News and photos

Installation Meeting - 10th October 2024.

Our new Master, W Bro Ceferino Ceriales

At our Installation meeting on the 10th of October 2024, the Lodge was honoured by the presence of W Bro Matthew Perkins, APGM, accompanied by five acting Provincial Grand Officers. Three Masters of other Lodges, one Grand Officer, and 19 additional visitors were present. We were all delighted to witness the retiring Master, W Bro Tony Bromage, install Bro (now W Bro) Ceferino Ceriales as our Worshipful Master, the ceremony being conducted in an exemplary fashion.
The address to the Master was delivered by the Assistant Provincial Grand Master, that to the Wardens by W Bro David Cary, and that to the Brethren by W Bro Tony Bromage.
Following the installation, Grand Lodge Certificates were presented to Bro Mark Heron and Bro Jonathan Moloney by W Bro Steve Adamek.
Bro Secretary was pleased to announce propositions for initiation for two candidates, who will be balloted on a future occasion.
Following a most enjoyable meeting the Brethren retired to the Festive board and our new master was honoured in the traditional manner with the Master’s Song, delivered by W Bro Ameet Doshi, the WM of Ferdinand de Rothschild Lodge.

Installation Meeting - 12th October 2023.

On the 12th of October 2023 the Lodge was honoured by the presence of the Assistant Provincial Grand Master, W. Bro. Mathew Perkins, accompanied by four acting Provincial Grand Officers, to witness W. Bro. Tony Bromage being installed as Worshipful Master. In a splendid ceremony conducted in the best traditions of Aylesbury Lodge, the outgoing Master, W. Bro. Tony Bevan, installed W. Bro. Bromage in the Chair of King Solomon according to ancient custom.
Our honoured guests, the Masters of Buckingham, Ferdinand de Rothschild and Haddenham Lodges, supported the Lodge by occupying the offices of Senior Warden, Junior Warden and Inner Guard for the installation ceremony.
The Charge to the newly-installed Master was delivered by the APGM, the Charge to the Wardens by W. Bro. Raminder Panesar and that to the Brethren by W. Bro. Malcolm Summers.
The evening saw Bro. Stuart Bridges, still a Fellowcraft Freemason, doing a splendid job as Inner Guard for the opening of the Lodge and, following his formal appointment to that role, in the closing also. Additionally, we were delighted to see two of our EAs, Bro. Mark Heron and Bro. Jonathan Moloney, receive their first collars as Stewards.
We also saw the appointment of a new Secretary, with W. Bro. Steve Adamek taking up the reigns from W. Bro. Malcolm Summers.
Following the meeting, 37 Brethren and visitors retired to the dining room to enjoy a most convivial Festive Board.

The APGM next to the newly-installed Master, together with the Provincial team and those members of the Lodge not already in the bar (!) after the meeting.

Centenary Meeting - 31st May 2023

On 31st May 2023, Aylesbury Lodge held an emergency meeting to celebrate the 100th anniversary of its Consecration on 31st May 1923. The meeting was attended by the Deputy Provincial Grand Master, V.W.Bro. Neil Robertson, accompanied by all three Assistant Provincial Grand Masters and twenty acting Provincial Grand Officers which, together with members of our Lodge and other visitors, totalled 81 brethren.
In the first part of the meeting, the DepPGM took the Chair and instructed the Provincial Grand DC to place acting Provincial Grand Wardens into the Warden’s Chairs. The DepPGM and Provincial Wardens then examined the original minutes of the Consecration meeting, which were signed as a record by the DepPGM. The secretary then read extracts from the Consecration minutes.

The first minute book.

After the Lodge Officers were returned to their posts, the Lodge conducted the initiation of Bro. Ben Curtis. The DepPGM kindly acted as Junior Deacon for the ceremony to symbolise the support of Provincial Grand Lodge and the equality of all brethren.

Following a short intermission, W.Bro. Tony Bromage delivered the explanation of the 1st degree tracing board. W.Bro. Malcolm Summers then delivered a retrospect of the Lodge’s history, taken in part from a printed history which was later presented to every brother present.

The Worshipful Master, W.Bro. Tony Bevan and the Deputy Provincial Grand Master, V.W.Bro. Neil Robertson
with Bro. Ben Curtis on his Initiation.

All the brethren after the meeting.

After this landmark meeting, the brethren repaired to the bar and to a festive board of Chicken Panzanella, Lamb Shanks, Saucy Lemon Pudding and Cheese & Biscuits. A good time was had by all, and the brethren made their way home with a full tummy to round off a full meeting.

