in 1604 under the will of Peter Blundell, one of the richest men in England at the time and moved to its present site on the outskirts of the town in 1882.

This is always a very well attended meeting by members from all over the UK and Ireland together with many visitors and Friday 16th June was no exception. After the Dispensations from both The Metropolitan Grand Lodge of London and the Province of Devonshire had been read the ceremony was to be an initiation, but what made it special was the initiate, William Peter Holland, who is the younger brother of Michael Holland the Provincial Grand Master of Herefordshire.

Among the fifty-plus who were in attendance were The Provincial Grand Masters of Devonshire, Nicholas Ball, Bristol, Jonathan Davis and Herefordshire, Michael Holland, three Past Pro Grand Masters, six Assistant and Past Assistant Pro Grand Masters, six Grand Officers and seven active Provincial Grand Officers from the Province of Devonshire. What a fabulous reception for a new member to behold when the blindfold came off.

The ceremony, guided by the expert hand of Worshipful Master James Jarvis, was a pleasure to behold and will be remembered by the initiate for the rest of his life. Andrew Manasseh acted as the Junior Deacon and lead William around the lodge in a very professional manner. Following his obligation, the signs and secrets were given by Past Assistant Provincial Grand Master Craig Cox, the North East Corner by past Assistant Provincial Grand Master Derek Webber, the Working Tools were explained in a very fine fashion by the Inner Guard Donncha Kearney then, in what was a very poignant moment, the Charge after Initiation, this was very special as it was given by his Brother Michael. Finally, a piece seldom heard “an explanation of the ceremony” which was described by the Lodge Visiting Grand Officer Dudley Tucker. 

All those present then retired to the refectory to enjoy a superb four-course festive board with much cheerful banter that could be heard throughout the evening. A very emotional address to the brethren introducing their newest member was given by his brother Michael to which William suitably replied.

The Worshipful Master James Jarvis then announced a donation to Nicholas Ball of £700 on behalf of the members of Blundell’s Lodge which was gratefully received with the promise that it would be faithfully applied. 

On what was one of the warmest days of the year to date everybody retired from the lodge happy in the knowledge that they had been witnessed to a superb event.

Freemasonry is centered around the principles of charity and self-improvement, with a strong focus on benefiting both ourselves and our communities. In line with this ethos, the United Grand Lodge of England (UGLE) actively participated in a new initiative called The Big Help Out. This campaign, launched nationwide on May 8th in commemoration of the King's Coronation, aimed to uplift and enhance our local communities.

UGLE encouraged Freemasons to volunteer for The Big Help Out, and as a result, we have collected stories from Freemasons all over the country who generously contributed their time and efforts to The Big Help Out.

Read some of the fantastic stories from Freemasons below. 

Oxfordshire - Ready Teddy

In a heartwarming display of generosity and compassion, Oxfordshire Freemasons distributed 400-500 teddy bears to children at hospitals across the region as part of the Big Help Out initiative on May 8th to celebrate the King's Coronation.

During the Big Help Out, Oxfordshire Freemasons joined forces with local hospitals including Oxford, Horton, Abingdon, Henley, and Witney, to bring smiles to the faces of young patients with teddies.

Under the expert and enthusiastic guidance of Oxfordshire Freemason Roger Hampshire, the Province's highly successful Teddies For Loving Care programme has been providing comfort and solace to children during their hospital stays. 

Devon - Clean for the King

As part of the Big Help Out, Freemasons in Devon got their hands dirty and organised a “Clean for the King”.

Okehampton Freemasons teamed up with local community group The Okehampton Rivers Improvement Group (ORIG) to tidy up litter around the town.

Using Okehampton’s Lodge and Chapter of Obedience as a meeting point and base for refreshments, children and parents from the local primary school joined forces with Okehampton Freemasons, members of the local Lions Club, town councillors and members of other community interest groups, to clear litter from around the town.

The Okehampton Rivers Group gave prizes for the biggest piece of rubbish collected, which was an abandoned road closed sign, and for the most unusual piece of rubbish, which was hotly contested, but was won by a decorative false fingernail.

Local Freemason Chris Hodgson said the event was a brilliant morning that was enjoyed by everyone involved. 

He added: ‘It was a fantastic community get-together with great teamwork, great companionship and a great demonstration of what community can do.’

Cheshire - Branching out

Freemasons in Cheshire showcased their green thumbs during the Big Help Out initiative, where they engaged in various activities to help maintain a tranquil green space in Runcorn.

"The Green", which was previously a pub football pitch and potato field, was turned into a serene oasis in 2000. This picturesque location serves as a recreational space and a venue for village events.

In commemoration of the Coronation, dedicated volunteers came forward to plant heritage trees, including a Rowan tree for The Queen's Green Canopy and a Cherry Tree.

The volunteers not only focused on tree planting but also dedicated their efforts to the upkeep of raised plant beds. These beds served as educational spaces for local school children and scouts, allowing them to learn about gardening and horticulture.

Simon Medland, a Freemason and volunteer for the Big Help Out, expressed his delight, describing the experience as a "brilliant day." 

Essex - Getting Crafty for the King

During The Big Help Out campaign, Essex Freemason David Barton organised a craft stall as part of a competition for children to get creative and make their own crowns to celebrate the Coronation.

Community charity ‘Get Started Art’ founder David brought together Freemasons across Essex to work with the community and create a memorable event.

The ‘King and the Craft’ competition was devised for children across the borough to design and create a royal crown in honour of the King. 

Almost 200 crowns were made on the day at Grays Town Park and prizes were supplied by local Masonic Centres.

Crowns were cut and coloured, designed and made with all manner of materials such as glitter, pompoms, sequins, googly eyes, tissue paper, wrapping paper, bubble wrap, pipe cleaners, lollipop sticks, gems, stickers and even duct tape and chocolate.

UGLE wants to thank all of our members who volunteered their time and got involved in The Big Help Out. For more information about the excellent work that Freemasons do then visit our charitable work page.