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History
First Draft of the History ………………….
LIST OF MASTERS and Timeline of EVENTS
2019-2020 (i) W Bro BRIAN HAMMOND (Master Elect) Active2018 101st Mstr
2018 –2019 (i) W Bro ANDREW.CONWAY Active2018 100th Mstr
———————————————————————————————–Our Centenary
2017-2018 (i) W Bro JAMES.MURPHY Active2018 99th Mstr
———————————————————————————–Graham Miller Initiated
————————————————————————– John Buckley (joining member)
———————–300th ANNIVERSARY OF GRAND LODGE (UGLE)———————–
2016-2017 (i) W Bro PHIL.ROUD Active2018 98th Mstr
-New Lodge Banner approved – Donated By W Bro Ken Jones – Designed by Bro Geoff Neilly & W bro Paul Towsey ———-
————————————————————————————- Levi Breaker Initiated
2015-2016 (i) W Bro MICHAEL.R.TOWSEY. Active2018 97th Mstr
———————————————————————————– Nick Christian Initiated
—-Upminster Masonic hall Complete Refurbishment completed with the new Clerkenwell bar – New Constellation Temple and new Grecian temple – which is a fashioned after the Grecian/Constellation temples in Bishopsgate London – The ( almost New) New Hall is Opened By the Prov Grand Master Rodney Lister-Bass OBE
2014-2015 (i) W Bro PAUL. C. TOWSEY Active2018 96th Mstr
—————————————————————————— Andrew Humphrey Initiated
2013-2014 (i) W Bro `GRAHAM (Sumo) SHAW Active2018 95th Mstr
————————————————————Darren Jones and Andreas Aravis Initiated
———————————————————————————— Derek Taylor Initiated
——————- London Hosts the Olympics at Stratford- it is a brilliant success—————-
2012-2013 (i) W Bro MAJOR.PRUSHESKA Active2018 94th Mstr
———————————————————————- Luke Clancy Re- (joining member)
——————————————————– Paul Lane and John Griffin (joining members)
2011-2012 (i) W Bro DEREK.BROWN(First initiated into LOOF 24th Jan 1949) (d)2015 93rd Mstr)
————————————————————————————- Mick Randal Initiated
2010-2011 (i) W Bro IAN.BIGBY Active2018 92nd Mstr
2009-2010 (i) W Bro BARRY.SCAMENS Active2018 91st Mstr
——————————————————–Trevor Manning and Brian Hammond Initiated
2008-2009 (i) W Bro GARY.STONE Active2018 90th Mstr
—————————————————————– Jason Hyatt and Chris Marks Initiated
2007-2008 (i) W Bro CHRIS.LARNER Active2018 89th Mstr
——————————————————- Michael Towsey and Andrew Conway Initiated
——————–Stock markets crash world-wide (sub-prime) Financial crisis——————–
2006-2007 (i) W Bro JOHN.COOK Active2018 88th Mstr
————————————————— Jim Murphy , Bill Jones and Geoff Neilly Initiated
2005-2006 (i) W Bro FRED.HUMPHREY Active2018 87th Mstr
——–East London Chosen to host 2012 Olympics-beating Paris, Madrid, New York. ———
——————————————————————- Paul Towsey and Phil Roud Initiated
2004-2005 (i) W Bro MICHAELRANKIN Active2018 86th Mstr
——————————————————————————– Eammon Dunlea Initiated
————————————————————————– Peter Hughs (joining member)
2003-2004 (i) W Bro HENRY.SHELLEY Active2018 85th Mstr
————————————————- Graham (sumo) Shaw and Major Pietruska Initiated
—————————————————————————————- Ian Bigby Initiated
2002-2003 (i) W Bro KENETH.JONES Active2018 84th Mstr
