Wyggeston Lodge installs 113th Worshipful Master

Last night on Friday 15th November, the Wyggeston Lodge was delighted to install W.Bro Chris Panteli as its 113th worshipful Master.

W.Bro Chris Panteli was initiated into Freemasonry in 2012 and has become not only a renowned member of the lodge; also a well liked and respected Mason within the province. He is also the 4th Universities Scheme initiate to go through the chair.

Coming from a military background, the camaraderie that Freemasons brings is a natural fit for W.Bro Chris. Having also spent his time devoted to charitable causes such as the Tercentenary Cycle Ride and the Marching Masons!

Aside from his charitable work, W.Bro Chris also organises a weekly Sunday morning walk as a great way for members to socialise outside of the lodge. W. Bro is also a keen beekeeper and kindly gave each visitor a jar oh his homemade honey!

The ceremony oh his installation was a wonderful event visited by over 50 members hailing all the way from Yorkshire West Riding, Nottingham, and Loughborough!

The Brethren were treated to a delicious three course meal, a visit from the Provincial Grand Master of Leicester & Rutland, as well as a gorgeous bottle of port and a wonderful rendition of of the Masters Song by W.Bro Peter Clarke

We wish W.Bro Chris all the best in his year ahead in the chair.

Wyggeston lodge challenges scheme lodges to claim the loving cup!

The members of the Wyggeston Lodge have issued an open challenge to other Universities Scheme Lodges to come and claim the David Kenneth Williamson cup, also known as the loving cup, or the DKW cup

Having claimed it in May earlier this year in a visit to Hartington Lodge No. 1085, the Wyggeston Lodgr now challenges other universities scheme lodges to try and claim in the file of encouraging more inter lodge visiting.

The DKW cup was first presented to the Universities Scheme by RW Bro. David Kenneth Williamson PAGM, Founder President of the Universities Scheme, on his retirement. The purpose of the cup is to encourage visiting between Universities Scheme Lodges with friendly competition. Any universities scheme lodge can claim the cup from another when visiting, provided there are four or more members present when visiting.

The next meeting of the Wyggeston Lodge is in the 15th November 2024 where we hope to see many other lodge scheme members present!

Universities Scheme initiate becomes regional Representative

The Wyggeston Lodge are extremely proud to say that the Worshipful Master, W.Brother Simon Walmsley, has been appointed as the UGLE Universities Scheme representative for the East Midlands.

Joining the lodge in 2015 as a student at the University of Leicester and now the current Worshipful Master of the lodge, W.Bro Simon has been a valued and trusted member of the lodge for nearly a decade.

W.Brother Simon had this to say about the appointment:

“As a university scheme initiate, I’m honoured to be chosen as regional representative and look forward to carrying on WBro Bill’s excellent work.”

We know that he will not only do the lodge proud, but also the province and county.

Wyggeston Lodge donates £611 to Sue Ryder Charity

The members of the Wyggeston Lodge have, through their charitable contributions and fundraising, successfully raised a staggering £611 for the Sue Ryder Charity.

The Sue Ryder charity provides support for those approaching the end of life or living with grief can access the support they need, having cares for over 8,700 people in their hospices and in their homes.

W. Bro Peter Clarke, the lodge treasurer, had this to say about the charity:

“The Sue Ryder foundation is a very worth while and deserving charity by providing palliative and end of life care to those who need it most. This is why I chose it as my Master’s charity and I was blown away by the generosity of the brethren who gave incredibly generously throughout my year as master.”

The Wyggeston Lodge are proud to raised so much for such a worthwhile cause and for such a hardworking charity.

Wyggeston Lodge makes charitable donation to the Wave Project

Helen Jones, wife our W.Bro Robert Jones, recently presented a certificate to the Wave Project on Towan Beach in Newquay for £1410 raised by the brethren of the Wyggeston Lodge, and matched in funding by the Province of Leicestershire and Rutland.

The Wave Project is a fantastic charity which transforms the lives of young people through surfing. Helping to empower them to build confidence, overcome anxiety, and to improve their wellbeing.

Thanks to the support of everyone, Helen exceeded her fundraising target of £6,000 and is now standing at 101% of target.

Helen has remarked “thanks to donations such as the one from the Freemasons. I am both delighted and amazed, so thank you again to everyone for their support.”

