Other Prince of Wales Lodges
Visits have already taken place and are detailed below. Full descriptions and photos from these visits to follow.
Recent Visits
Prince of Wales Lodge No. 1003, Jersey,
Prince of Wales Lodge No. 2520,
Prince of Wales Lodge No. 951, Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire - Friday 9th October 2009
Prince of Wales Lodge No. 671, Llanelli,
Lodge Prince of Wales No. 426, Renfrew, Scotland.
The W.M.'s Blog.
"14th July 2009 saw the occasion of my visit to Lodge Prince of Wales No. 426, Renfrew. I was very pleased that Bro. John Beynon was able to accompany me on this visit. Following our flight we were picked up from Glasgow Airport and driven directly to the Lodge rooms in nearby Queen's Street in Renfrew where we were greeted with a full Scottish breakfast - delicious. We were shown around the Lodge rooms which have a particularly interesting museum.
Off then to Glasgow and the Museum of Transport, accompanied by four Brethren from Prince of Wales Lodge No.951, Stow-on-the-Wold. We were particularly pleased that W. Bro. Rob Dewbery was able to join us as he was the instigator of the whole 'visit every Prince of Wales Lodge in the world' madness! Then back to the Normandy Hotel for a bit of shut-eye before being picked up again and off to the Wallace Bar where we were fed again! I managed to finish my delicious Scotch Pie and then had a small opportunity to walk off some of my dinner during the short walk to the Lodge rooms.
We were treated to a superb Scottish Initiation ceremony which was conducted by the Immediate Past Master as the Right Worshipful Master was in hospital. Other Past Masters took part in the ceremony and all were superb. The Senior Deacon has a very major part in a Scottish Initiation and he fulfilled his role superbly. I counted a magnificent 126 Brethren in the Temple.
As is common in Scotland, there was no Festive Board after the meeting, but drinks were served and very good company was abundant in the Master's Room, and then on to the bar! A raffle was held and then some fine old songs were sung by a Past Master - Rudy Stelz, who had been a German Prisoner of War who had loved Scotland so much that he stayed. I'm very glad that he did because we all thoroughly enjoyed his singing.
It is often said, and often exaggerated, that people are "treated like royalty". However, on this occasion it was true. We will return.
Lodge Prince of Wales No. 959 Ipswich, Suffolk - May 5th 2009
The W.M.'s Blog.
"I was picked up from my door by our "chauffeur" - W. Bro. Bill West, and then off to pick up the third member of our group - W. Bro. Ron Ford. After a long drive up to Ipswich we arrived at "The Shipwright's Arms" where we were to stay for the night. We weren't to know beforehand but the owner turned out to be a London Brother. A taxi was summoned and we were off to the superb Lodge rooms in Soane Street, Ipswich.
Lodge Prince of Wales No. 959 were carrying out an Initiation ceremony and I had the honour of being seated at the right of the Worshipful Master.
A very pleasant surprise (and a custom that was very new to me) was the Wardens singing to the W.M. to take wine with him. A Worshipful Brother - Les Miller - also sang a Masonic song and it seemed that singing was the norm at 959 Festive Boards. I had the pleasure of responding on behalf of the Visitors and informed everyone of what an excellent visit it had been.
Bill, Ron and I would all like to thank W. Bro. David Lewis for his invaluable help in arranging our visit."
Prince of Wales Lodge No. 222, Bray. I.C. - March 2009
SUNDAY. We flew over from Bournemouth Airport on the morning of 8th March 2009, arriving in Dublin at about 10.30. After checking into our hotel (which was right in the heart of Dublin on the famous O'Connell Street) we spent the rest of the day exploring the fair city.