————————Ford’s of Dagenham Produces its last car _ After 71 years, 11 Million vehicles the last car ever rolls off the lines ( It’s the iconic Ford Fiesta)—————————
—————————————————————Barry Scamans and Gary Stone Initiated
2001-2002 (i) W Bro LUKE.CLANCY Active2018 83rd Mstr
—————————————————————————Henry Shelly (joining member)
————————————————————————————- Chris Larner Initiated
——————————Romford Brewery Shopping Centre Opens——————————-
——————————————————————– Duncan Campbell (joining member)
—————————The Twin Towers (NY) are destroyed by Terrorist————————-
2000-2001 (i) W Bro LUKE.CLANCY Active2018 82nd Mstr
——The Lodge Moves from Chingford after some 50 years – to Upminster Masonic Hall—–1999-2000 (i) W Bro TIMOTHY.CURREN (r)2008 81st Mstr
————————————————————————————– John Cooke Initiated
1998-1999 (i) W Bro JOHN.DALE – GstwdPPAGDC ***** 80th Mstr
———————Tony Blair Becomes Labours first prime minister since 1979——————
1997-1998 (i) W Bro JOHN.E.LAMB – PPGJD ***** 79th Mstr
—–The White Hart Hotel ( Romford- Just off Market place) CLOSES ITS DOORS after 350 years service to masons and the local community – It was our first meeting place ( also many other Local Lodges) – Re-named The Ford&Firkin – Latterly the (Apposite) Bitter End ——-
————————————————————– Fred Humphries and Ken Jones Initiated
1996-1997 (i) W Bro MARK LAMB (r)2008 78th Mstr
1995-1996 (i) W Bro WILLIAM. McELLIGOTT Active2018 77th Mstr
1994-1995 (i) W Bro CHRISOPHER. JONES Active2018 76th Mstr
————————————————————————————–Mick Rankin Initiated
—————————————————————————————Our 75th Anniversary
1993-1994 (i) W Bro C. JONES Active2018 75th Mstr
——————————————Romford Brewery closes—————————————-
1992-1993 (i) W Bro JEFF.G.BUDD (d)2016 74th Mstr
—————————————————————————————Mark Lamb Initiated
1991-1992 (i) W Bro JEFF.G.BUDD (d)2016 73rd Mstr
—————————– Dartford ( QEII BRIDGE ) Crossing Opens——————————
1990-1991 (i) W Bro KEVIN.N.NICHOLLS ***** 72nd Mstr
——————————————The Gulf War starts ———————————————-
————————————Lakeside Shopping Centre Opens————————————
————————————————————————————Bill McElligott Initiated
1989-1990 (i) W Bro KEVIN.N.NICHOLLS ***** 71st Mstr
1988-1989 (i) W Bro K.C.KNIGHT ***** 70th Mstr
—————————————————————————————Chris Jones Initiated
1987-1988 (i) W Bro JOHN.DALE – GstwdPPAGDC ***** 69th Mstr
1986-1987 (i) W Bro K TWEEN ***** 68th Mstr
1985-1986 (i) W Bro JOHN.E.LAMB – PPGJD ***** 67th Mstr
1984-1985 (i) W Bro K.E.TWEEN ***** 66th Mstr
1983-1984 (i) W Bro T.L.SPRINGALL ***** 65th Mstr
1982-1983 (i) W Bro P.F.BRASIER – PPGW (r)1987 64th Mstr
———————————Falklands War Starts with Argentina———————————–
1981-1982 (i) W Bro A.A.ROUSE – PPGSwB (r)1982 63rd Mstr
1980-1981 (i) W Bro H.W.C.ABRAHAM – PPGJD (r)1990 62nd Mstr
——————————–Second Dartford ( Tunnel ) Crossing Opens—————————-
1979-1980 (i) W Bro P.S.RUSSELL Active2018 61st Mstr
————————-Margaret Thatcher Becomes Britain’s first Female PM———————-
1978-1979 (i) W Bro J.F.CAGE – PPAGDC (r)1989 60th Mstr
——The winter of discontent –No fuel, black-outs and refuse left piled high in streets———
1977-1978 (i) W Bro R.E.ELMSLIE – PPGW (r)1989 59th Mstr
