Jimmy and his twin brother, John, (who is now living in Scotland), were born in Egypt where his father was serving with the British Army.   On the family’s return to the UK  in 1927 they settled for a couple of years in Newport, South Wales before relocating back to Edinburgh in 1929.   After completing his education Jimmy was called up for military service in 1941 and served for a short time with the RAF before being transferred to the Army.   During WW2 he served in different parts of the UK on anti-aircraft  and searchlight crews protecting the UK against enemy aircraft.   After being discharged from military service in 1946, Jimmy served in the Civil Service until his retirement in 1982 working in what was then called the Ministry of Supply

Jimmy was Initiated in Scots Lodge in January 1954 and was active in that Lodge and in the Scots Chapter and Mark Lodges reaching Grand Rank in all three degrees.   In the Craft he was promoted to Past Grand Rank in 1986 and later promoted to the active rank of Junior Grand Deacon in 1994.  For many years he was also a member and regular attender at meetings of the Duke of Edinburgh Lodge No. 1259 and helped to restore the Lodge to the thriving position it enjoys today in recognition of which Jimmy was made an Honorary Member.  The Lodge which is one of the few daytime Lodges in London (further information on the Lodge can be found here) was represented by its Almoner (W Bro John Fetterroll and his wife Frances) and the Lodge Assistant Secretary, W Bro Dennis Brown, who were delighted to be in attendance.

Pictured below – Jimmy at Kathleen Godfree Court recently where he spoke very eloquently in reply to the toast to him.

The successful applicant will have a proven record of most of the following skills:

•                      Leadership in the workplace
•                      Human Resource management
•                      Business organisation, management and financial Management
•                      Development and delivery of Information Technology projects in support of a membership organisation
•                      Good oral and written communication skills
•                      Good knowledge of data collection and management
•                      Masonic knowledge (Craft and Royal Arch) of Rules, Regulations and Protocols.
•                      Disciplinary and legal resolution practices
•                      Diplomacy
•                      Availability to work extended hours to represent MetGL/C in ceremonial settings local, provincial and national.
•                      Secretarial and Scribe E experience.

If this is you, please email with a CV and a covering letter to apply for the position. If selected for a first interview you will be provided with a summary of the role and responsibilities in advance.

Closing date for applications: Mon 6 June 2022

Do you wish to see your Lodge in the next Craft Digest?

It is very easy: send a couple of lines and 2-3 high-res photos (min 1MB) to about what is happening in your Lodge for a chance to appear in the next edition.

On Thursday 25^th February, Bloomsbury Rifles Lodge No 2362 met for the first time at a white table meeting in their new home at Mark Masons Hall.  This was an excellent opportunity not only to meet friends and family, but also to introduce prospective candidates to the Lodge. Captain Janet Collett, Adjutant, Middlesex and North West London ACF and Stephen Wheatley, Volunteer Crew Member at RNLI Tower Bridge (pictured with the WM Adrian Hodgson) gave a presentation on how the funds raised by the Lodge for their respective charities are used. Janet explained how the Lodges long standing support for the Army Cadets helps children from the inner Boroughs of London gain confidence to handle life and Stephen explained that Tower station is manned 24hrs a day and has conducted over 7500 operations since the station opened (about 2 launches per day). The current station is over 160 years old and the Lodge’s support goes towards its replacement.

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3. On Friday 21^st January, Lodge of Happiness No 5353 met once again, and the Collins clan where in evidence! Bros Christopher and Michael Collins were Passed to the Second Degree, after which Bro Chris Pratt, son-in-law of Bro Paul Collins was Initiated. Altogether, the Lodge now counts 8 members of the same family, 6 of whom have been initiated since the start of 2020.

4. Top row: Bro Mark and his two sons, Christopher and Michael

5. Bottom row: Mark’s brother Paul with his son Steve, his son-in-law Chris. And Steve’s cousin Tim with his son Josh.

4. The Lodge of Stability No 217 has held its 225th year anniversary meeting in March 2022 at Freemasons’ Hall.

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7. W Bro Jon Randall, Metropolitan Grand Inspector and his escort W Bro Snapford visited Cannon Lodge No 1539 in January when Bros P John and J Eccles were passed to fellowcraft in a double ceremony at Freemasons’ Hall. A successful festive board followed, held in the main building.