We took in the tour of the Guinness Storehouse, which culminates in a 'free' pint of the Black Stuff. I say 'free' because nothing is either free or cheap in Dublin now. Whilst we were in the city it was announced that Dublin had now overtaken London, New York, Rome, Madrid & Berlin in the "Most expensive cities in the World" survey. Dublin is now in at unlucky number 13.MONDAY. A relaxing start, meeting up at a nearby cafe called 'The Earl' which can be recommended for a reasonable and relatively inexpensive breakfast. When we say inexpensive, a standard full Irish Breakfast consisting of Egg, 1 bacon, 1 sausage, mushrooms, beans, white pudding, black pudding, toast and a cup of tea - comes in at a mere 8.40 Euro, as the Euro is now virtually on a par with Sterling that means over £8 for an unremarkable cooked breakfast. However, that was small change as the breakfast in the hotel (which everyone decided against) cost 26 Euro for a full Irish!
Following a regroup back at the hotel we decided on a fairly non-strenuous day and decided to visit Kilmainham Gaol. This is an important national
monument and we took a fascinating guided tour. The prison was last used in 1924 and the last prisoner was Eamon de Valera.The prison was actually abandoned in 1924 and fell into a state of disrepair until it was restored in the mid 1960s by a committed band of volunteers (incredibly, including some former prisoners) and opened as a tourist attraction.
As well as being an important national monument the building has been used in several films (including; The Italian Job, In the Name of the Father & Michael Collins) and television programmes.
Well worth a visit but don't come here expecting to come out with anything less than a sense of despair and sympathy for those that had seen the inside of this prison and were not able to leave after their tour!
Sore feet after a long walk around a very cold prison building!
Following a light lunch, the ladies retired to explore the shops of Dublin whilst the men folk set off for a look around Grand Lodge of Ireland on Molesworth Street. We were lucky enough to have a very knowledgable and able guide called Daniel who took time off from his duties to show us around. The Grand Lodge building on Molesworth Street has been in use since 1869 and was purpose built for Masonic use. The building can be visited on a floor by floor virtual tour by visiting this link and it is well worth having a look around the various rooms. The building is unusual (for Irleand) in that it has its own dining facility as most Lodges simply have a finger supper at the end of their meetings rather than the sort of sit down meal that we in England are rather more used to.
Our W.M. sitting in the magnificent chair in the Knights Templar Preceptory room. The chair was made especially for the visit of the Prince of Wales (as you can guess by the feathers atop the chair) but was never used by him.
The three amigos in the Grand Lodge chairs, from left to right - Bill Starkey in the S.D.'s chair (that is where they sit in Ireland), Ian Chase in the W.M.'s Chair, and Derek Fagg in the I.P.M.'s Chair.
The trap door and hand cranked lift in the magnificent Chapter Room.
Now what could a lift that decends be all about?
What could be 'found' down there?
After a memorable visit to Grand Lodge and a look around the museum we were ready for a drop of the 'Black Stuff' and so we walked around the corner to The Dawson Lounge, Dublin's smallest bar. The many bus tours of Dublin all claim that there is only room for 20 patrons - when the 21st person comes in it becomes 'intimate'. However, a chat with the previous owner (who now works behind the bar) reveals that you can get almost 40 in the pub in normal circumstances but that he has had 100 customers in one go - if you count the stairs (the bar is below the street level), toilets and pavement outside - serving consists of a human chain for orders and supplies and a lot of trust!TUESDAY. Time to decamp from Dublin and move down to Bray so after another hearty breakfast at The Earl we caught a bus (one of the only reasonable cost features of Dublin at only 2.20 Euro for a twenty mile trip) down to the seaside resort of Bray. All nine of us were then picked up at the bus stop by Neil Fenton, the W.M. of Prince of Wales Lodge No. 222 ably assisted in a second vehicle by R.W. Bro. Brian Kearon. We dropped our cases off at our new hotel and were then taken on a guided tour of the area, including a trip across the Wicklow Mountains and a visit to the monastic city of Glendalough.
Following our tour we went back to Neil's cottage where we were treated to a veritable banquet served by his wife Isobel, assisted by Olive Hobson and Hilda Heavener. At the cottage we met the Provincial Grand Master, R.W. Bro. Harvey Heavener and the Deputy Provincial Grand Master, R.W. Bro. John Hobson, who we then discovered were also going to be attending the meeting!
