[tribulant_slideshow gallery_id=”13″]For the 6th year running, a few North Harrow Lodge members gathered for their annual sailing weekend  at Hamble Point Marina on a Friday afternoon in July where we had arranged the charter of  “Tenacious” an almost new 34′ Hanse Yacht . With a slightly reduced crew this year, this yacht was a perfect size for the trip, with mod cons like a self tacking headsail so the winches were not always needed and spacious sleeping and living accommodation. Pure luxury for us city salts.

The next morning, the weather conditions were not entirely in our favour with persistent rain forecast, so after a hearty cooked breakfast of sausage, bacon, egg, beans and black pudding, we hoisted our Middlesex Masonic Flag and burgees of the East India, R.A.F and City Livery Sailing Clubs and ventured down the Hamble on a full stomach and into the Solent, enjoying a great sail never the less and reaching Yarmouth Marina in the afternoon, securing a mooring on the town quay and a well earned rest.

We decided that the best option for the evening was to venture into town and sample the delights of the island, rather than be subjected to more cooking from the ship’s cook and ended up in the local hostelry enjoying a lovely dinner and consuming several glasses of Fuggles.

On Sunday morning we were greeted with glorious sunshine and great conditions for sailing. How wrong we were !!

The Solent has its own micro climate and what you see can change in minutes and it did. Half an hour after clearing the harbour the skies darkened and we prepared to don our wet gear just in time for torrential storm.  The wind was definitely in our favour even if the rain wasn’t. But we arrived back safely back in the Hamble later that afternoon and made our separate ways home with stories of high seas, serpents and pirates. Almost as good as any fisherman’s tale. Already looking forward to next year’s trip.

A final thanks must again go to our Skipper and Lodge Mentor Vaughan Coleridge-Matthews for organising and getting us out and back safely. 5*****

Like most Lodges, we have always regarded our meetings as being special and the culmination of hours and sometimes days of hard work put in by the members at the weekly or fortnightly L.O.I’s. But once in a while one comes along that has to be acknowledged as exceptional. Last night was one of those meetings.

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Last night we performed a Third Degree ceremony for our youngest member, who was initiated in January and had only recently turned 22 years old. I could only imagine how nervous he must have felt not knowing what was in store for the next couple of hours. However, the ceremony was pure theatre with ten brethren seamlessly appearing and disappearing in the gloom of that glimmering ray, delivering some of the best and heartfelt ritual I have heard in many a year, remembering that most of these guys have only been in Freemasonry for a short amount of time, which showed their commitment and love of North Harrow Lodge and the craft in general.

The Festive board was also no exception, Great food, fellowship, fun and a fitting end to the last Lodge meeting of the season. we now can look forward to the activities and events that we have in store for the summer and of course a new Master taking the chair in October. Why not book your place now and come join the fun.

Onward and upward……..

The Middlesex 2020 Festival in support of the Royal Masonic Trust for Girls and Boys

has now been running for less than 2 years and already the members of our great Lodge have pledged in excess of £17,000 in those years, enabling us to achieve the honorific status of Grand Steward of the RMTGB 2020 Festival and are now less than £2,000 away from achieving Grand Vice-Patron 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 #charity #Whatwedobest

Really proud of you guys !!

Give yourselves a pat on the back 🖐🖐

The  Festival as a whole has reached over £2m in two years

Each year the RMTGB supports around 2000 children of the Masonic family

in many different ways to ensure they can reach their potential, despite the tragedy they have often faced during their young lives.

It is important to emphasise that in the first instance the RMTGB is a poverty charity, not an educational charity. It exists to ensure that poverty, which has arisen due to a distress, does not impact on a child’s welfare and education.

In recent years there have been an increasing number of applications that have been accepted and as this trend looks likely to continue The 2020 Festival appeal is vital.

In addition, the RMTGB provides support to around 10,000 children who have no connection to Freemasonry, but are educationally disadvantaged.

As for Middlesex, during the past five years, the RMTGB has supported 34 young people in the Province at a cost of £524,037.

The Provincial Grand Master, the Provincial Executives (Craft and Royal Arch), the RMTGB and more importantly the thousands of disadvantaged children who never had the chances in life that most of us had, thank you in advance for your support of The 2020 Festival.

Another great meeting takes us into 2017

We moved into 2017 with another on the 20th January which was special as we initiated another young member into North Harrow Lodge. At 21 years of age Bro Aiedan has become the youngest member to join us, again increasing the membership of the Lodge to over 40 and reducing the average age of the Lodge down well below the Provincial average at 47 thus helping us to be among the strongest and proactive Lodges in Middlesex.

Our new Worshipful Master

W.Bro Rimal had the pleasure of conducting his first initiation ceremony in front of almost 40 members and visitors including our VO on his official visit who also presented our initiate, Bro Aiedan with a copy of the Charge and a personal letter of welcome from our APGM.. Another achievement which is becoming a rarity among Lodges is that for the first time in many years all our offices from Worshipful Master down to the last of nine Stewards are now ALL Light Blues.

Our last three initiates

Our last three initiates have been under 32 years of age which is encouraging news for the longevity of the Lodge as we continue to move forward with another initiation and passing at our next meeting on 10th March. We look forward to welcoming you to one of our meetings

Why not come to the Provincial Service of Thanksgiving ?

The Service will be held at the Cathedral and Abbey Church of St Alban, located in the centre of St Albans on Sunday 6th November, 2016 commencing at 3 pm. It is the Pro Provincial Grand Master’s wish that all brethren are encouraged to attend this most important occasion in the Provincial Masonic year, and I am sure that you and your families will wish to be present.
Brethren attending the Service should wear Craft regalia (full dress if possible), Provincial tie (no gloves). As there are no changing facilities, they are advised to carry their regalia in a small bag and robe on entering the Cathedral.  The Provincial Service is an event of great enjoyment, being a mixture of celebration, pageantry, an interesting speaker, wonderful music and singing; and as always we warmly welcome our ladies, partners, family members and non-masonic friends.
There is no car parking at the Cathedral, however, there are car parks in the town within a reasonable walking distance, and brethren are advised to use these where possible. Street parking is also possible in some areas.  There will be a limited area available for disabled Brethren and such requests should be made directly to  Mike Karn as soon as possible. Please also inform me should anyone require wheelchair access in the Cathedral. No tickets will be issued as Brethren may sit in any part of the Cathedral other than a reserved section. Parking is free on Sundays in the London Road Car Park. For those using public transport there is a British Rail service to St Albans Abbey Station from Watford Central and a direct service to St Albans station from St Pancras.

Further details can be obtained from The Provincial Website  including a booking form if you wish to dine afterwards