5. For the brethren of Rye Lodge No 2272 and their guests, the 22^nd November 2021 saw a special meeting. The main business of the day was the presentation of a sixty year certificate to W Bro Stuart Curson, one year late because of Covid. The Worshipful Master, his Officers and Bro Stuart were piped into the Lodge by Pipe Major, W Bro Michael Shanahan, a Chelsea Pensioner. As it was also the Armistice meeting, it was preceded by a eulogy for the fallen given by W Bro John Spencer, a guest, and W Bro Roger Davis. Then, the 60^th Certificate was presented by VW Bro Robert Grant PGSwdB, Assistant Metropolitan Grand Master, in an exemplary manner. Having painstakingly gathered sufficient background information from Lodge members and his family, Bro Grant highlighted Bro Stuarts’ life inside as well as outside Freemasonry. Following this, Bro Stuart, helped by the Lodge charity steward, W Bro Roger Davis, presented Bro Grant with a cheque for £3,000 for Lifelites children’s charity.
   The meeting was not over for Bro Stuart. W Bro Ray Pearson, a Chelsea Pensioner and a hobby potter, offered him a special ceramic Vase of Achievement. In turn, Bros Stuart and Roger gave Bro Ray a cheque for £500 made out to The Royal Chelsea Hospital.

6. The meeting and festive board were attended by forty-eight Freemasons, including several of Bro Stuarts’s closest Masonic friends.

5. Members of Ubique Lodge No 1789, the Lodge of the Royal Artillery, together with wives/partners and guests raised the sum of £6,000 at their annual Summer Ball held at the Union Jack Club, London in August 2020. The Worshipful Master of the Lodge, W Bro Jack Hargreaves MVO, nominated BLESMA, the UK’s leading charity for supporting limbless veteran's and their families, as the preferred charity for his year. The presentation of the cheque was made to the BLESMA representative W Bro Brian Chenier, following Ubique Lodge's October meeting when three new candidates were Initiated making a total of seven Initiates in 2021 following on from eighteen in 2019. There was a fallow year in 2020 due to covid. Ubique Lodge No 1789 is the Lodge for all ranks of the Royal Artillery and Royal Horse Artillery, regular or reserve, serving or former. Please contact Ubiquelodge@btinternet for more information.

5. Cathedral Lodge No 2741 was delighted to Initiate its newest and oldest Candidate, Kenneth Corbett, born in July 1934. With the kind agreement of the WM, W Bro Mark Bigam, Bro Ken was Initiated by his son-in-law and proposer, W Bro Damian Richards, at the Lodge meeting held in Great Queen Street on 19^th February 2022.

5. Papyrus Lodge No 2562 held its meeting on Monday 13^th December 2021 at Mark Masons’ Hall to celebrate 125 years since its consecration on 24^th June 1895 which passed during lockdown.

6. The ceremony was an initiation of Mr Mauro Bonivita and was also attended by the MetGInsp, W.Bro David Bailey PGSD, who presented the ’Initiate’s Guide’ to Bro Bonivita.

7. Also at the meeting the WM W Bro David Parish LGR presented the Metropolitan Grand Inspector with two donations to the Masonic Charitable Foundation of £1,250 each, one from Papyrus Lodge and the other in memory of his father W.Bro Keith Parish PAGDC and his Grandfather W.Bro James Parish both long serving members of Papyrus Lodge.

5. On 8^th of October 2021 the Old Foresters’ Lodge No 7726 was honoured with a visit from their Metropolitan Grand Inspector, W Bro Russell Sollof PSGD. Bro Russell came to present a 50-year certificate to W Bro David Tudor MBE, PJGD.

10. On Friday 25^th February, the Lodge of Constant Trust No 7347 had an official visit from the RW Assistant Grand Master to present a 50-year certificate to W Bro Michael Singleton PSGD. At the same meeting, the Lodge conducted an initiation.