Having eaten our fill, the men left the ladies and headed off to the Masonic Hall at Greystones. The Lodge tyled at 8 PM and the ceremony was a 3rd degree where Prince of Wales Lodge No. 222 were due to raise a Brother from another Lodge - Harmony Lodge No. 228. On arrival, we were met by a number of the Brethren including W. Bro. (yes, that is his correct title in his own Lodge) Eric Waller, the Lodge D.C. who also happens to be the Immediate Past Grand Master of Ireland! In Irish Lodges it is the custom for each and every Brother, members and visitors alike, to be proved when the Lodge is opened, the Deacons then moved around the Lodge room and proved us all (we had to be 'primed' as it was completely different to anything in English Constitution). There then followed a ceremony unlike anything any of us has encountered ever before. We don't intend to go into any futher detail, suffice it to say that we enjoyed it more than we could ever say! A particularly wonderful moment was when the W.M. asked the members who's turn it was to put the tea urn on? A Past Master then left the Lodge to attend to the necessary and we were later treated to the sight of the Lodge room quite literally filling with steam when the door was opened! Bro. David Byrnes was raised and congratulated by all. At end of the ceremony our W.M. made a presentation of a commemorative firing glass which the W.M. requested should go the Lodge S.W., Bro. Leonard Bryan who is the first M.M. about to go through the Chair for quite some time. Following that, W. Bro. Bill Starkey made a presentation on behalf of all the English Brethren to the newly Raised Bro. David Byrnes.
Following the ceremony, the Lodge members swiftly converted the Lodge room into the area for the buffet, bearing in mind that it was 10.30 PM by this time, the members moved quickly and we were treated to a lovely finger buffet spread which had been provided by the J.W., Bro. George Wilkin and his daughters. We managed to get together for some 'Team photos' which are featured below.
Left to right - back row - R.W. Bro. John Hobson D.P.G.M.,
W. Bro. Bill Starkey, W. Bro. Ian Chase, W. Bro. Derek Fagg,
W. Bro. Brian Durrant, W. Bro. Richard Theobald.
Front row - R.W. Bro. Harvey Heavener P.G.M., W. Bro. Neil Fenton W.M., W. Bro. Eric Waller I.P.G.M.
Following this photo, Harvey Heavener the P.G.M. told the Candidate, Bro. David that he should join the photo as he was the most important person present.
WEDNESDAY. Most of our party had a relaxing, slow start to the following day, however, the W.M. was collected early and accompanied Neil Fenton on a visit to an elderly member of 222. Ian had managed to source some rolling tobacco in England which was particularly favoured by the member and as it is no longer available in Ireland Ian was glad to help. Following his return to the hotel we all took a stroll through the beautiful spring sunshine along the sea front at Bray. After a day spent pottering about, we made our way back to Dublin airport for the flight home.
We flew Ryanair and found the service to be absolutely fine, at £50 return for the flights what more could you ask for?
An absolutely wonderful trip, thoroughly enjoyed by all who went over to the Emerald Isle. A big thank you to everyone who made it possible. Our first visit to Prince of Wales Lodge No. 222 and we hope not our last.
No. 951 Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire - May 2008
W. Bro. Bill Starkey made a visit to Prince of Wales Lodge No. 951
in May 2008. Fortunately, on the same evening as other travellers from
Prince of Wales Lodge No. 1648 from Bradford. This photo shows 951's
W.M. - Mike Jones, flanked by his Wardens - Roy Faulkner and Mark
Howes. Also from 951 are Bob Field (second from left) and Robert
Dewbery (seated). Visitors are (from left to right), David Williams
the W.M. of 1648, Bill Starkey (third from left). And from the right,
Russell Hanson, Dermot Stanley, Andrew Hatton and David Miller.
The Yorkshire Visitors were pleased to present a special decanter to 951.
Bro. Dermot Stanley is shown here making the presentation to the W.M.