—————————-Queen Elizabeth 11 Silver Jubilee- Street parties————————–
1976-1977 (i) W Bro A.E.FRENCH – PPAGDC ****** 58th Mstr
1975-1976 (i) W Bro J.DALE – GstwdPPAGDC ****** 57th Mstr
1974-1975 (i) W Bro J.CROMPTON – PPAGGDC ****** 56th Mstr
—————————————-John Rhodes ( Our longest serving living member) Initiated
1973-1974 (i) W Bro R.G.A DEVONISH – PPGStB (d)1990 55th Mstr
1972-1973 (i) W Bro D.W.ELLIS – PPGW (d)1981 54th Mstr
1971-1972 (i) W Bro A.R.BAILY – LGR ****** 53rd Mstr
————————————–Decimal Currency Introduced—————————————
1970-1971 (i) W Bro E.L.SPRINGALL – PPAGDC (d)1986 52nd Mstr
1969-1970 (i) W Bro C.J.SCUSE – PPGW (d)1982 51st Mstr
———————————-The First Moon Landing- Apollo 11———————————–
———————————————————————————Our 50th Anniversary year
1968-1969 (i) W Bro E.J.DUNCAN – PPAGDC (d)1987 50th Mstr
——————————–Liberty Shopping Centre Romford Opens——————————
————————-250TH ANNIVERSARY OF GRAND LODGE (UGLE)——————–
1967-1968 (i) W Bro W.A.KENINGALE – PPGStB ****** 49th Mstr
-The Lodge of Old Friendship records 87 Members at this time- inc 2 originals from 1919/20
1966-1967 (i) W Bro A.GAGE – PPAGDC (r)1987 48th Mstr
—————————————England Win the World Cup—————————————
1965-1966 (i) W Bro C.F.MILNE – PPSGD ****** 47th Mstr
—————————————-Winston Churchill Dies——————————————-
1964-1965 (i) W Bro J.W.TRIPPICK – PPSGD (d)1989 46th Mstr
1963-1964 (i) W Bro A.P. McCUTCHEON (d)1980 45th Mstr
—————————–The Assassination of President John F Kennedy———————————————————–John Dale Initiated ( Many of us fondly remember John)
——————————–First Dartford ( Tunnel ) Crossing Opens——————————-
1962-1963 (i) W Bro R.G.MURREY – PPAGStB (r)1979 44th Mstr
1961-1962 (i) W Bro J.W.J.WALKER – PPJGD (d)1964 43rd Mstr
!960-1961 (i) W Bro G.J.CURTIS – PPJGD (d)1973 42nd Mstr
1959-1960 (i) W Bro R.A.CORNWALL (Roy) – PPGD ****** 41st Mstr
1958-1959 (i) W Bro V.C.CORNWALL – PPGSWks (RC’s bro) (r)1974 40th Mstr
1957-1958 (i) W Bro N.E.DEEKS – PPJGD (d)1984 39th Mstr
——————-Our 5th and final Daughter Lodge (The Ridgeway Lodge) is formed from members.
1956-1957 (i) W Bro W.G.WHEATLEY – PPGStB (d)1973 38th Mstr
–Upminster Masonic hall opens – It was single story but smaller than the building on the site today
1955-1956 (i) W Bro G.STARK – PPGStwd (d)1963 37th Mstr
1954-1955 (i) W Bro R.J.CORNWALL – PPGDC (RC’s Father) (d)1976 36th Mstr
1953-1954 (i) W Bro J.SEWELL – PPGStB (d)1975 35th Mstr
—————————–The Coronation of Queen Elizabeth the Second————————-
1952-1953 (i) W Bro MARK BEER (d)1956 34th Mstr
1951-1952 (i) W Bro C.J.MONK – PPGDC/PPGW ****** 33rd Mstr
—————————–Queen Elizebeth II becomes Queen aged 25——————————-
————————————King George the VI Dies———————————————-
1950-1951 (i) W Bro G.C.FITCH – PPAGSWks (r)1972 32nd Mstr
1949-1950 (i) W Bro E.W.TRIPPICK – PPGD (d)1980 31st Mstr
1948-1949 (i) W Bro F.J.HUNT – PPGSWb (r)1972 30th Mstr
1947-1948 (i) W Bro T.M.HUNT – PPGW (r)1973 29th Mstr
1946-1947 (i) W Bro C.H.L.PALMER – PPGW (r)1974 28th Mstr
—Our 4h Daughter Lodge (The Lodge of Progress and Unity) is formed by Old Friendship members.
