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The Lodge of the Flaming Torch No.4874 met on the 12th December 2019 for their Christmas meal at Freemasons' Hall in Leicester.  As is the tradition in most Lodges around the country, this meal, better known as a "Festive Board" includes elements of fun, discussion, and tradition.  Tradition in the fact that present on the table are often items of historical and sentimental value to each and every Lodge, in the case of the Lodge of the Flaming Torch, this included a silver cigarette box which had been presented to the Lodge in the 1970's, which had somehow become lost. Taking up the challenge to replace such a valuable item, Bro. Nick Bradshaw had this to say. "I would like to thank the Lodge for allowing me the honour of making this most important presentation. R.W.Bro. Derek Buswell, who joined Freemasonry into the Lodge in April of 1958, mentioned to me some months ago that he had not seen his silver cigarette box on the table for some time. To be honest, with smoking banned for many years now, and with the fact I have never sat on the top table to see it, I did not even know there was one!!! The cigarette box had initially been presented to our Lodge, in the early seventies, by R.W.Bro. Derek and his mother, Elsie, in memory of his late father, W.Bro. George Buswell, who served as Master of our lodge in 1955. From that moment on, investigations began in earnest to try and locate it.  After several months searching, all we managed to find was a distant photo of it and an old report from seven years ago. With the help of the Provincial Grand Master, R.W.Bro. Peter Kinder, and his predecessor R.W.Bro. David Hagger, a replacement box was agreed upon, and the search turned to finding a suitable item. I am now pleased to say that I have managed to acquire a similar box from the same era and have had it engraved with the help of R.W.Bro. Derek.  In the box, we keep lighters and matches to light candles at each festive board, so it will constantly be used as the lasting memento it was initially intended to be." On the same evening, to add to the history of the Lodge, the Master, W.Bro. Richard Evans presented a port decanter, which was purchased in the memory of Michael Kellett and John Devlin, both of whom had supported the Lodge for many years, and had left donations to the Lodge in their wills.

With just a few days to go until Christmas, the Wayfarer Lodge No.8679 gathered at the Masonic Hall in Coalville, Leicestershire, to celebrate the festive season and welcome a new member. This year's Master, Monty Katchick welcomed all of the members and the twenty-seven visitors who had braved the wet weather before handing over the proceedings to the Lodge Secretary, Mark Street for a special occasion. Just over twenty-five years ago, on the 16th December 1994, Mark joined the Wayfarer Lodge, where he became Master of the Lodge in 2007.  Mark has a twin brother, David, born just twenty minutes apart, whose military career took him away from home on many occassions, however, on the evening of the 20th December 2019, David followed in his brother's footsteps, and became a member of the Wayfarer Lodge.  Freemasonry, and indeed the Wayfarer Lodge is somewhat of a family tradition, as their late Father Les, was also a member. After Mark had led the Lodge in welcoming David to Freemasonry, a traditional Christmas dinner was served to nearly fifty hungry members, with the festivities going on late into the night. Mark said, "It is such an honour to welcome my brother, David, into Freemasonry and this Lodge in particular". The DC for the evening, N. White, David & Mark Street, and the Master, M. Katchick

Freemasons in Leicestershire & Rutland have had a change of leadership for the first time in ten years.  At a special meeting in Leicester, where over 420 Freemasons attended, Peter Charles Kinder, a Freemason for the last 46 years, has taken over as Provincial Grand Master, succeeding David Hagger as the organisations thirteenth head since the combination of the counties of Leicestershire & Rutland in 1856. On Friday 29th November 2019, Freemasons’ Hall Leicester was close to capacity as the Deputy Grand Master, Jonathan Spence and his team made their way from London to preside over the Installation of Peter C. Kinder as Provincial Grand Master of Leicestershire & Rutland. Prior to the meeting, a lunch was held in both the Oliver and Holmes Dining Rooms as many gathered to celebrate a new era in Freemasonry for Leicestershire & Rutland.  At the meeting afterwards, Peter C. Kinder was announced as the new Provincial Grand Master, after which he proceeded in announce his team for the coming year to help run, support, and manage the eleven Masonic Centres and 79 Lodges. Peter was born and raised in Leicester, son of Ken Kinder, a sales and marketing professional at British United Shoe Machinery Limited in Leicester.  Peter’s mother Kath, was born in Hertfordshire, where the family bakery business was run by her father until she moved to Leicestershire after meeting Ken. Peter completed his education by attending Southfields College in Leicester where he studied Boot and Shoe manufacturing, (BBSI Grad.) linking in with his occupation with the National and International Adhesive Manufactures Bostik Limited as a sales management trainee.  Peter has stayed within the industry and is now Chief Executive Officer of Anglo Adhesives in Melton Mowbray. Freemasonry runs in the family, the influences of his Father, Brother, God Father, and many friends led Peter to join the fraternity in 1973.  When not working or carrying out his many duties for the Freemasons, Peter is a keen golfer, he was Captain of Rothley Park Golf Club in 1994, was also a very keen Rugby player at Stoneygate FC and now follows Leicester Tigers and Leicester City Football Club where he holds season tickets. When asked about his goals for taking over as Provincial Grand Master, Peter said: “Freemasonry is more relevant in today's society than ever before.  The constant challenges that face us in our working and social lives, can be enriched by the work we as Freemasons do.  My major objectives during my tenure as Provincial Grand Master is to build on the successes of the past, to encourage larger attendances at Lodges and further develop the Pathway project that will hopefully lead us to Recruit and Retain many high calibre members, also to ensure that our members take great enjoyment out of what we do, and to bring Freemasonry to the forefront of the local communities that we serve”.