The next 6 months are an exciting time for Helen, which will be spent raising funds and continuing to volunteer for the charity, as well train for the momentous and incredible climb up Mount Kilimanjaro!

We at the Wyggeston Lodge wish Helen and Rob all the luck in the world and are so excited to see their journey.

Wyggeston members attend Lodge of Research for 250th anniversary

Earlier last month on the 2nd May, members of the Wyggeston Lodge 3448, as well as hundreds of members of the province from other lodges, were invited to a special meeting of the Lodge of Research No.2429.

This meeting coincided with the 250th anniversary since the formation of the Province of Leicestershire & Rutland, a great and momentous event in the Masonic Calender of the province.

The evening began with a fantastic opening by the lodge. Followed by three fascinating talks.

The first by W.Bro. Andrew R. Green PSGD was on The ‘First Provincial Grand Master of Leicestershire’, Col. Sir Thomas Fowke. This was followed by a talk by R.W.Bro. Peter C. Kinder, Provincial Grand Master of Leicestershire & Rutland, on ‘what provincial grandmasters did in the 18th century’. Finally the evening ended with a talk by W.Bro. Donald A. Peacock PJGD on ‘Masonry in Leicestershire in the 18th Century’.

The lodge and province was also honoured to welcome the Pro Grand Master, Jonathan Spence who was presented with gifts from the province by the provincial grand master.

It was a truly wonderful and memorable evening which was enjoyed by all who attended.

Wyggeston Lodge raises new Master Mason

Last Friday the Wyggeston Lodge raised Bro. Joseph McBride to the sublime degree of a Master Mason in a wonderful and uplifting ceremony.

At the last meeting of the Masonic season, attended by a good number of members and guests of the lodge, Bro McBride took the third regular step in his Masonic journey.

With various members of the lodge taking part in the ceremony, sharing ritual and performing to the highest of standards. Especially the traditional history as performed by W.Bro Robert Jones, the ceremony went smoothly and was culminated with a proper closing in the third degree which was enjoyed by all.

At the festive board which was enjoyed by all, the Worshipful Master, W.Bro Simon Walmsley, presented Bro Joseph McBride with his ritual book remarking on the journey he had made.

Bro Joseph remarked on the evening saying “I feel so touched to be so warmly and heartily welcomed into Freemasonry”.

We all wish Bro McBride a wonderful summer and an exciting future ahead in Freemasonry.

Wyggeston lodge donate Easter Eggs to foodbank

Back in Easter earlier this year, the Wyggeston Lodge once again volunteered at the Open Hands Charity helping those in need and serving them a hot meal

This time, to give a little extra and show love to those in need, the charity collected Easter Eggs which were lovingly donated by the Wyggeston Lodge. W.Bro Andy Green dropped off a large donation of chocolate Easter eggs to Open Hands where it said that they were warmly and welcomed received.

Wyggeston Lodge welcome new initiate

At our March meeting, the Wyggeston Lodge were pleased to initiate Bro Alexander Jankowski into the fraternity.

Being a postgraduate student at the University of Leicester, Alexander joined us through the Universities Scheme and has already been made to feel extremely welcome within the lodge.

The ceremony of initiation went extremely well with Bro Alex saying that “it was a wonderful and unforgettable experience”.

The meeting was followed by a wonderful festive board where other brothers who recently came through the Universities Scheme came Roger for a wonderful photo.

We are looking forward to seeing Alex progress and wish him the best of luck on his Masonic journey.

Wyggeston Lodge conducts quadruple initiation

At the Christmas meeting of the Wyggeston Lodge on 15th December, the brethren of the Wyggeston lodge celebrated their Christmas meeting with a wonderful quadruple initiation ceremony.

Four students from the University of Leicester who found us through the freshers fair, and attended our blue table dinner in October were welcomed into the fraternity in a wonderful ceremony.

With the help of our two deacons, and the assistance of two assistant deacons, the initiates were treated to a fantastic ceremony which was witnessed by guests and visitors from all over the province and beyond.

The evening ended with a superb Christmas dinner at the festive board, complete with a carol sessions which is always a good time. The lodge also raised an amazing £57.50 for the almoners fund and £185 on the raffle.

We wish our newly initiated brethren many wonderful years in the fraternity.