(Photos courtesy of Bro. John Woodside and W.Bro. Matt Perkins)

A remarkable Lodge Meeting - 13th April 2023.

The meeting of Thursday 13th April 2023 proved to be a most remarkable event. Following the opening W.Bro. Bill Smithson, the Provincial Grand Director of Ceremonies, was admitted to announce that the Assistant Provincial Grand Master, W.Bro. Gary Brodie, was outside and demanded admission. A deputation was formed and the APGM was escorted into the Lodge in due form, was welcomed by the W.M. and took his seat in the East.

This would have been an honour for the Lodge under any circumstances but the poor Secretary, W.Bro. Malcolm Summers, was horrified because he had missed the fact that these illustrious brethren would be in attendance and had not booked either of them in for the meeting.

However, while the Secretary was deciding how to word his resignation, Bro. Tim Henshaw was raised to the Third Degree in a fine ceremony, conducted by the W.M. assisted by five Past Masters of the Lodge, each bringing his own style of delivery to the ritual, and all expertly choreographed by W.Bro. Bill Spear, our D.C.

Following the ceremony, and towards the end of the meeting, the plot was exposed when the APGM rose and called W.Bro. Summers onto the floor of the Lodge and presented him with a certificate to mark his 50 years in Freemasonry. This had been planned by the Lodge over a period of months but was a complete surprise to Bro. Malcolm. Subsequently Bro. Malcolm was again called onto the floor of the Lodge, where the APGM honoured him with a field promotion in Provincial Grand Rank, with immediate effect.

W.Bro Gary Brodie (centre left) presents W.Bro. Malcolm Summers with his 50-year certificate, with Bro. Tim Henshaw (centre right) proudly displaying his new MM's apron and the rest of the members and visitors looking on.

Our second Initiate in 2023.

On 9th February 2023 we welcomed our second initiate of the year, Bro. Jonathan Moloney. Bro Jonathan was treated to an excellent ceremony, including a rare explanation of the first degree tracing board, most impressively delivered by our Senior Warden, W.Bro Tony Bromage.
The brethren gathered after the ceremony for some photographs and then enjoyed a Festive Board of Beetroot Stilton and Walnut salad, Roast Beef, and Apple Crumble with custard.
A most satisfying evening!

Bro. Jonathan congratulated by our WM, W.Bro. Tony Bevan.

Greetings from the Brethren of Aylesbury Lodge.
9th February 2023.

We welcome a new Brother.

On 12th January 2023, we were delighted to initiate Bro. Mark Heron. Our WM, Tony Bevan, was in the Chair, ably assisted by all his officers in a fine ceremony. We were especially pleased to welcome as visitors W.Bros. Graham Raven and Ian Leach, colleagues of Mark's from his role in Scouting, who had come along to support him. Both, very kindly, took part in the ceremony, Graham delivering the Charity Charge and Ian the pre-amble before the Charge After Initiation.

L to R: W.Bro. Graham Raven, Bro. Mark Heron and W.Bro. Ian Leach, with our WM, Tony Bevan, behind them.

Onwards and Upwards.

On 10th November 2022, in a first for our Lodge, we conducted a double ceremony in which Brother Stuart Bridges and Brother Tim Henshaw were Passed to the Second Degree by our Master, W.Bro Tony Bevan. Thanks to the hard work of the whole team, and especially W.Bro Bill Spear, our DC, the challenges of the floorwork had been ironed out in advance, resulting in a smooth, and most impressive ceremony.

Front row, L to R, are Bro John Woodside (SD), Bro Stuart Bridges, Bro Tim Henshaw, W.Bro Steve Adamek (JD).
Back row, L to R are W.Bro Tony Bromage (SW), W.Bro Tony Bevan (WM) and Bro Ceferino Ceriales (JW).

And another!!
At our February meeting we completed a hat-trick of new members when we initiated Bro. Stuart Bridges, the Master's Chair being shared between our WM and our DC. The photo shows Bro. Stuart with our JD Bro. John Woodside (also Stuart's proposer) on the left, our WM W.Bro. Tony Bevan in the centre, and our DC W.Bro. Tony Bromage on the right.
We now have four Entered Apprentices in the Lodge, so it's time to dust off our ritual books and prepare for a series of second degrees...

Another new initiate!
We had the privilege of initiating Bro. Timothy Henshaw in January 2022, with the ceremony shared between our WM and our IPM.
The photo shows our WM, W.Bro. Tony Bevan, on the left, our IPM, W.Bro. Steve Adamek, on the right, with Bro. Tim in between.