The Ferrers & Ivanhoe Lodge No.779 meet at the Masonic Hall in Ashby de la Zouch, and on the evening of the 12th November 2019, the Master, W.Bro. Paul Whysall organised a meeting with a difference.  With his drive to bring more members into the Lodge, Paul took to Social Media to find a suitable visitor to entertain and inform the Lodge about what the future holds for Freemasonry. His search did not take too long, Paul reached out to the 2012 Prestonian Lecturer, W.Bro. Tony Harvey, who was only too delighted to come along and give a talk entitled "The Future of Freemasonry: Evolution & Change".  In this talk, topics included how Freemasonry has changed over the years, and the direction that it is going in, and what we must do to ensure its continuity and growth.  The discussion was very interactive and informative, and such an appropriate topic considering that Social Media was the tool used to secure the booking. Many guests and visitors were also in attendance, including the Master of the Hastings Lodge, and many of his officers.  Also present to participate in the discussion were members of the Light Blue Club, the organisation for all new and young Masons within the Province. The evening concluded with a superb festive board, in a way that only Ferrers & Ivanhoe can deliver!

The Provincial Grand Master and his team of Provincial Grand Officers were out in force on Friday 18th October 2019 for the inaugural Installation meeting of Tudor Rose Lodge No.5660, the new Military Lodge for Leicestershire & Rutland. The honour of Installing Master fell to W.Bro. Aubrey Newman, who took great pride in the way in which he conducted the ceremony.  The Masters collar had been recently re-furbished for this special occasion, and was duly presented by the Provincial Grand Master as he installed W.Bro. Phil Hurst into the chair of King Solomon. The Tudor Rose Lodge was consecrated in April 1937, in the Province of Warwickshire, and met at the Masonic Hall in Sutton Coldfield. In 2018, due to low numbers, steps were initiated to surrender the warrant of the lodge, however at the same time a small group of Freemasons in Leicestershire & Rutland had begun discussions to form a military lodge within the province.  As an alternative to consecrating a new lodge, it was suggested and agreed that Tudor Rose was moved from Warwickshire to Leicestershire & Rutland. This was met with unanimous enthusiasm by the members, and the ten Leicestershire & Rutland Brethren who had joined the Lodge in January 2019. At the final meeting in Sutton Coldfield in March 2019, the members passed a motion to begin the formal process of transferring the lodge to the new Province, followed by a handover of Lodge furniture and regalia, including a magnificent Lodge banner. In recognition of the support and hard work of the Provincial Grand Master, R.W.Bro. David Hagger, and the Provincial Grand Secretary W.Bro. Kelvin Johnson, both were proposed as honorary members to the Lodge.  In total, fifteen brethren were successfully balloted for as joining members, and a further thirteen Brethren proposed as joining members. During the evening, £300 was raised for “We Were Once Soldiers” the homeless veterans' charity, as well as a contribution to the Leicestershire & Rutland 2022 Festival.

