Page 24 - Essex Mason (Issue 87) Online Version

Events 50
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Thames Mouth Lodge 6994hames Mouth Lodge 6994

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W.Bro Jones receiving his certificate. .Bro Jones receiving his certificate.
On Thursday 14th November at Saxon Hall, Southend, Thames Mouth Lodge 6994 became a meeting centred around remembrance.
A replica cenotaph was made by a lodge member and takes pride of place within the Lodge. A standard bearer from the Royal British
Legion was in attendance and the standard was paraded around the lodge. The minutes silence was concluded by a bugler playing
the last post and wreaths were then laid on the cenotaph by DepPGM VW.Bro Paul Reeves, APGM Graham Dickerson and the WM of
Thames Mouth Lodge, W.Bro Mike Smith.
The evening was a sincere act of remembrance and the effort of organising the meeting was appreciated by all who attended.
After an informative talk on 'Masonic Spies and Masonic Railwaymen of the Great War' one of the members, W.Bro John Jones,
received a 50th Anniversary certificate. This was presented by APGM Dickerson. W.Bro Jones was taken by complete surprise by this
presentation and was clearly moved by it.

The Gavellers of ‘94

25 years on

In 1994 several brethren were fortunate to attain the
chair of their respective Lodges as WM in the Southend
& Rochford area, and during that time a friendship grew
amongst a group of those brethren.

The group attended many Installations of brethren they knew and others they did not, and as time went by to again return to those
Lodges to see many of the brethren install their successors. Although at first there were a large number of brethren involved in this
group, eventually 12 brethren continued to remain in touch and forge a long lasting friendship over the years.
After the Installations of all of the group members had passed, they were left looking for a way of remaining in contact with each
other as the friendship over a year or two had grown, and they decided to meet up twice a year to renew their friendships, with myself
selected as the group secretary. It was thought a name was required for the group and after floating a few ideas, it was agreed to be
called the Gavellers of ’94. And in 2019 the group celebrated 25 years of friendship and celebrated this at the November meeting of
the Wakering & Barling Lodge No.9790 and in the presence of W.Bro. Lee Taylor APGM.
As time went by celebrating a 10th, 15th and 20th anniversary, it was thought fitting to produce a memento of each occasion and
several gavels and mauls of various sizes have been produced suitably engraved, which included one for the recent 25th anniversary.
Many of the early celebratory items were made by one of the group members W.Bro. Peter Whatling. I was fortunate to be the
secretary of the group for the first 20 years or so, and to mark this the group presented me with a glass gavel also suitably engraved.
Masonry can allow you to develop friendships within each Lodge, and the opportunity that the Gavellers ’94 had in 1994 is unique,
and no one gave any thoughts to still being together after 25 years. There are meetings planned for the future and it is hoped that
health permitting a 30th anniversary will be celebrated in 5 years’ time.
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