Wyggeston Lodge members make annual trip to Yorkshire

Last Friday several members of the Wyggeston Lodge made their annual trip to Royal Yorkshire Lodge No.265 in the province of Yorkshire West Riding, a trip that has become a favoured annual tradition.

Our own treasurer and Tyler, W.Bro Peter Clarke, is a long standing member of the Royal Yorkshire Lodge No.265 after having joined following his relocation to his home town. During the meeting he was appointed treasurer of the lodge and ensured all members of the Wyggeston Lodge had an enjoyable time. W.Bro Peter also dazzled the brethren with a beautiful rendition of the masters song for thee newly installed worshipful master.

The business of the evening was to install Bro. Simon Shenton as Master and to celebrate the festival of St John the Evangelist who is also the Patron Saint of Freemasonry. The immediate last master, W.Bro David A. Key was also given a past masters jewel by his grandfather, W.Bro. David J Key, a moment he well never forget.

W. Bro David A.Key returning a firing glass to our IPM

The evening ended with a fantastic festiveboard where all brethren shared good humour and camaraderie.

W.Bro Robert Cole, Assistant Provincial Grand Master in Yorkshire West Riding, and father of our very own Jumior Deaxon, Bro Thomas Coke, gave a great toast to end the evening and even returned another of our firing glasses!

Finally, the evening was truly enjoyed by all who attended and we look forward to attending again soon.

New initiate receives a wonderful surprise

Last night the Wyggeston Lodge initiated Bro Joshua Bhanja into the Wyggeston Lodge. Bro Bhanja is a Physics student at the University of Leicester who found us through the Freemasons Society. He also attended our blue table night in October where he was warmly welcomed.

Whilst someone’s initiation into freemasonry is always a special night, Bro Bhanja’s was especially special and will surely never be forgotten.

Unbeknownst to him, his father who had secretly travelled all the way from Hong Kong, was sat before him. Bro Alexi Bhanja, a member of Lodge Erin No.463 of the Provincial Grand Lodge of the Far East under the Irish Constitution, was very pleased to see his son initiated into Freemasonry, and no doubt Bro Bhanja was extremely pleased to see his father.

The ceremony went brilliantly with all members performing excellent ritual, and with Bro Bhanja being a fantastic and enthusiastic candidate. We look forward to his journey through freemasonry.

Wyggeston Lodge raises £130 for Open Hands charity

Bro Joseph Mcbride, the hardworking volunteering coordinator of the Wyggeston Lodge, has raised an amazing donation for the Christmas Collection for a local food bank.

Over the last few weeks and months, Bro McBride and other members of the lodge have given their time at the food bank to ensure those most at need have access to a hot meal and a friend. Bro McBride especially has taken it upon himself to ensure we work hard for this good cause.

As part of the Christmas collection, Bro McBride collected items to donate to Open Hands and accepted any other donations from the lodge. Bro McBride was successful in raising £130 for the Open Hands charity and collecting an impressive haul ready for the collection.

Bro McBride said this about the wonderful cause :

“I just want to thank you all for your donations for OpenHands. In total we raised £130, I’ll be dropping off the haul to OpenHands on Monday hopefully. Again, thank you all very much!”

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.