———-April 1946 – We move from our wartime lodgings at the Coopers arms to Chingford Masonic centre. We are there for the next 50 yrs , not returning to Havering again until 1999.
————————————-The Second World War ends—————————————
1945-1946 (i) W Bro W.L.DEAN (r)1965 27th Mstr
——————————–D-Day The liberation of Europe begins———————————
1944-1945 (i) W Bro E.N.HOLDING – PPAGDC (r)1960 26th Mstr
1943-1944 (i) W Bro C.J.SCUSE – PPGW (d)1982 25th Mstr
————————–Battle of Stalingrad- The` Germans Lose heavily —————————
1942-1943 (i) W Bro A.R.SEACH (d)1960 24th Mstr
——————–The Battle for El Alamein – The German 8th army defeated——————–
————————–Grand Master Duke of Kent Killed in an air crash—————————
1941-1942 (i) W Bro H.A.SLADE – DSOPPGD (d)1971 23rd Mstr
1940-1941 (i) W Bro H.A.SLADE – DSPPPGD (d)1971 22nd Mstr
—————Battle of Britain starts (air war over Britain ensues-Invasion expected————–
—Masons are asked to hand in Jewells to help war effort- white gloves are dispensed with—
————We move again owing to the War office taking over Lord Lambourne Masonic Hall Taking up temporary accommodation at The Coopers Arms Chadwell Heath- We have been holding l.o.i here for a number of years.
————————————British retreat from Dunkirk—————————————-
1939-1940 (i) W Bro K.T.E.NIGHT (d)1957 21st Mstr
————————————The Second World War Starts————————————-
———————————The great depression officially ends————————————
1938-1939 (i) W Bro J.E.PARTINGTON (d)1942 20th Mstr
——–Our Third Daughter Lodge ( Pyrgo Lodge) is formed amongst Old Friendship members the reasons are not revealed to us.
1937-1938 (i) W Bro W.A.BLEADEN – PPGTreas (d)1968 19th Mstr
——————–The Abdication Crisis _ King George VI Crowned King————————
1936-1937 (i) W Bro AITKIN BROWN – PPAGsuptW (d)1954 18th Mstr
—————————————KING GEORGE THE V dies ————————————
1935-1936 (i) W Bro G.F.GRAINGER – PPAGDC (d)1951 17th Mstr
——-We move from the White Hart Hotel to recently built Lord Lambourne Masonic Hall , Romford
1934-1935 (j) W Bro H.GUNARY – PPGD (d)1958 16th Mstr
******************Old Friendship Royal Arch Chapterfounded*********************
——————-Our Second Daughter Lodge ( The Walnut Tree Lodge) is formed by members who were involved in the building of the new housing estate at Becontree.
1933-1934 (i) W Bro A.COCKLE – PGD/PPGW (d)1975 15th Mstr
————(July 28th) The Foundation Stone of the Lord Lambourne Masonic Hall, Romford, was laid by the R.W. Prov. Grand Master.
1932-1933 (i) W Bro D.C.DOUBLEDAY OBE – PPGW/LGR (d)1974 14th Mstr
—-The work on the peace Memorial is completed AND Great Queen Street OPENS ITS DOORS—–
1931-1932 (i) W Bro H.N.CROWE – PGSB/PPGW (r)1951 13th Mstr
————————Ford at Dagenham Opens – The great depression——————————
———(February 14th) The newTemple at Chingford was dedicated by the R.W. Prov. Grand Master.