10. On 21st January at the Old Colfeians Clubhouse, London SE12, Metropolitan Grand Inspector W Bro Tony Shepherd  PJGD paid a visit to Old Colfeians Lodge No 7412 to present W Bro John Nunn SLGR with a 50 Year Long Service Certificate. The packed temple room learned from the conversation between the two that Bro John had worked for the Ministry of Defence for over 35 years, based at Fort Halstead as a 'trials engineer' on weapons research and that Bro John had also spent his entire adult life dedicated to playing, supporting and administrating Rugby Union football, culminating in him being honoured as the first recipient of the Lifetime Award for services to Rugby Football presented to him at Twickenham Stadium. At the conclusion of the meeting, the very thirsty attendees retired to the Rugby Clubhouse bar before enjoying a Festive Board there, where the laughter and chat went deep into the evening.

10. More than eighty brethren were present in the Great Hall of St. Bartholomew’s Hospital to witness the installation of W Bro Carl Pendlebury as the Worshipful Master of Hornsey Lodge No 890 (the Escorting Officers Lodge). On the same occasion, W Bro Bryan Moore received a 50-Year certificate presented in a moving way by RW Bro Warren Duke, Metropolitan Deputy Grand Master, who along with his fellow Deputy Metropolitan Grand Master, RW Bro Christopher Hayward become honorary members of the Lodge.

11. It was a wonderful and memorable evening and those present enjoyed a champagne reception followed by a great festive board.

12. If you are or have been a Metropolitan Craft Escorting Officer and are interested in joining this special Lodge please contact the Membership Officer, W Bro Joseph Le-Roi Smith at

This article is part of the Arena Magazine, Issue 48 April 2022 edition.
Arena Magazine is the official magazine of the London Freemasons – Metropolitan Grand Lodge and Metropolitan Grand Chapter of London.

Read more articles in the Arena Issue 48 here.

As I write these words during the vernal equinox, it certainly feels that Spring is upon us and raring to escape from the shackles of the odd two years we have had to ride out. Perhaps the word of the season is endurance. From the Traditional History to a certain ship, even our recent experience of privations and, for many, personal losses, we Freemasons know a lot about endurance.

Earlier this year, I conducted a raising in my mother Lodge, a fitting ceremony for bearing hardship. We certainly felt it on the day. Although reaching a quorum, we were very short in numbers. The ceremony went well, thanks to my officers and, in particular, our secretary who doubled up as director of ceremonies, inner guard and then went on to deliver the charge. It is a feature of the times we are going through: we adapt as best we can to any circumstances we find.

And, in an exciting twist of fate, as we are rekindling our masonic flame, scientists have discovered the resting place of HMS Endurance. In 1915, the ship was crushed and sunk by the icy waters of Antarctica’s Weddell Sea during Shackleton’s attempt to cross the Antarctic. Bro Ernest Shackleton was initiated into Navy Lodge No 2612 in London on 9 July 1901. He was raised during an emergency meeting of Guild of Freemen Lodge No 3525 in 1911 and became an honorary member on 28 April 1914. A day close to me as I was born on 28 April.

Back to 2022. This edition starts by taking you to the MetGL annual meeting and investiture. It continues with our usual features, including RA and Craft digests, charity support, Leading Lights, Solomon and a brand-new column from the Met Almoner’s team. We shed some light on interesting Lodges and bring you close to their activity. Be ready to witness a gavel raid too!

As ever, if you want to be featured in one of our next editions, please get in touch at

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Now is a great time to get involved as we're about to update the design of Arena. We have a great opportunity for a graphic designer to join the core of the magazine’s team. 

For each edition, you would:

·      Design the page layouts for our digital and print publications
·      Provide typesetting to the standard required for high quality printing
·      Create original eye-catching featured articles
·      Participate in digital asset creation
·      Work closely with the Arena editorial team as well as with social media and website management teams

This is a voluntary position. Please contact us at  and share your portfolio.

