The Avon Lodge No 3569 consecrated in 1912 has recently held its Centennial Celebrations at Rainbow Hill, Worcester.

Originally housed in Pershore the lodge moved into Evesham some years ago and now has its roots firmly fixed into the Masonic Center at Swan Lane.

Unfortunately the accommodation at Evesham is not sufficiently large enough to have housed the number of Masons who wanted to attend the celebrations and so the decision was taken to move the event to a larger venue.

Those attending witnessed a fine ceremony not often seen which was followed by a very fine festive board.

The group photo is of the lodge members and the other shows the two wardens W Bro Tommy Emmerson and W Bro Paul Sealey.

St Andrews Church Hampton was near full to capacity on Wednesday when friends of W Bro David Barnet gathered to say farewell.

People who knew David through his many interests in life such as Masonry, the Camera Club, the former BBC Social Club, The Unitarian Chapel in Oat Street, work colleagues and those associated with his Musical interests all met up with his near neighbours to say a last and fond farewell.

Many of the older brethren from our lodge will remember his dad, Barney, who tiled the lodge rooms at Evesham for many years.

W Bro Bernard Hardy knew Davids dad and perhaps David, better than most of us and was best placed to deliver a fitting tribute by recalling much of Davids life, in particular his Masonic life. David was a keen and busy Freemason in the early years. Following a change of  circumstances resulting from the death of both his Father and then his Mother , David was forced to work longer hours and had to travel many miles in connection with his work. This left him little time to pursue his Masonry and his attendance in our lodge became less frequent.

Davids failing health gave rise to frequent and varied requests for assistance which were always answered in true Masonic nature by our Almoner and others.

David followed his father in his early employment when he became a messenger for Lloyds Bank.  A post that many today will never have heard of. I suppose one could say that the commercial courier service put an end to the office of Bank Messenger just as the World Wide Web is now shrinking the roll of the commercial courier.

David played the organ both in lodge and at the Unitarian Chapel in Oat Street.

Eighteen members of our lodge were able to attend the memorial service on Wednesday. David was cremated privately and his ashes were buried in the grave of his mother and father in the cemetery behind the church at Hampton.

W Bro Norman Hodgetts  celebrated 50 years in Masonry on Wednesday 21st December 2011 and was presented with a certificate to mark the occasion.

Norman followed in his fathers footsteps in becoming a Mason in Elmley Castle Lodge. Sadly Normans father died suddenly and most unexpectedly and Norman found himself the family representative in the legal practice of Cross Son and Hodgetts Solicitors in Queens Road Evesham.

 Norman practised as a solicitor and partner of the company until his retirement a few years ago.

Norman has  served the Masonic Movement well during his fifty years, in particular the Evesham Masonic Hall in Swan Lane where he was for many years a director of the Hall Management Committee.

W Bro John Bernard Hardy presented the certificate to Norman a close and valued friend for many years.

Our Picture shows W Bro Norman seated Centre with W Bro Bernard on his right and W Bro Ron Tarry on his left. Standing are Left to right W Bro Mike Bruton the lodge DC, W Bro David Broadbent, Worshipful Master and W Bro Tony King.

The WM has announced that Ladies Night 2012 will be held at The Dormy House Hotel, Broadway on Saturday 3rd March.

Recently our lodge has had a regular visitor who has traveled the world in his work associated with the motor industry. Having retired and now put down roots in the Evesham Area he has been a frequent and welcome guest of W Bro Peter Baldry.

W Bro Brian Coleman and W Bro Peter Baldry became friends through their children who in part shared the same educational establishment resulting in the families coming together and Peter and Brian have remained friends ever since.

Peter invited Brian to our lodge and he is now a regular, even on the occasions when Peter cannot be present.

When Brian learnt that his nephew, Ben Coleman, was to be initiated into his lodge, Lodge of Industry No 6068 in Essex, and knowing that Ben’s grandfather, Bro  Harry Coleman, would also be present, Brian wanted to make it a special evening for the family and so arranged that he could take the Chair for the Initiation ceremony.

How often does it occur that a family can have such a special Masonic occasion involving three generations.

Bear in mind that Brian was Initiated into Lodge of Industry when he was just 21years and 8 months old making him the youngest ever member of the lodge. That was way back in 1967.  Brian later proposed his Dad, Harry, into Masonry and he was Initiated into the Lodge of Industry at the age of 59 in 1974. Now 96 years of age Harry still attends most meetings although he relies on Brian going down to take him.

And so on Saturday 26th November 2011 the Coleman Family welcomed the latest member of their family into Freemasonry.

Ben is just 21years 2 months and so has wrestled away from Uncle Brian the record of having been the youngest initiate into the lodge for 44 years. I wonder just how long Ben will hold that record. Is there, or will there be, a younger Lewis at some time in the future.