1930-1931 (i) W Bro A.A.HATCH – LGR (d)1934 12th Mstr
1929-1930 (i) W Bro A.G.THURSTON – PPGW/LGR (d)1951 11th Mstr
—————————–The Wall Street Crash- The great depression——————————
1928-1929 (J) W Bro H.BAILEY – PPGW (d)1954 10th Mstr
————Work Starts on ( PEACE MEMORIAL )New Masonic Hall at Great Queen Street————
1927-1928 (J) W Bro C. GUNARY – PPGD (d)1943 9th Mstr
———————————— MASTER FOUNDERS————————————————
1926-1927 (f) W Bro A.STANLEY.HILL (d)1933 8th Master
—————————–The General Strike- The country in Crisis———————————
1925-1926 (f) W Bro A.F.CHAPMAN – PPAGDC (d)1927 7th Master
1924-1925 (f) W Bro G.H. JEFF – PPGD/PPGW (d)1941 6th Master
—Our first Daughter Lodge (Dagenham Lodge) is formed amongst Old Friendship who are also members of the Dagenham CCC Cricket club. The founding brothers were from members from Old Friendship – Seven Kings, and some additional London masons – The consecration was held in the constellation Rooms Bishopsgate – London. Lord Lambourne ( The Provincial grand master took the chair for the ceremony)
———————-Ramsey Macdonald becomes Britain’s first Labour PM————————
1923-1924 (f) W Bro L.J. MARTYN – PAGS Wks (d)1960 5th Master
1922-1923 (f) W Bro F. ROBERTSON – PAG purs/LGR (d)1934 4th Master
1921-1922 (f) W Bro J.W.STEWART – PPGD (d)1934 3rd Master
——– WAR MEMORAIL IN ROMFORD ERECTED _UNVEILED BY LORD LAMBOURNE – Many masons( including from our lodge) and public Attended to coomemorate the 361 servicemen that had lost their lives – It was originally in Laurie Sqr and was later removed in 1970-
1920-1921 (f) W Bro T .E. SPURR – PGSB/PPGTreas (d)1942 2nd Master
—————————Nancy Astor Becomes Britain’s first female MP—————————
Masonic Peace memorial ( Hallstone) Fund started – to build Lasting memorial to those masons and all others who died in the Great War.
1919-1920 (f) W Bro G. H. CLARK – PAGDC (d)1942 1st Master
——————Treaty of Versailles signed – Officially ending the First World War————–
key;
(f) Founder
(i) Initiated in to this Mother Lodge
(j) Joining member
(d) deceased
(r) resigned
apendix
Welcome to The Lodge of old friendship No. 3907.
Patron Royal Masonic Benevolent Institution. Patron Royal Masonic Institution for Girls. Patron Royal Masonic Institution for Boys. Patron Royal Masonic Hospital
GOLD CERTIFICATE ‘2000 FESTIVAL’. VICE-PATRON CHELMSFORD CATHEDRAL APPEAL
We are a very friendly and sociable lodge, who are in 2018 celebrating our centenary year. We have many fun filled meetings and various fund raising events. These include ceremonies for the initiation of new candidates who want to become freemasons, Lectures, White tables, Ladies Nights, Cricket days , golf days and other community based charity or fund raising events.
Brief history. The Lodge of Old Friendship was consecrated by the RW Provincial Grand Master Lord Lambourne on the 24th March 1919 at Freemasons Hall, Great Queen Street , London . We latterly met at the White Hart Hotel, Romford. After various meeting places we moved to Chingford in 1947, There to remain for the next 50Yrs. We moved to Upminster and back home to Havering and the place of our origins in 1999 – We are still there.
Our Membership. As a Lodge which is 100 years old, we have many established traditions which we enjoy and embrace, these have been added to and embellished into rich traditions over the years. Our ages ranges from early 30’s to late 60’s – but we do have a few in their late 70’s. Our members range across many different professions, ranging from, teachers, accountants, police officers, to French polishers and graphic designers, some are retired but all are an interesting range of people with a common interest in helping others, less fortunate than themselves. Most live in Essex, London, Some as far as Suffolk.
Meeting dates: We meet formally five times a year at the Upminster Masonic Hall in Deyncourt Gardens, Upminster, on the fourth Friday in January, March and October and the first Friday in May (Installation,) and ( carols) second Friday in December
The Lodge of Instruction is currently held every Monday from September to June at 7:30At Bretons Manor, Upper Rainham Road, Hornchurch..
Are you interested in joining our friendly lodge? If you are a decent, honest and trustworthy person over 21 are interested in helping your fellow man and have a healthy interest in learning about the history and mysteries of Freemasonry and wish to be a part of a worldwide fraternity whose members enjoy each other’s company- then please get in touch with the secretary just drop a line to the Secretary or the admin here..