After a sumptuous lunch, the brethren assembled once again in the Grand Temple, this time for the annual convocation of Metropolitan Grand Lodge.

The event started with a spectacular procession of current London Worshipful Masters. After the Metropolitan Grand Master was received into the Grand Temple, those present witnessed a second procession, this time of London Lodges’ banners.

The MetGM called-on Metropolitan Grand Lodge and proceeded with the formal business of the Annual Meeting.  Then followed the re-appointment, appointment and investiture of his officers for 2022-23. Among the many changes, the most notable are:

– RW Bro Michael Ward is stepping down from DepMetGM

• – Matthew Hampson is appointed DepMetGM.
• – Mark Horlock is appointed AsstMetGM

After extending a warm welcome to the many brethren that filled the Grand Temple, the Metropolitan Grand Master proceeded to address a few words to his retiring deputy, Michael Ward.

‘In excess of 16 years’ service in an active office must be some sort of record in the modern era, and Michael’s contribution has been nothing short of immense. Michael has been the architect of much-needed change, he is an innovator, a leader extraordinaire, and has been at the heart of a plethora of initiatives right across London Freemasonry.

There is absolutely no doubt that London Freemasonry owes him a huge debt of gratitude. We are sorry to be losing such a talent, but his ongoing work with Grand Lodge will still be very much to our benefit. Michael, we thank you most sincerely for all that you have done over many, many years.’

Words that unsurprisingly were followed by an uproar of applause from each and every brother present.  Similarly, there was applause acknowledging the contribution that has been made by the retiring Inspectors.

The Metropolitan Grand Master then acknowledged once more the amazing work that so many Lodges and individual brothers have continuously undertaken throughout the pandemic to help others pull through such extraordinarily difficult times. But at the same time, he reminded us all to remain both vigilant and considerate.

‘I have also been greatly encouraged by the enthusiasm of so many Lodges in regard to the resumption of meetings, utilising the dispensations process to hold additional “Emergency” meetings and adjust dates and meeting places to suit members, all with the aim of clearing the significant backlog of work that has accumulated over the past year. However, we also need to acknowledge that, as the pandemic recedes, we are not yet out of the woods. We must ensure that our love of freemasonry does not contribute in any small way to a resurgence of the virus, while affording a compassionate view toward those who, for whatever reason, remain reluctant to return to Central London for the time being.‘

Finally, he noted the ameliorating public perception of all that we do, thanks to freemasons’ direct support during the pandemic, improving media coverage of events such as the Lord Mayor’s Show, and various direct contributions to the London Air Ambulance and London Fire Brigade. The next scheme from London Freemasons’ Charity is that they have set aside £150,000 of matched funding for charities that benefit London or Londoners. Lodges and Chapters will be able to apply for funding between £200 and £1000 to match their own contribution.

The concluding words from our Metropolitan Grand Master offer an inspiring message of pride and openness for who we are and what we do:

‘The future of freemasonry in London continues to shine brightly, but it needs each and every one of us to be an ambassador; to talk freely and openly, to explain why we are proud to be freemasons and promote the force for good that we are.’

Following the charitable collection, Metropolitan Grand Lodge was closed in due form, and the National Anthem was sung before the MetGM and MetGL officers retired.

This article is part of the Arena Magazine, Issue 48 April 2022 edition.
Arena Magazine is the official magazine of the London Freemasons – Metropolitan Grand Lodge and Metropolitan Grand Chapter of London.

Read more articles in the Arena Issue 48 here.

Without going into the details, we are all aware that, at the time of writing this article, a humanitarian crisis is taking place in Europe. Many brethren will have responded in whichever way they can. Today, we hear from the secretary of The Polytechnic Lodge No 2847, W Bro Ronald A. Wainer SLGR, on how they decided to join the emergency efforts.

On the morning of Tuesday 8th March, Bro Ronald mentioned to members of The Polytechnic Lodge that his Parish Priest, Fr. Eduard Fartan from The Holy Family Church in Benfleet, had arranged with a good number of volunteers, members of his Parish who have a van, to drive emergency provisions to the borders of Ukraine and Romania. These provisions included donations of essential items to refugee women, children, and babies. The convoy of vans was due to leave Benfleet within less than a week as the need was urgent. The Church was making a plea for donations of warm clothing, medication, toiletries and baby food.

