FOREST VILLAGES LODGE No. 9405 MASONIC HALL, BROCKENHURST Consecrated 11 March 1991 A POCKET HISTORY TO CELEBRATE 25 YEARS AT 22 March 2016 By Founder Member and Past Master W. Bro. K. G. Warren PPGSuptWks CONTENTS Foreword The Founding and Consecration Early Years at Lymington Relocation to Brockenhurst Offices & Officers 1991 to 2016
Foreword In early 1989, three Masons were engaged in casual conversation, namely: W. Bro. Don Haysom PPAGDC, a member of New Forest Lodge No. 319 (Hants), W. Bro. Jack Dingley PPAGReg, a member of New Forest Lodge No. 319 (Hants), W. Bro. Robert Adlington a member of Durolitum Lodge No. 5613 (Essex). The conversation gained somewhat serious interest when these three hinted at the possibility of forming a lodge where candidates could be guided towards Mastership, particularly when New Forest Lodge No. 319 and Lodge of Unity No. 132 (the two mother lodges of founding members) had long waiting lists for new members to progress. Rumour has it, that W. Bro. Geoff Tuck, a prominent Grand Officer, influenced the founding Director of Ceremonies and Assistant Director of Ceremonies to adopt Taylors Ritual. These three Masons made a point of sounding out other friendly brethren of local lodges to form a steering committee with the aim of petitioning Provincial Grand Lodge for a warrant to form a new lodge. With the assistance of New Forest Lodge No. 319 as the sponsoring lodge, the name Forest Villages No. 9405 was duly approved. The record in order of Founding members is as follows: J. Dingley, J. F. Holden, C. J. Surrey, C. G. Saxton, A. J. Stafford, J. C. K. Scardifield, D. P. Brown, R. S. Adlington, J. W. T. Saunders, E. T. Steer, S. F. Lineker, A. H. J. Brown, J. G. B. Dunford, M. F. Rickman, A. J Gay, A. G. Robinson, D. Cook, D. G. Haysom, W. O. Jones, M. Rowden, K. A. Dunn-Hardiman, R. W. King, K. G. Warren, A. H. Broomfield, A. M. McNiven, R. G. Gibbins, E. H. Nineham, W. E. Ireland, J. T. Farrington, J. J. Grimshaw, R. A. Penny, G. A. Skivington, R. K. Mabey, A. J. Whiting. The Consecration Ceremony took place on 11 March 1991 in the dining hall of Lymington Masonic Centre. The Provincial Grand Master J. E. Bullen and Deputy Provincial Grand Master A. Chun, aided by Assistant Provincial Grand Masters, R. McGarrel Groves, A. Callaway, F. R. Moss, R. Mills-Goodlet, R. Atkins and R. Champion conducted the ceremony. The first regular meeting followed in the Temple with Past Master W. Bro. R. Adlington in the Masters Chair to open the lodge and appoint the first Worshipful Master W. Bro. Jack Dingley. W. Bro. Jack then proceeded to appoint his officers: Senior Warden J. F. Holden, Junior Warden C. J. Surrey, Chaplain M. F. Rickman, Treasurer D. G. Haysom, Secretary W. E. Ireland, Director of Ceremonies R. G. Gibbins, Senior Deacon C. G Saxton, Junior Deacon A. J. Stafford, Charity Steward R. A. Penny, Almoner E. H. Nineham, Assistant Director of Ceremonies J. J. Grimshaw, Asst Secretary G. A. Skivington, Inner Guard J. C. K. Scardifield, Stewards R. W. King, A. J. Gay, A. H. Broomfield, A. J. Whiting, S. F. Lineker, K. G. Warren, Tyler J. G. B. Dunford and Hon Organist D. E. Swane.
Early Years at Lymington 1991 Worshipful Master J. Dingley Initiates Mr D. C. Murphy, Mr B. G. Humphrey, Capt. M J. Elstub, Mr K. Mabey. Also welcomed as joining members were Bro. V. D. Champion, Bro. S. J Bundy, W. Bro. E. L. French, W. Bro. A. J. Havelock, W. Bro. P. Scriven and W. Bro. A. F. Groome. In December, the Provincial Grand Master R.W. Bro. Alan D Chun MBE and Provincial Chaplain V.W. Bro. Revd Dr Michael Morgan dedicated the Lodge Banner with W. Bro. Henry Gray, the designer explaining its symbolic significance. 1992 Worshipful Master J. F. Holden Initiates Mr P. E. Luke and Mr C. J. Hallett. Joining members W. Bro. G. R. Davies and W. Bro. R. E. Tallett. 1993 Worshipful Master C. J. Surrey Initiates Mr R. W Gentle, Mr G. C. S. Campbell. 1994 Worshipful Master C. G. Saxton Initiates Mr G. A. Richmond, Mr G. A. Flood. 1995 Worshipful Master J. C. K. Scardifield Initiate Mr D. P. Fairclough and joining member W. Bro. G. R. Dack. 1996 Worshipful Master A. J. Gay Initiate Mr D. J. Lupton and joining member W. Bro. K. W. Bowey. 1997 Worshipful Master K. G. Warren Initiates Mr M. J. Shepherd, Mr A. C. Robinson and Mr R. D. Eady. 1998 Worshipful Master K. Mabey Initiate Mr S. P. Barrett. 1999 Worshipful Master D. G. Haysom Initiate Mr J. J. Wilson. During that year, the lodge received an official visit from Assistant Provincial Grand Master W. Bro. G. Davies. 2000 Worshipful Master R. A. Penny joining member Bro. M. J. Steven. 2001 Worshipful Master R. W. Gentle joining member W. Bro. D. L. Rump, Bro. D Dunsire, W. Bro. T. R. Brockbank. The Provincial Junior Grand Warden W. Bro. A. G. Newing made an official visit. 2002 Worshipful Master K. W. Bowey joining members Bro. M. Palmer and Bro. S. W. Ferguson. 2003 Worshipful Master D. P. Fairclough. 2004 Worshipful Master T. R. Brockbank Initiate Mr M. C. J. Cox and joining members W. Bro. Sir V. Salem and Bro. R. M. Johnson. 2005 Worshipful Master R. W. Gentle This year saw the number of meetings reduced to five. A significant ballot took place in October for the lodge to relocate to Brockenhurst Masonic Centre in January 2007 as the tenure of the Lymington meeting place was becoming too expensive, especially when the lodge was expected to pay an exorbitant lump sum capitation, without any equity in the premises. This payment was to pay for building/kitchen refurbishment, which the owners had failed to provide for during the many years of their occupancy. The amount 6k requested by the Lymington premises owners was paid up front by our lodge, whereas other lodges were only prepared to make loans or terms for scheduled repayments. The members agreed on the move and qualified by the Worshipful Master.