Freemasons’ Hall, located on London Road in Leicester, hosted representatives of many local charities and good causes from all over Leicestershire and Rutland, to present grants totaling £59,797 to those in need. The LOROS Hospice, who provides expert care to over 2,500 terminally ill patients across Leicestershire and Rutland every year, received a donation of £6,800 to help with the running costs of providing the service. Other beneficiaries on the day included the Air Ambulance Service, who received £7,927 from local Lodges and Freemasons, which was raised through generous donations of members, families, and friends. The local Sea Scouts of South Leicester were among several Scouting groups present, to receive £2,000 to purchase urgently needed computer equipment to help support members in the Duke of Edinburgh's Award Scheme.  One of the other Scouting groups, the Loughborough & District Scouts, received £1,000 to assist with providing a wide range of activities, facilities, and services to the children involved. From the Dorothy Goodman School in Hinckley, Paul Bond was on hand to receive a donation of £1,700 and explain the work that Academy does to help pupils with learning difficulties from the age of three up to nineteen. The Melton Mowbray Toy Soldier Marching Band teaches children from the age of nine to read and play music.  Funds were required to enable less privileged children to attend the Battle of Flowers Parade which is being held in Jersey.  A donation of £1,000 was presented by the Leicestershire & Rutland Masonic Charity Association to assist with this most worthy cause. The Provincial Grand Master of Leicestershire & Rutland Freemasons, David Hagger thanked all thirty-one of the charities who had attended the presentation for their continued efforts and hard work in the local communities.

The Vale of Catmos Lodge No.1265, who usually meet at Oakham School, received special dispensation to hold their meeting at Freemasons' Hall, Leicester for a double celebration.  It was 150 years ago, on the 30th September 1869, that the Vale of Catmos Lodge was concentrated, which coincided with the amalgamation of the Leicestershire and Rutland Provinces.  To commemorate the occasion, the move to Leicester was granted, so that the Provincial Grand Master, together with his team of Provincial Officers could attend and pay tribute to the Lodge, and to the combined Province. The Master of the Lodge, W.Bro. Paul Graveling welcomed and thanked R.W.Bro. David Hagger for attending with his team to witness the program of events, which began with an oration by R.W.Bro. Reverend Canon Michael Wilson, who detailed the last 150 years of the Lodge, it's history, and place within Freemasonry. A further address was given by W.Bro. David Hughes, the Provincial Grand Orator, who gave an entertaining account of how the Provinces of Leicestershire and Rutland first came to join together. To complete the business for the evening, the Provincial Grand Master, R.W.Bro. David Hagger took to the floor to give an address to the Lodge, highlighting his experience of visiting the Vale of Catmos Lodge, and also the work of the combined Provinces. Everyone in attendance was presented with a wonderfully detailed book, containing the history of the Lodge as compiled by W.Bro. Robert Lucas. Later that evening, the Lodge was presented with the David Victor Hagger Loving Cup, a beautiful silver cup, to be passed from Lodge to Lodge as groups of Brethren visit other Lodges, to promote the camaraderie that is achieved through visiting.

Older people in Braunstone, Leicester are to benefit from an expanded range of services to reduce isolation and promote social independence thanks to a grant from Leicestershire and Rutland Freemasons. The £58,841 grant to local charity, b inspired, will greatly assist with the running costs of the Braunstone Befriending Scheme for the next three years. In Braunstone, an aging population means that demands for services tackling loneliness and isolation are growing, and the community also has higher rates of all cancers and strokes when compared to the Leicester average. The charity, b inspired, currently has a waiting list for its befriending service, which aims to improve mental health, self-confidence, resilience, and the capacity to cope and live independently for longer, through both home visits and social groups. According to Age UK, 1.2 million older people in England are chronically lonely, 200,000 older people have not had a conversation with friends or family for an entire month, and loneliness can be as detrimental to a person’s health as smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Braunstone has around 4300 elderly people living in the area and many in the 500 Bungalows on the estate and 3 sheltered housing schemes. The grant will fund the salary of a Befriending Scheme Co-Ordinator, as well as enable existing staff to work longer hours to deliver more services to those who need them. This will allow for more service users to be matched with likeminded people under the befriending service, as well as for the recruitment of more volunteers and the creation of a 12-month calendar of events and activities for older people in the community. The grant from Leicestershire and Rutland Freemasons comes through the Masonic Charitable Foundation, which is funded by Freemasons, their families, and friends, from across England and Wales. Angie Wright, Chief Officer of b inspired said: “We’re very grateful to the Freemasons for their generous grant, which will help us to expand this very important project. Not only will it give older residents a chance to have someone to talk to about personal issues and about things in general, it also provides the opportunity to socialise and support with important information about local services” David Hagger, Provincial Grand Master of Leicestershire and Rutland Freemasons said: “We’re very pleased to have been able to support the Braunstone Befriending Scheme. Older people in our community urgently need support to end social isolation, loneliness, and the conditions that come with it. We’re happy to help b inspired provide that support.”

