On Saturday 5th April 2025 the long-standing  and popular Caxton member, WBro Ron Oldfield, was installed into the Caxton chair.

WBro Ian Smith PADC agreed to be his Director of Ceremonies for the year and the installation meeting that the pair crafted was both professional and a day full of fun.

His two Wardens - Bro Brian Wilson and Bro Rob Halliwell - were both expertly installed and are both looking forward to their year in their respective offices.

The Lodge then held it's Festive Board in Browns in Covent Garden and this was  enjoyed by all.

On a fresh Saturday morning WBro Jonnie Armstrong gave up on his usual parkrun to join the London Freemasons float in the 2024 Lord Mayor's Show.

Jonnie said that "it certainly helped promote the good that Freemasonry does in the amazing spectacle that is the Lord Mayor's Show".

Caxton Lodge was most proud to have our first member to be promoted and honoured with London Grand Rank (LGR) on Weds 6th November 2024 for at least 20 years.  At a ceremony officiated by the Metropolitan Grand Master in the Grand Temple at Freemasons Hall, WBro Norman Cook, (along with the other recipients from across all the London Lodges) was presented to RW Bro Warren Duke and WBro Norm had his collar placed about his neck.  With him, WBro Norm took his wife and son to witness it and several of his Caxton friends were in attendance to witness (and cheer) the event.

Caxton Lodge has had an article published in the Arena magazine.  Arena is the magazine of London freemasons and is distributed free to the various Masonic centres throughout London.

Arena have also featured our article on their website and can be found here - https://www.londonmasons.org.uk/news/808/history-pubs-and-new-members-the-annual-caxton-lodge-walkabout

One of the members of Caxton Lodge - Bro Rob Halliwell-Coutts is an ex-Coldstream Guardsman and used his connections to get the Lodge a guided Tour of the Tower of London, followed by the Ceremony of the Keys and the remainder of the night in the private bar of the Yeoman Warders of the Tower.  The night was well supported by the Brethren of the Lodge and partners and guests were also invited.  It was a lovely night that all enjoyed and the Lodge thanks Bro Rob for all his hard work in pulling it off.

Whilst on a parkrun tour in Finland the Secretary, WBro Jonnie Armstrong found himself in the company of avid parkrun tourist Peter Tucker from Northern Ireland.  However, within minutes they both recognised each other as freemasons.  WBro Peter is a Past Master of the Radio Fraternity Lodge No 8040, which is also a London Lodge that meets in Great Queen Street.

Peter may well visit Caxton soon.

Caxton Lodge came together once again in April to install the very popular Harry Richards into the Caxton chair.  The ceremony was excellent and WBro Harry made it his business to install all his officers in a very personable and memorable manner.  Afterwards the brethren dined (and later socialised) in the Union Jack Club and the last few remaining members and the odd guest can be seen here.

Like buses another new-born potential Lewis has been delivered to a Caxton brother - this time Bro Chris Moss.  Chris and his lovely wife Phoenix have just had their first-born,   Archie.  They are both very proud as is the Lodge of all of them.

The whole Lodge was excited and pleased to hear that our Worshipful Master - WBro Bradley Thompson-Etchell - became a father again.  His second son - Aurelius Charles Harris Thompson-Etchell - was born.  Both parents (Brad and Tania) are very happy and are looking forward to their new family life.  The Lodge wishes the family their very best.  

On 17th February 2024 eight Caxton masons (along with some visitors) joined together for our regular meeting at Freemasons Hall.  Unfortunately Kings Cross was under reconstruction and as such only a third of members made it into the meeting.

However, the quality of the meeting was first class and the brotherhood was being demonstrated in full.

WBro Jonnie Armstrong gave a lecture on some of the interesting bits of history from Caxton's past and it was very well received.  He was encouraged by those that were there to do it again to the Lodge as a whole and has promised to do so.

Caxton met on 2nd December for it's regular meeting at Freemason's Hall in Great Queens Street.  The Lodge was honoured to be joined by WBro Chas Black, a Past-Master of the Lodge of Glittering Star No 322, under the Irish Constitution.    WBro Chas gave a wonderful lecture to Caxton on the Lodge of Glittering Star, a military travelling lodge.  His talk expanded into the whole subject of Freemasonry within the British Army and the Forces of the Crown during the time of Empire.   It was a wonderful lecture and produced many questions that continued a little later in the bar.  WBro Chas Black can be seen here with members of the Caxton Lodge just after the Lodge was closed.

On 28th October three Caxton masons found themselves in the market square, in the Lincolnshire village of Crowle where they were assisting with Royal British Legion's 2023 Poppy Appeal.  Along with Heather (Ron's wife), the three of them raised just over £500 that day and their efforts were greatly appreciated by two other Caxton brethren (WBro MacFarlane and Bro Pearce) who were doing a similar thing in another Lincolnshire village on the same day - Epworth. 

Pictured can be seen WBros Ibbotson, Oldfield and Armstrong next to the RBL trailer that was in part sponsored by the Caxton Lodge from the raffle at the 2018 Caxton Ball.

Caxton met as a full lodge for its regular meeting in October where Bro Louie Matthews was passed to the Second degree.  This was performed in an excellent manner by the Worshipful Master's team and Brother Louie thoroughly  enjoyed himself.

Afterwards the Lodge retired to Tuttons in Covent Garden where a wonderful Festive Board was served.    It was a lovely day.