At the other end of the line was a group of nuns who were going into Ukraine to retrieve sick hospitalised children, some of them cancer patients. Where and when possible, they would drive them out of Ukraine, sometimes under fire, to Romania for safety and to continue their treatment. These nuns were also assisting on the border with the distribution of donated goods.

Bro Ronald mentioned this to The Polytechnic Lodge’s members on their WhatsApp group chat on Tuesday 8^th March in the morning. Within less than 24 hours, the Lodge’s members, and even candidates in waiting, made personal donations amounting to £750. This amount enabled Bro Ronald and his wife to purchase 26 sack loads and four boxes full of essential items for those made homeless by the conflict.

The overall response to the appeal was staggering both in their scale and speed. Several boxes, filled with donations from The Polytechnic Lodge’s members, have joined many others. Altogether, 131 crate boxes commenced their journey to the Borders just five days after the first call for help. Freemasonry at its best. The members of The Polytechnic Lodge can be proud of their very generous donations made in a super quick time.

W Bro Michael Todd PSGD Met Grand Inspector expressed his admiration. ‘Throughout the pandemic, the overarching inspiration of Freemasonry must be the way it has stepped up and offered charity through money and personal efforts of the Lodges and their members.  I could not be more proud that one of my Inspectorate’s Lodges, The Polytechnic Lodge, who, during Covid, bought and supplied PPE in significant numbers and have now directly bought and arranged supply of urgent supplies for the Ukrainian Refugees. The Lodge and its members are a credit to Metropolitan Grand Lodge!’

A Lodge’s prospective candidate, still waiting to be interviewed by the Lodge, has donated £100 to the Romanian Cultural Community, who are purchasing emergency goods locally at the border with Ukraine.

As we were writing this article, and between two emails with the secretary to verify certain details, he informed Arena that there had been another donation of £30 toward the Ukraine appeal.

It seems that the steady flow is not slowing down any time soon. If you wish to contribute, please contact Arena (), who will provide the relevant details.

This article is part of the Arena Magazine, Issue 48 April 2022 edition.
Arena Magazine is the official magazine of the London Freemasons – Metropolitan Grand Lodge and Metropolitan Grand Chapter of London.

Read more articles in the Arena Issue 48 here.

It was in November 2019 when a group of Brazilian Freemasons turned an ambitious project into a reality. The United Arts Rifles Lodge No 3817, which was about to hand its warrant in, was rescued and taken over by 19 brethren from Brazil, some of whom had been initiated in Brazil, others on English shores.

Left to right: W Bro Anderson Martinez, WM of the United Arts Rifles Lodge No 3817, the Brazilian Lodge, W Bro Malcolm Williams, PPGSuptWks, the WM of Glevum Lodge No 7385 (Gloucestershire) and the R W Bro Aldo Coutinho, Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of the State of Rio Grande do Norte (GLERN), now a member of the United Arts Rifles Lodge on a fraternal

Since then, and despite the pandemic, the Lodge has gone from strength to strength and has initiated ten brethren, including five on the same day. Thanks to the prominent work the Lodge has run during the pandemic, through online Masonic lectures in Portuguese, the Lodge has started making a name for itself in Brazil, and all its efforts have started to bear fruits. In February, the Lodge was honoured with the joining of three new brethren: one candidate and two joining members.

One of the joining members was none other than RW Bro Aldo Coutinho, Deputy Grand Master of the Grand Lodge of the State of Rio Grande do Norte (GLERN), who switched the canicular weather of northern Brazil for… well… the not-so-canicular wintery London. Once duly approved, a tearful Bro Coutinho shared that he had just realised a lifelong dream by becoming a member of United Grand Lodge of England, surrounded by Brazilian and British brethren who were all equally moved by such a beautiful moment.