The Provincial Grand Master, R.W.Bro. David Hagger opened up his garden on the 4th of August 2019, as over 270 guests arrived for a fun day to raise money for the Leicestershire & Rutland 2022 Festival appeal. With a team of helpers assisting with the setup of the marquees, organising the car parking, serving refreshments, and ensuring that the day ran smoothly, the Provincial Grand Master welcomed all before introducing the music and entertainment to the growing crowds. An excellent buffet was served, accompanied by a full bar, and a chance to win a host of prizes in a raffle which was drawn later in the day. The rain clouds kept off for most of the day, as the band enticed people to get up and dance and enjoy the rest of the afternoon. The event raised an incredible £7,263 for the 2022 Festival. The Provincial Grand Master said: “My special thanks go to all the Brethren and their ladies who helped in whatever capacity on the day.  Without your attendance and their assistance we could not have achieved this result.”

On Sunday 7th July 2019  Paul Simpson, St Wilfrid’s Lodge No 8350 2022 Festival Steward, and his wife Denise hosted a summer garden party at their home in Market Harborough to raise funds for the Leicestershire & Rutland 2022 Festival. The event was well attended by nearly fifty members of St. Wilfrid’s Lodge No.8350 and their families. An enjoyable time was had by all in the glorious sunshine with an impressive cold buffet prepared by Paul & Denise. A raffle was held which was generously supported with a large number of donations from the brethren, which raised a total of £275.  There was also a profit made on the catering, leaving a grand total donation for the Leicestershire & Rutland 2022 Festival of £611. Due to the success of both this years and last year’s  events, Paul and Denise have agreed to host this annually during the term of the 2022 Festival.

As part of the celebrations of 25 years of Heritage Open Days, England’s largest festival of history and culture, Leicestershire and Rutland Freemasons were invited to supply curiosities from their extensive museum at Freemasons’ Hall, Leicester to form part of a ‘Cabinet of Curiosities’ at their birthday party in London. The event was held at the exquisite Two Temple Place in London which is one of London’s architectural gems, an extraordinary late Victorian mansion built by William Waldorf Astor on the Embankment. The items on display were a jelly mould emblazoned with a square and compasses and a set of light bulbs with the square and compasses as filaments. The jelly mould is an interesting relic of days gone by. One of the most enjoyable features of a night at the Masonic Lodge is to sit together with your fellow members and enjoy a good meal after the ceremony. This jelly mould would enable the members to have a very interesting (and no doubt tasty) jelly put before them for their dessert with the various symbols so familiar to them adorning its surface. It is likely that this mould came from the latter half of the 19th century. The Masonic light bulbs were (and are) very popular for lighting the stations of the three principal officers  in American Lodges . The usual Masonic symbols of the square and compasses are often used as the shape of the filament of the bulb. These bulbs are quite collectable and rare examples of the bulbs illustrating various American Masonic associations for men and women can fetch high premiums. These particular bulbs are of a more standard type. Assistant Provincial Grand Master, W.Bro. Dr. Andy Green, who took the items to the event, said: “Our masonic items certainly stood well in the Cabinet of Curiosities and evoked a lot of interest with those attending the reception.” Freemasons’ Hall, Leicester will be opening its doors on Saturday 21st September 2019 as part of the Heritage Open Days. More details can be found here:https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/visiting/event/freemasons

On a glorious summer’s evening, 30 friends and family attended a Car Treasure Hunt organised by Les Woodhouse of St Peter’s Lodge No.1330. The route was through the rolling hills of Northamptonshire and took in some beautiful villages and included many interesting locations and features. There were 24 clues to find the answers to, and the teams had exactly 90 minutes to complete the course. When all teams had returned, a buffet was provided by Les and his wife Jean, which they had very kindly donated. Paul Milligan also gave up his evening to open up and run the bar. The winning team was a joint St Peter’s Lodge No.1330 and St Wilfrid’s Lodge No.8350 comprising Paul Simpson (Driver) and his wife Denise and Christopher Burt and his wife Beverley. The evening raised £465 towards the Leicestershire & Rutland 2022 Festival and was thoroughly enjoyed by all who attended.