WBros Smith and Armstrong were in Freemasons' Hall on Saturday 8th March where they attended the Thomas Harper Lodge 9612 (Warwickshire) on one of its meetings that it holds away from it's masonic home in Knowle in Warwickshire.  

The Lodge was here for a special meeting that celebrated all things Thos Harper.  As well as the usual Lodge business there were special tours of the building and museum and a Festive Board in the wonderful gallery area of the Library.  Both these Caxton masons that attended have some interesting stories to tell from this event.  Ask them !

WBros Smith and Armstrong were invited by WBro Lt Cdr Kai Hughes to join them at the Navy Lodge to witness a double-initiation as well as a passing in the same meeting in front of 70 or so other Masons.

The history of the Lodge (just ask any of them how many members of the Royal family were members !) - along with the great humour and comradery in evidence made it a smashing Lodge to visit.

The Festive Board was held at the Club for Acts and Actors and was an absolute blast !

On Wednesday 26th February 2025 Bro Brian Wilson visited the West Mercia Lodge.  This lodge is a police-only lodge which travels around and takes on ceremonies for other lodges.

This particular lodge was a third degree which West Mercia was performing on behalf of Powis Lodge No 7355, a Welshpool lodge from North Wales.

On Wednesday 19th February 2025, the Provincial Grand Master of Yorkshire West Riding, James H Newman OBE was visiting the Doncaster based-lodge of Don Valley No 3890 to invest WBro David Idle as the Provincial Grand Secretary of his Province.

As WBro Idle is also a Caxton member that was enough of a reason  for several members to be in attendance.

The meeting was a wonderful one and the Caxton members are very proud of our very own WBro David Idle and wish in well in his very important active Provincial position.  

WBro Jonnie Armstrong requested permission from Met Grand Lodge to visit a foreign (not UGLE) lodge which was duly granted as he had been invited by WBro Peter Tucker to witness his installation into the chair of the Parkgate Lodge, which is located in Antrim in Northern Ireland.  There were problems with the flight (due to snow in Manchester !) but WBro Armstrong made it in time to see the final stages of the meeting and he enjoyed giving greetings on behalf of everyone from Caxton.  Jonnie had met Peter whilst they were both at a parkrun in Finland - they each recognised each other as freemasons and Peter has since visited Caxton. 

Jonnie commented that 'on the night, the craic was amazing'.

On Saturday 21st December 2024, WBro Tony Douglas braved the Christmas trains into London to get a connecting train out to Gravesend in Kent and go see his old friend, and occasional visitor to Caxton, WBro Craig McCann at Portcullis Lodge No 8268. WBro Douglas hasn't been for a visit there in a while but found the brethren in fine form and full of Christmas spirit. He then witnessed an excellent Second Degree Passing which was led by Craig's brother. Craig also took part in the ceremony by giving a near flawless account of the Tracing Board. 

WBro Douglas then joined everyone for a festive dinner at the Festive Board before warming himself up for the train home with a couple brandies for good measure. 

Hopefully Caxton will see Craig again soon.

WBro Jonnie Armstrong visited the Maguncor Lodge No 3806 (Met Grand Lodge of London) at their Installation meeting in Mark Masons Hall.  The Maguncor Lodge is one that stems from the Machine Gun Corps - an army regiment that was established in the Great War and was disbanded thereafter.  As such, there are no living Machine Gun Corps members left but the brethren of this lodge proudly carry on with the traditions and history of the Lodge that is dedicated to the valour and actions of such a fine regiment.  The Lodge was one with a wonderful atmosphere and had a great feeling about it.  It was easy for a Caxton member to join in with this Lodge - there is a similar outlook to masonry!

Whilst on holiday in Banff in Canada for a ski trip WBro Armstrong had the forethought to make the relevant enquiries before his trip about the local Lodge and (after permissions were received) visited the Cascade Lodge in that same town.  He was made to feel very welcome and enjoyed making new friends.  He firmly recommends this lodge as one to visit.

The lodge itself is an old one with a wonderful history.

The Cascade Lodge website can be found at:  Cascade Lodge # 5 (cascade5.org) 

In the picture WBro Jonnie Armstrong can be seen with VWBro Dale Backiney, the present Master of Cascade.

On the evening of Friday 26th January 2024, Bro Brian Wilson visited this lodge in Shropshire.  The lodge is approaching its centenary and is the oldest one in its Masonic Centre.  Bro Wilson enjoyed his evening and said that he would very much like to return here for its 100th anniversary meeting. 

On the evening of  Friday 2nd October three Caxton members joined WBro Ian Smith (not in the photo) in the Bi-Centenary meeting of the Emulation Lodge of Improvement in the Grand Temple in Freemasons Hall.  The guest of honour was MWBro Peter Geoffrey Lowndes, the Past Pro Grand Master.

Not only was the ritual and ceremonies performed a delight to watch but it was also very informatve and a great and enjoyable event.  Pictured are WBros Armstrong and Clay with Bro Wilson just outside the Grand Temple.

On 2nd September 2023, three members of Caxton Lodge visited the Thomas Harper Lodge (a Warwickshire Lodge that travels on its non-Installation meetings around the UK) at one of their meetings, this time in Winchester.  They were visiting because two Caxton members (WBros Ian Smith and Jonnie Armstrong) who are also members of the Thomas Harper Lodge.  WBro Jonnie was making a presentation (in his role as the TH Lodge Orator) about the role of Caxton mason Bro Sub Lt William E Jehring in the Great War.  It was well received.  The picture shows the five Caxton members with the Thos Harper WM - WBro Ged Woods.

On 5th April 2023, one of Caxton's own - Bro Jason Figgot was installed into the Chair of King Solomon at his mother craft lodge - Temple Belwood - which is based at Crowle in North Lincolnshire.

 To support him on his night were several Caxton visitors, along with several Caxton members that are also Temple Belwood members. 

Seen after the ceremony with WBro Figgot are WBro Oldfield, WBro Armstrong, WBro Macfarlane and Bro Pearce.  Missing from the photo but also in attendance was WBro Ibbotson.

On 11th March 2023, the Thomas Harper Lodge (of which WBro Ian Smith and WBro Jonnie Armstrong are also members) met in Newark (not in Warwickshire but Thomas Harper travels on all meetings other than the Installation - which is at Knowle in Warwickshire). 

Visiting the lodge that day was the Caxton D of C, WBro David Idle. 

This unique lodge held an interesting meeting with much fun and comradeship.

On 1st March the Caxton Junior Deacon, Bro Brian Wilson attended the Idsall Lodge (No 7133) in the Province of Shropshire. 

The lodge asked him to 'act-up' as Junior Deacon (it was an Initiation meeting) and this is something that he jumped-at given his Caxton position.  

Pictured is Brian with the Idsall WM - WBro Dean Rickerby.