Wyggeston Lodge welcomes two new members

At the Christmas meeting of the Wyggeston Lodge held on Friday 18th December 2015 at Freemasons’ Hall, Leicester, two new members were welcomed to the Lodge and the Ancient Fraternity.

Bro Edirisinghe, a 22 year old student at the University of Leicester originally enquired about joining the Freemasons back in March 2015 after visiting the Lodge website. The Wyggeston Lodge is the Universities Scheme Lodge for University of Leicester staff, students and alumni.

Lehan was inspired to become a Mason as his Uncle is already a Freemason in his native Sri Lanka. He said: “I want to better serve the people around me and to build my character. I feel that being a part of Freemasonry best achieves these goals.”

As part of a Double Initiation, Bro Edirisinghe was Initiated alongside Bro Jennings who works for the local Council who was proposed by one of the existing members of the Lodge. The Master of the Lodge, WBro Paul Bodycot, was assisted in the Ceremony by several members of the Lodge including some of the junior Brethren who have recently joined themselves.

The Lodge was very pleased to welcome the Master and other members of it’s Daughter Lodge, the Lodge of Welcome No.5664 together with members of Universities Scheme Lodges, Castle of Leicester No.7767 and Salisbury Union Lodge No.767. The Lodge also warmly welcomed the Secretary of the Universities Scheme, WBro Oliver Coddington, a member of Phoenix Lodge No.173.

After the Ceremony, the Christmas Festive Board, which consisted of traditional fare, was a very enjoyable and fun occasion where the two new Brethren were keen to assist in parading the Christmas Pudding whilst those present sang ‘Oh Come All Ye Faithful’.

Also at the meeting, the Universities Scheme Travelling Loving Cup was claimed by the members of the Castle of Leicester Lodge No.7767. Read more here.

The Universities Scheme Loving Cup is claimed by Castle of Leicester Lodge

The Universities Scheme Loving Cup, was claimed for the very first time from the inaugural holders, the Wyggeston Lodge No.3448, by Castle of Leicester Lodge No.7767 at their meeting on Friday 18th December 2015.

The DKW Cup, named after the founding President of the Universities Scheme, RWBro David K Williamson PAGM PGStwd presented it to the Wyggeston Lodge at the Scheme Conference which was held in Leicester in November 2015. The initial idea for a Universities Scheme Travelling Loving Cup came from WBro Dr Andy Green, a member of the Wyggeston Lodge, to encourage visiting between Scheme Lodges.

The Ceremony of the Loving Cup, which is traditional with Livery Companies of the City of London, is said to date back to Saxon times before the Norman Conquest of 1066, and to derive from the assassination, by command of Elfrida, of King Edward the Martyr whilst drinking at Corfe Castle. The practice has been adopted by other associations, including some masonic lodges, and can be considered as an expression of sharing, coupled with mutual protection, reinforcing the ancient masonic bond we have with each other.

During the Festive Board the DKW Cup, filled with Champagne and bitters, was passed around the Brethren according to ancient procedures. Afterwards it was offered up for claiming by Scheme Lodge and despite several Scheme Lodges being represented, including Salisbury Union Lodge No.767 and Phoenix Lodge No.173, it was Castle of Leicester Lodge No.7767 who had the most number of members visiting with a total of nine Brethren. Regional Co-ordinator for the Scheme WBro Daniel Hayward PPSGD claimed the Cup behalf of the Lodge.

The Wyggeston Lodge are very proud to have been the very first holders of the DKW Cup and wishes it well on its journey around the Scheme Lodges.

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The next meeting of Castle of Leicester Lodge No. 7767 when the DKW Cup can be claimed by a Scheme Lodge is on Tuesday 9th February 2016 in Leicester.

Past Master of Wyggeston Lodge installs his brother into the Master’s chair 

Due to unavoidable circumstances, the Master of the Lodge was not able to attend the Installation meeting of Wyggeston Lodge No.3448 on Friday 20th November 2015 to install his successor. It was therefore agreed that WBro Thomas A Bodycot should have the pleasure of installing his younger brother, Bro Paul L Bodycot, into the Master’s chair.