On Saturday 1st July 2023, three Caxton masons met up in London to enjoy some social time together on their now annual get-together to 'Walkabout town'.  This year they were sporting their new  walking-out ties designed just for the day.

Whilst in the bar at Freemasons Hall they bumped into two of the three presenters of UGLE's podcast show - CraftCast ( Freemasons Podcast | United Grand Lodge of England (ugle.org.uk) .  Pictured with Bro Brian Wilson, WBro Jonnie Armstrong and WBro Tony Douglas are James Dalton and Shaun Butler who had popped into the bar for refreshments following their involvement in the UGLE's delegation for the Pride Parade.

The podcast that they produce is informative, engaging and professionally created and is recommended for everyone (use the above link).

This year three Caxton masons found their way into the Royal Enclosure at the famous Royal Ascot racing event.  

Bro Rob Halliwell-Coutts, WBro Ron Oldfield and Bro Brian Wilson can be seen here in all their finery.

 Brian commented ... "Its was a lovely day ..."

The Worshipful Master followed his predecessor in travelling to Gretna Green to be wed in his year of office. This is where Bradley married his long-term partner, Tania. 

This event had been postponed several times due to Covid but on Saturday 29th April the couple were joined by his family and friends (including our own WBro Ian MacFarlane,  who was also his Best Man and WBro Jonnie Armstrong).  

Bradley's father,  Bro Bob Etchell, who also regularly visits Caxton was also in attendance and was very proud on his son's wedding day.

Caxton Lodge is very proud that one of our own, WBro Ian Smith has been promoted to the rank of Assistant Grand Director of Ceremonies.  This was formally completed on 26th April at a Grand Lodge Investiture at Freemasons' Hall.   

Ian is excited and honoured with his new post.  As for the Caxton Lodge, we cannot wait for the next Quarterly Communication to see him in action !  

The lodge was honoured with the official visit of WBro John Randall  PJGD,  the Metropolitan Grand Inspector.  He was accompanied by WBro Nicoló Perari and the Lodge Visiting Officer, from the Metropolitan Grand Lodge.

WBro Marcus Phillips (our Visiting Officer), was also in attendance. 

They witnessed our Installation (see story below).  After the visit WBro Randall wrote to the lodge to let us know that he had very much enjoyed his visit and confirmed that there is a very happy and fraternal atmosphere within Caxton.

Our normal April meeting date had to amended due to a planned railway strike and as such the lodge met on 22nd April to install Bro Bradley Thompson-Etchell into the chair of King Solomon.

 WBro Bradley was expertly installed into the chair by WBro Tony Douglas.   Pictured is WBro Bradley with some of his Caxton friends after immediately after the Installation.

In March 2023 the WM and Secretary visited the Annual SLGR investiture meeting in the Grand Temple at Freemason's Hall. 

It was a great day and both felt it was well worth representing Caxton on the wider London masonic sphere.

In February 2023 WBro Jonnie Armstrong and Bro Brian Wilson went to Borovets, in Bulgaria to continue the Caxton tradition of skiing.  It was a great week and planning for next year is already entrained.  If you would like to join us then please speak to either Brian or Jonnie.

On 20th May 2022 the Caxton Lodge attended, in force, the Great British Empire Night, at the Masonic Centre in Thorne, Yorkshire.  Led by our Worshipful Master, WBro Tony Douglas a decent Caxton presence was felt - to essentially support the three main organisers of this event - WBros Oldfield, Armstrong and MacFarlane - all of whom are Caxton masons.

It was a great and patriotic evening full of friendship and enjoyment.  

The evening also raised over £1600 for various charities.

Our Senior Warden, on 22nd April 2022,  was pleased to formally announce that his lovely fiancée, Tania, had given birth to  their son - Ambrose James Harris Thompson Etchell.

Ambrose came (quite) early and started life in intensive care but is now doing well.

On behalf of the whole of the Caxton Lodge, we wish the new family unit well; Bradley congratulations (!) and trust that in 18 years or that Ambrose becomes a Lewis of the Lodge.   WBro MacFarlane promises to buy Bradley a cigar the next time they are in London together !

On 2nd April 2022, the Caxton Lodge met and the Worshipful Master,  Worshipful Brother Ian MacFarlane, installed Bro Tony Douglas into the chair of King Solomon. 

The installation went very well and several changes were made to the Officers of the Lodge. 

The Lodge later retired to the wonderful Freemasons' Hall Café Bar, where this picture is taken and WBro Douglas was well and truly celebrated.

The Caxton Lodge met formally, as a full Lodge, for our February meeting. 

 It was the first time that the Lodge had dined at a Festive Board since before the Covid lockdown.  

All agreed that it was good to get back to more 'normal' freemasonry and were looking forward to the forthcoming year.

The 2023 trip has already been booked by some ....

In October 2020, during a change in the Covid restrictions, the UGLE agreed that Lodges could meet, following HM Government's 'Rule of Six'. 

As such, the Worshipful Master, WBro Ian MacFarlane, was accompanied by WBros Jonnie Armstrong, Tony Byfield and Daron Baker and Bros Tony Douglas and Brian Wilson to perform a much needed Lodge meeting.

All are looking forward to more normal times.

During Covid the lodge took down its website and it has now been replaced by this one.  

It is hoped that you enjoy it !