2006 Worshipful Master Sir Victor Salem. W. Bros D. Haysom and K. W. Bowey, ably assisted by many members to accommodate our chattels, carried out negotiations including physical reorganisations with the Brockenhurst management. The final Lymington meeting took place 18 December 2006. Our Masters Board was relocated to the Temple Room at Brockenhurst. The experience of events at Lymington encouraged our members to support and maintain a Building Fund within the lodge accounts to cover any future unforeseeable circumstances that may occur. The members settled in very well and soon overcome any trepidation with several new memberships. Apart from the few members living close to Lymington the travel and parking at Brockenhurst was very convenient. New Beginning at Brockenhurst. 2007 Worshipful Master Sir Victor Salem held the first regular meeting at Brockenhurst on 26 February 2007. 2008 Worshipful Master W. Bro. D. P. Brown Initiate Mr J. Field and joining member W. Bro. A. Clark. 2009 Worshipful Master Bro. A. C. Robinson Initiate Mr C. Mitchell and joining member W. Bro. B. Barnard. Also during that year, the Provincial Junior Grand Warden W. Bro. K. J. C. Day honoured the lodge with an official visit. 2010 Worshipful Master W. Bro. W. O. Jones Initiate Mr T Tuzyna and joining member W. Bro. L. G. Copperi. Also during that year, the Provincial Grand Master R. W. Bro. M. J. Wilks honoured the lodge with an official visit. 2011 Worshipful Master W. Bro. M. Rickman Initiate Mr T. J. Holden and joining member Bro. S. P. House. 2012 Worshipful Master W. Bro. A. H. Broomfield Initiate Mr R. Kennard and joining member W. Bro. A. Barrett. 2013 Worshipful Master Bro. G. Cooper joining member Bro. I. D. Warburton. 2014 Worshipful Master W. Bro. A. Barrett (a PPAGM Andalucía Spain) Initiates Mr G. Short, Mr J. R. Wardle and joining member W. Bro. K. Pawson. 2015 Worshipful Master Bro. I. D. Warburton We are now in the tenth year of meeting at Brockenhurst where there is a comfortable bond within the membership, which is borne out in the extraordinary 90% regular attendance. Even at General Purpose s meetings, there is strong support by most of the Past Masters of the Lodge. In comparison, the earlier 15 years at Lymington were not such togetherness as we now enjoy.
Working Taylors Ritual has created much interest from visitors and new joining members, this, of course, has led to the occasionally lapsing into Emulation Ritual creating convivial festive board discussions. Officers of The Lodge for 2016: Immediate Past Master W. Bro. A. Barrett Assistant Provincial Grand Master, Spain Worshipful Master I. D. Warburton. Senior Warden W. Bro. I. Pawson PPSGD Worcs Junior Warden W. Bro. R. W. Gentle PPDepGSuptWks Chaplain W. Bro. A. A. Clark PPG.Std.B Treasurer W. Bro. A. C. Robinson Secretary W. Bro. B. Barnard PPGSwdB Director of Ceremonies W. Bro. A. Broomfield PPDepGReg Almoner W. Bro. R. W. Gentle PPDepGSuptWks Charity Steward W. Bro. K. G. Warren PPGSuptWks Mentor W. Bro. M. Rickman PPJGW Senior Deacon W. Bro. T. R. Brockbank PPG StdB Junior Deacon Bro. R. Kennard Asst Director of Ceremonies W. Bro. C. Saxton PPSGD Organist W. Bro. K. Evans PPGOrg Bucks Asst Secretary W. Bro. K. W. Bowey PPSGD, PPGSuptWks Surrey Inner Guard Bro. G. Short Tyler W. Bro. D. Rogers PPDepGSwdB Edited by W. Bro. Brian Crane, PPAGDC to Oxford and Ars Quatuor Coronatorum Style Guides June 2016.