The meeting was held in the Holmes Lodge Room, Freemasons’ Hall, Leicester where members of the Lodge, together with many visitors, witnessed an emotionally charged installation ceremony. The new Master, WBro Paul Boydcot was Initiated into the Wyggeston Lodge in 2006 after being Proposed by his older brother and has steadily progressed through the offices of the Lodge to the highest honour the Lodge can confer on any of its members. Amongst the guests was the Master’s nephew who had recently joined Freemasonry and is a member of Peace Lodge No.2269 meeting in the Province of West Lancashire.

Bro Peter Clarke with the bottle of Port
Bro Peter Clarke with the large bottle of Port

The celebrations continued at the Festive Board with a four course dinner including the now infamous mixed grill. Additionally, the cheese and biscuits was supplemented with an extremely large (4.5 litres) 20 year old bottle of port which was a kind gift of one of our Scheme Initiates, Bro Peter Clarke.

The Wyggeston Lodge also had on display the Universities Scheme Travelling Loving Cup, the DKW Cup, which was presented to the Lodge at the Universities Scheme Conference. However, no other Scheme Lodge was represented in sufficient numbers in order to claim the cup which will be available for claiming at the next meeting on 18th December 2015.

Wyggeston Lodge are first holders of the DKW Cup

The Wyggeston Lodge, the Universities Scheme Lodge for the University of Leicester, have been honoured as the very first Lodge to hold the Universities Scheme’s Travelling Loving Cup that was presented by the past President, RWBro David Kenneth Williamson PAGM to promote inter-lodge visiting within the Scheme.

The DKW Cup was commissioned by the Past Assistant Grand Master, based on a original idea from the Wyggeston Lodge Secretary, WBro Andy Green and was made by A R Wentworth (Sheffield) Limited, through the Worshipful Company of Pewterers. The DKW Cup was presented to the Lodge at the recent Universities Scheme conference which was held in Leicester.

The Loving Cup is a tradition within Livery Companies of the City of London and creates a sense of fraternity and togetherness. To encourage visiting between the 66 Scheme Lodges, the cup I can be claimed by any visiting Scheme Lodge with four or more members present at a Lodge meeting.

The Wyggeston Lodge fears they will not hold onto the cup for long as there are several Scheme Lodges anxious to claim it at their next meeting in December.

WBro Andy Green said: “We are thrilled and honoured to be the first holders of the DKW Cup and look forward to ceremoniously passing it around the Festive Board when it is claimed.”

Two new members join the Wyggeston Lodge

At the meeting of Wyggeston Lodge on Friday 16th October 2015 at Freemasons Hall, Leicester, two new members were welcomed into the Fraternity.

Bros John Williams and Rob Morris were Initiated in a Double Ceremony by the Master of the Lodge in the ornate Holmes Lodge Room where the Lodge was Consecrated in 1910. Bro John is an postgraduate student at the University of Leicester and joined via the Universities Scheme. Bro Rob is an HGV driver with a national firm. The new Brethren were warmly welcomed into the Lodge and both thoroughly enjoyed the evening.

This takes the number of new members Initiated into the Lodge in the last year to 9 making a total of 48 members in the Lodge.

Wyggeston Lodge attends Freshers’ Fair at University of Leicester

Members of the Wyggeston Lodge of Freemasons, once again attended Freshers’ Fair at the University of Leicester on Monday 28th September 2015. This was the fourth year in a row that the Lodge has attended the fair and yet again it was a busy but very rewarding day. Lodge members met many students who were interested in finding out more about our ancient fraternity and keen to learn how they could join. Approximately 800 leaflets about the Lodge were distributed to students during the day.

The Wyggeston Lodge is designated United Grand Lodge of England Universities Scheme Lodge for the University of Leicester and joined the national scheme in 2011. Since then, the Lodge has seen a large influx of student members who have become Freemasons whilst studying at the University.

It is hoped that those students interested in finding out more will come along to a free tour of Freemasons’ Hall in Leicester in the next few weeks to see inside the wonderful Headquarters of the Leicestershire and Rutland Freemasons and where senior Freemasons will be on hand to answer any questions.

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Wyggeston Lodge support children’s cancer trust to provide free holidays for families

The Wyggeston Lodge of Freemasons, which meet in Leicester, together with the Leicestershire and Rutland Masonic Charity Association have generously donated £2,112 to the Harley Staples Cancer Trust to provide a years rent for ‘Harley’s Caravan’ allowing families with children suffering from cancer to spend quality time together at the seaside and away from hospital.