Brian had been thinking of some way to mark this rather unique occasion. He wanted something that would not only be special within the family but something that would become part of the history of the lodge.

He says that during our last meeting, as he watched our latest candidate being presented with the Initiates Trowel Collarette, he suddenly realised that he had just witnessed the very thing.

After a lot of phone calls and running around he managed to have made a silver trowel on which was engraved “Lodge of Industry 6068″ on the face side and ” Initiate Collarette. Presented by Bro Harry Coleman to his Grandson Ben Coleman on his Initiation. 26th November 2011″ on the reverse.

After Bro Harry had presented the Working Tools to his grandson, he was joined by W Bro Brian and together they made the first every presentation of the “Lodge of Industry Initiates Collarette” which like ours will be passed on to the latest initiate into the lodge for time immemorial.

Following a ballot at the November meeting W Bro Paul Rigler was welcomed as the newest Joining Member of our lodge.

Paul and his wife Sue have relocated to Salford Priors following his retirement from the Police Force. Being a keen Mason he soon looked for a local lodge to join. Having become acquainted with Mike Butler, Paul was quickly introduced to the local Masonic scene in Evesham and expressed his wish to join Elmley Castle Lodge, after just a couple of visits.

The Master W Bro David and the Candidate Bro Andrew

On the same evening having been balloted Mr Andrew Peter Tracey was initiated into Freemasonry in the Elmley Castle Lodge.

The Worshipful Master explained that this was a special occassion for both the candidate and himself.  Andrews father was a friend of Davids parents and became Davids God Father.

Sadly David’s father died when David was just eleven years old. However his Godfather had stepped in and was there whenever David had a need.

The effect being of course that Andrew and David have spent many years being very close, almost like brothers.  The Master said that from today he was able rightfully to call him his brother and that was what was so special about this evening to both the Candidate and the Master.

With almost sixty in attendance the evening had the usual buzz that Elmley so often seems to generate.  A superb meal of Lamb Shanks was enjoyed with thanks to the Catering Steward and the Kitchen.

With so many Knights wishing to witness the Installation of Eminent Knight Stephen John Wyer as Provincial Prior the available spaces at the festive board were quickly taken up.  Amongst those who failed to secure dining arrangements were five Knights from Simon De Montfort Preceptory at Evesham. They were extremely grateful for Eminent Knight Richard Kendrick’s resourcefullness in having prepared a little Picnic which they tucked into on the car park at Kings College on Saturday 29th October. Whilst those indoors dined on a very fine menu of Game Terrine Pate with red onion chutney followed by Salmon with Hollandaise sauce, Paramentiere Potatoes, French Green Beans and Cherry Tomatoe Ratatouille followed by Chocolate Marquise and Tea or Coffee, they had to make do with a selection of Canapes, Tuna and Red Onion Cutney, Poached Salmon and Mayonnaise, Chicken Tikka Mint and Yoghurt, Prawns with Dill cocktail sauce, Suculent Norfolk Turkey  with  a selection of savouries and Vegetable samosas, a selection of mini quiches, scotch eggs and vegetable crudites with several dips. 

All washed down with a very fine Bonneau Du Martray 1993 Corton Charlemagne chilled to perfection and most complimentary to the poultry and creamy fish sauces.

We can but dream but what a WONDERFUL DAY for the new Provincial Prior Stephen Wyer and his newly Installed  Sub Prior Charles Dyer. The setting at Kings College Worcester is without doubt the most magnificent and apt  building in which a meeting of Knights Templar could take place.

Those of us from the Evesham Lodge who hold membership of the Simon De Montfort Preceptory wish our new Provincial Prior, and his Sub Prior, every success with the management of our Worcestershire Provincial Priory in this wonderful United Religious , Military and Masonic Orders of the Temple, and of St John of Jerusalem, Palestine and Rhodes and Malta.

We look forward to their first visit to our Preceptory following todays Installations.

Brethren it is with much sadness that we announce the death of Bro John Grindle on Thursday 15th September 2011.

John was taken ill quite recently and is death came very quickly.

He was a member of our lodge from 1966 to 1978 and continued his membership of the St Egwin Mark Lodge until his death.

We await details of the funeral arrangements.

Many will remember that quite recently we featured Lawson Allchurch on the occasion of his 100 birthday celebrations.

Sadly he passed away on Tuesday 26th July 2011.

He acted as Secretary of our lodge from 1964 until 1974 and as Treasurer from 1982 until 1985.

His funeral will take place on Friday 12th August  at 3pm at Bretforton followed by a private cremation.

Donations , if required for SCOPE, may be sent to the funeral director E Hill and Son Pershore WR10 1HZ