Castle Lodge 150th Anniversary

On the 22nd September - 150 years to the week since the Consecration of the lodge, and in the same building - Castle Lodge number 1621 celebrated its 150th anniversary in style. RWBro David Purslow, Provincial Grand Master, VWBro Nick Garavini, Deputy PrGM and WBro Stephen Rogers were all in attendance together with two former PrGMs, one former DepPrGM, many Grand Officers and a full Provincial team including Sword Bearer and Standard Bearers with sword and banners!

Graham Keeling took the Chair before contributions from many other Brethren made this a night to remember - including a Third Degree ceremony and a brief history of the lodge by Dr Robert Hodge.

He reminded us that Freemasonry reached Bridgnorth almost before anywhere else in Shropshire (Whitchurch was first), but the early lodges were discontinued. Castle Lodge by the 1960s had over 90 members. Recent problems with finding a venue - and particularly a venue for meetings in Bridgnorth itself - had not helped with numbers, but the very different work done by Graham Keeling, John Norman, David Gibbon and other (younger) members gives cause for optimism. A glass of champagne was also offered in memory of the late WBro Tony Bolus who had done so much to support the lodge.

It was certainly a happy coincidence that the 150th anniversary should find the lodge back in its original home! The Brethren left in no doubt that they had the vocal support of other Masons from across the Province - not to mention one visiting Brother from St Austell in Cornwall.