The Harley Staples Cancer Trust, based in Blaby, Leicestershire, was set up by parents Jamie and Katherine Staples in loving memory of their inspirational boy Harley who at just 8 years old lost his battle with a rare leukaemia, B Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia Burkitt type, in 2009.

The aim of the trust is to put a smile on the face of any child or young person with cancer and help to create memories for these children and their families to cherish forever. They are currently fundraising to buy a holiday house in rural Leicestershire for children and young people to use for free all year round. Additionally, they provide free holidays for children and young people up to the age of 24 at their brand new caravan based at Ivy Farm Holiday Park, Overstrand, Norfolk. Families can take a holiday for a week between March and October which is in easy reach of the coast.

The donation was presented to Jamie Staples at an Award Ceremony held at Freemasons’ Hall, Leicester on Saturday 26th September 2015 by members of the Lodge, including WBro Dipak Chauhan (Charity Steward), Bro Paul Bodycot (Senior Warden), WBro Kelvin Johnson, and Head of the Leicestershire and Rutland Freemasons, RWBro David Hagger.

Upon receiving the donation, Jamie Staples said “A massive thank you to all the Freemasons for this donation which will cover the ground rent for Harley’s Caravan next year. We have had 25 families stay in it this year and we now don’t have to worry about the rent for next year as it is now sorted.’

The Master of the Wyggeston Lodge, Jamie Mollart, said “We think it is a great cause and that they should be very proud of everything they have achieved. It’s incredible and generous what they’re doing in the face of their personal tragedy and they are an example of how you can turn something so awful into something positive.”

John Phillips makes his first visit as a Freemason to a very special Lodge

Bro. John Phillips, a student at the University of Leicester, who joined the Wyggeston Lodge as a Freemason during his first year of studies recounts his recent visit to a very special Lodge

“When I was asked to propose a toast to the visitors a few weeks ago, I admittedly, had yet to actually visit another Masonic Lodge. Every month I’d listen to my fellow Brethren stand up at the Festive Board and talk of the importance of visiting. I have had plenty of conversations about excellent trips to Lodges, with all their differing nuances, all the charming characters and the new friendships that had been made, but I had yet to take it upon myself to do the same.

On the first Tuesday in September 2015 however, that changed when I visited Magna Carta Lodge No.8017 in my hometown of Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. My Grandfather had gone through the chair of Magna Carta Lodge in 1990, a year before I was born, and though he died in 1998, his time in Masonry was what spurred me on to want to join and carry on that legacy. Because of this, I was certain I wanted his former lodge to be the first that I visited after becoming a Master Mason. Consecrated in 1967, the lodge recently celebrated its 400th meeting, a testament to the passion and commitment that has earned Magna Carta such a strong reputation.

Going alone, I wasn’t sure what to expect. A few years ago I might have felt slightly daunted, but one of the greatest things I’ve already taken from being a Mason is a confidence to walk in to new situations without a worry. If you can stand up on the night of your Initiation and give a speech to a room full of men you’ve never met before, then what can’t you do? I soon found that visiting Magna Carta Lodge was like being welcomed by old friends, except it was, of course, the first time any of us had met. The older brethren were keen to regale me with stories of my Grandfather, and the younger ones were keen to show that his old Lodge was in good hands. I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy the anecdotes that involved the ‘good old days’ of the bar staying open until 3am!

Although that night it was the installation of the new Worshipful Master, and there being a staggering 32 guests from 20 different Lodges in attendance, certainly not bad for a charmingly small sugar-town in Suffolk, I was sincerely moved to find myself the recipient of a toast to my Grandfather, 17 years after he passed to the Grand Lodge above. With the work I do with First World War history and archaeology, it is often said that to speak the name of one of the millions of soldiers that perished, is to allow them to live again for that small moment. If there is any truth in that sentiment, then W.Bro. Mark Gaskin, my Grandfather, lived a short lifetime at his old Lodge on that warm Tuesday night, something that meant the world to not only me, but also to my Mother, whom accompanied her Dad to his Ladies Night in 1990, alongside his other five, proud daughters.