The night finished with a very Brazilian Festive Board (unlimited meat, served on the skewer) and the promise of an even more memorable meetings, with 6 passings (yes, you read that right, SIX) in April and a multiple raising on 25^th June, a ceremony that will obviously be followed, once again, by a Brazilian Festive Board!

Interested visitors may enquire via  (limited spaces available)

This article is part of the Arena Magazine, Issue 48 April 2022 edition.
Arena Magazine is the official magazine of the London Freemasons – Metropolitan Grand Lodge and Metropolitan Grand Chapter of London.

Read more articles in the Arena Issue 48 here.

The Lodge of Remembrance No 4895 is regarded as modern and progressive despite having in the past been very traditional. The change has come about by successfully adopting the recommendations set out in initiatives such as Project Streamline and Members Pathway.

Encouragement of good fellowship, mutual respect and happy times are the philosophy. The Lodge understands that younger men have a different view of enjoyment to that of their grandfathers. Whilst strict observance of traditions is attractive to some, they may also bear less relevance to others. The approach and momentum were built on a single word mentioned by the Grand Secretary in Freemasonry Today magazine: ‘Change.’ As a result, in a brief period, the Lodge has grown from eighteen to thirty-one and has many others in the pipeline.

The Lodge evolved through several significant steps. At first, it abandoned committees and chose instead to involve all its members in every decision. Then, it streamlined aspects of the festive boards, reducing the part of the ritual and emphasising on fine Dining with minimal disruption. They switched to a long oval table as sprigs had, at times, proven divisive.

The membership is multicultural, interracial and diverse. It emanates from London, Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Oxfordshire, Essex, Northamptonshire, Hampshire, West Yorkshire, as well as Spain, Italy, Turkey, Lebanon, Uganda and Ghana. Ages range from 18 to 73, and occupations and professions across a wide spectrum.

Over the years, the Lodge has had a continuous connection with the Metropolitan Police. Many current and former officers are members. In memory of military and civilian police and others who have given their lives in the service of their country, each Initiate and joining member is presented with a pair of ‘Poppy Red Socks’ to wear at Lodge meetings. This tradition keeps the memory perpetual rather than restricted to the eleventh of November.

The Lodge’s logo features a lighthouse. In the stormy seas of life, the Lodge as a lighthouse represents a landmark, ancient, historical and perpetual, established on a sure and solid foundation, giving light to those in darkness, guidance to those who seek it and is symbolical of Wisdom, Strength and Stability.

Visit them at www.lodgeofremembrance.com

This article is part of the Arena Magazine, Issue 48 April 2022 edition.
Arena Magazine is the official magazine of the London Freemasons – Metropolitan Grand Lodge and Metropolitan Grand Chapter of London.

Read more articles in the Arena Issue 48 here.

Bro Freddie was initiated into the Lodge of Guiding Light No 7539 in 1960 and has served the Lodge and Freemasonry faithfully and assiduously throughout the intervening years. As well as his Freemasonry, Bro Freddie has served the Holocaust Education Trust, a national charity that educates young people from every background about the holocaust and its contemporary relevance. This year the Queen recognised Bro Freddie’s long service to Holocaust education and awareness by awarding him the British Empire Medal in her New Year’s honours.

Undeterred by the constraints of the pandemic, Bro Freddie continued his Holocaust education work using Zoom instead of meeting participants face to face – meaning there has been no break in the number of young people learning about the events.

Bro Freddie was born into a Jewish family in Vienna. He remembers the looting of Jewish shops and systematic attacks on Jewish people. Fortunately, he managed to escape to England, but it can be forgotten that, as an Austrian Jew, he wasn’t welcomed with entirely open arms, so a difficult few years followed.

Bro Freddie has flourished despite the adversity in his life and, as the brethren of the Lodge have experienced over the past 62 years, has been a guiding light for all that is good in the world. The Lodge members celebrate having him in their midst.

This article is part of the Arena Magazine, Issue 48 April 2022 edition.
Arena Magazine is the official magazine of the London Freemasons – Metropolitan Grand Lodge and Metropolitan Grand Chapter of London.

Read more articles in the Arena Issue 48 here.