After being welcomed so warmly, I truly understand the importance of visiting in Masonry. It is often called the life blood of the Craft, and I now know why. I can not recommend enough that younger Masons and members of Universities’ Scheme Lodges  experience the friendship and camaraderie that is awaiting them.

A special thanks goes to Lodge Secretary, W.Bro. Nick Melero for being so accommodating with his invite. I look forward to visiting Magna Carta Lodge again and to welcoming members to the Wyggeston Lodge in the near future.”

Leicester University students progress in their Masonic journey

An Emergency Meeting of Wyggeston Lodge, which meets at Freemasons’ Hall, Leicester, was held on Friday 18th September 2015 to Pass three of its student members to the degree of a Fellowcraft.

Bros. Simon Walmsley, Adam Tilley and James Kelly who are all University of Leicester students joined the Lodge in February 2015 through the Universities Scheme which aims to establish and/or enhance arrangements and opportunities for undergraduates and other university members to enjoy Freemasonry. The Wyggeston Lodge joined the Scheme in April 2011 and has since seen a large number of students join the Lodge. As a result, the Lodge has regularly conducted multiple ceremonies and held additional meetings to ensure that the members are timely progressed through to the degree of a Master Mason.

The Passing Ceremony was a showcase of younger Freemasons in the Lodge undertaking parts of work with Bro Peter Clarke standing in as Inner Guard and also delivering the Working Tools, along with Bro Chris Kent acting as an Assistant Deacon, and finally Bro Alec Maxfield who gave a word perfect explanation of the Second Degree Tracing Board in its extended form. The Candidates were also excellent and answered the questions put to them in a superb and confident fashion.

Once again, the younger members were involved in the proceedings at the Festive Board with Bro Chris Panteli giving the toast to Absent Brethren and Bro John Phillips giving the toast to our visitors taking about how he had recently visited another lodge for the first time – the Magna Carta Lodge No. 8017 in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk which was his late Grandfather’s Lodge. The Lodge was very pleased to welcome WBro Gerry Kelly, father of Bro James Kelly, who had driven up from Kent to support his son on this special occasion.

A total of £113 was raised for the Master’s charity, the Harley Staples Cancer Trust.

AMULL generously aids University student member to study return

Bro Mike Perrin, a Freemason and member of the Wyggeston Lodge meeting in Leicester, was diagnosed with recurrent colonic cancer in January 2015 during his first year of studying for a MPhil in Archaeology at the University of Oxford.

This was obviously devastating news to receive and he immediately sought to personally pay for his treatment in Japan where he is a part-time teacher. He underwent successful resection surgery but was unable to continue with his part time teaching work or his studies due to his 6 month convalescence period. Whilst the suspension of his studies was granted by the University for three terms, not being able to work has sadly left Bro Mike in financial hardship and unable to complete his studies.

When the Wyggeston Lodge joined the United Grand Lodge of England Universities Scheme it was keen to assist its’ student members in terms of any financial difficulties associated with their studies and therefore joined the Association of Medical, University and Legal Lodges (AMULL) as an Associate Lodge. One of AMULL’s key aims is to promote a bursary scheme to students of its’ Lodges. Through a relatively short period of time, AMULL kindly agreed to assist Bro Mike to the sum of £3,000 which will enable him to return to his studies at Oxford in January 2016.

At the recent AMULL Festival, held on 5th September 2015, which was hosted by the University of Chester Lodge No.7744 in Chester, the President of the Association, RWBro David Williamson Past Assistant Grand Master, who is also the President of the Universities Scheme, presented an offer letter to the Secretary of the Lodge, WBro Andy Green, on behalf of Bro Mike who currently remains in Japan. He said “Benevolence is a fundamental principle of Freemasonry and I’m delighted that AMULL have been able to assist our member Bro Mike in returning to his studies. I would like to thank all of the AMULL Committee, particularly W.Bro. Jeff Bennett, for all their help.”

WBro Andy Green receiving the grant award from RWBro David Williamson, AMULL President
WBro Andy Green receiving the grant award from RWBro David Williamson, AMULL President

Upon receiving the grant from AMULL, Bro Mike said “I wish I knew how to express the gratitude. I’ve started my Hilary Term reading list and hope to be ready to resume studies in January.”