square talk The Magazine for Freemasons in the Province of Gloucestershire Spring 2010 Communications Team News New PR Advisers Square Talk ~ new editor Such is the importance of communication W Bro Dick Smith writes, that in Gloucestershire it is now the specific “I’m very proud to have task of W Bro John Thurston , Assistant been asked to take over as Provincial Grand Master, to develop a team Editor from W Bro Bernard to manage public communications. Norton . Having had the Additionally, we have a series of initiatives privilege of working with which we hope will encourage members to Bernard over the past three years or so in talk freely and openly about Freemasonry - my capacity as Advertising Manager, I’ve not only to other Brethren but also to family, seen the hard work which he put into the friends and colleagues. Interestingly, Grand magazine and I am sure all Brethren will Lodge has recently appointed new PR have been grateful for his efforts in advisers. It was no surprise that the first job maintaining such a high standard. they identified was to improve the image of “You will have seen that we’ve used this Freemasonry in the eyes of its members. opportunity to give the magazine a fresh new look which we hope will go down well Stories needed with the readership. The magazine is as We want stories about Freemasons and what good as the material which the Brethren they do. They should be channelled through provide, so if you have interesting stories, the Communications Team so they can then please send them to me. Don’t forget to be dispersed through the internet, Square include high-quality digital photos. Contact Talk, radio, press or just word of mouth. please via [email protected] The Provincial Grand Master would like Provincial website every Lodge to have its own Information Officer and these, like Membership If there is something occurring which needs Stewards, will be clustered around groups of to be covered immediately, such as Lodges and Masonic centres. With some advertising a forthcoming function or guidance these groups will be able to reporting a newsworthy event which cries develop their own press contacts and post out for publicity, please consider press and their own stories on the website. radio coverage, as well as posting either in Provincial Orator, W Bro Richard Brown the Public or Members’ sections of the has some thought-provoking talks which can website. Whichever it is, don’t hesitate to produce debate. Why not organise one for contact W Bro Rod Dalley , the Provincial your Lodge and put it on the website? Information Officer, straight away. Contact The Provincial Mentor, W Bro Toby Jones , please via [email protected] and the membership team are holding Advertising workshops and doing much to encourage Masonic care of our brethren as well as We need advertising to help fund some of helping increase our own knowledge. To our publications, such as the Yearbook and follow on from the excellent publication Square Talk. Consequently, a team of area “Being a Freemason”, there is to be a leaflet representatives has been set up to handle for distribution at shows and to anyone your advertising needs. Contact please via interested in joining a Lodge in Gloucestershire. [email protected] 2 squaretalk Fingers on buzzers . no conferring! Grand night out! Parliament Room . Then, a short walk to the Parliament Room, Gloucester was the venue for this year’s where Richard II summoned parliament in Grand Officer’s mess dinner and offered 1378, and a splendid dinner. The guest a double treat, (22-Oct). speaker was Susan Osman , TV presenter, media consultant and now an ordained Cathedral recital . interfaith minister; who was shortly to travel Firstly, members and to China to further both her career and guests indulged in knowledge of humankind. Susan described an organ recital in her career in radio and television, including the Cathedral by political and business reporting, in giving a Ashley Grote , the very frank and entertaining biography of Deputy Director of both her private and public life. She Music, who was stressed the very positive influence of her previously Assistant father, an Army officer who was deeply Director at involved in Freemasonry; his lodge was in Westminster Abbey Germany. Susan is co-founder of the and is enjoying a Rainbow’s End Foundation , a charitable Virtuoso growing reputation. organisation which embraces people of all Ashley Grote The organ was built faiths and backgrounds. The aim is to in 1666 and ten years ago fully restored in provide healing and counselling for all, free controversial style. The audience sat of charge. Truly a memorable evening! spellbound in their choir stalls as Ashley’s More details: ear-shattering interpretation of Bach’s www.gloucestercathedral.org.uk Toccata reverberated throughout the www.rainbowsendfoundation.co.uk magnificent building. -Ed Susan speaks of her father’s Masonic commitment squaretalk 3 Cheltenham “Fascinating - most enjoyable. Thank you.” opens the door! “Good to see the open door.” “Wonderful experience. Thank you.” Cheltenham Masonic Hall is a jewel in the “An organisation people heritage of both Cheltenham and Freemasonry, being one of the first genuinely admired” purpose-built Masonic Halls. W Bro Alastair Hamill is the Lodge 250 visitors see inside historic Membership Steward of Regency Lodge building to find out more . and was very involved in the event. His comment on the day was: “The number On Saturday 24 October, members of the of times I heard members of the public nine Craft lodges which meet there say ‘I didn’t know that! Wow, why isn’t welcomed over 250 visitors into the this made more public?’ It was quite building. Their interest varied from those unreal and for me it was uplifting to who wanted to see the building, to those belong to an organisation people that wanted to find out more about genuinely admired.” Freemasonry, to those that were curious Chairman of the Cheltenham Masonic Association, W Bro Martin Fowler , or just wanted a cup of tea. Some asked summed up the day, “Opening the doors how to join. of such a beautiful building to make so They were able to visit the Lodge many people more aware of what Room, Museum and Dining Room and Freemasonry is about and why we are listen to a most informative presentation proud to be Masons was a really on Freemasonry. Members were on hand rewarding and worthwhile event. It to field questions and explain both the worked because of the willingness of origin and features of the building, as well members to get involved and be so as talk about the history of Masonic welcoming and open with our visitors. We symbolism and the principles on which it will do it again next year . and do it is founded. Many visitors expressed even better!” surprise and delight about the open manner in which their many questions were answered and some were surprised at the extent of the help given to organisations in Gloucestershire, with examples of £33k to Maggies and £125k to the Star College. Most visitors were in the building for an hour, some for much longer ~ a good sign that they found their visit interesting. Comments made as they left included: 4 squaretalk and yells of encouragement were all that Band of Brothers! was needed to spur us on.” Some vehicles were not so welcome, however; Shaun You will have read in the previous issue of being only millimetres from being taken out Square Talk that four “brothers” decided by an overtaking car on one occasion! to emulate one stage of a mammoth Undaunted, at precisely midday on fund-raising walk which the late Noel Saturday 10 October, holding up a stream of O’Driscoll , WM of Tyndall Lodge, had undertaken back in 1987. Noel’s chosen charity for his year in office was British Limbless Ex-Servicemen’s Association (BLESMA ), but his sudden death so soon after taking the chair put that in jeopardy. So, in October, and in his memory, Bros Richard Harris, Steve Bullen and Phil Green of Tyndall Lodge and Bro Shaun Harris of Kingswood Chase Lodge walked the 112 miles from Cherbourg to Pegasus Bridge in Normandy. It took just over four days, to complete (mostly) supportive motorists, the quartet the challenge and in doing so they have marched across the replacement Pegasus already surpassed their £10,000 objective Bridge, to be met by a large and enthusiastic for BLESMA. group of supporters including Noel’s widow, Weather for the first two days was Pat, and his sister Dolores who had made the trip from Ireland, together with Brother atrocious, with high winds and flooding. Robin Jones whom Noel had accompanied “Only five miles in and we were wet to on that first walk 22 years previously, long the skin, even questioning the wisdom of before either had contemplated their what we had taken on” said Phil. Rich separate journeys into Freemasonry. ‘Bomber’ Harris added, “We had trained Then just across the road to the hard all through the summer, but not for “Memorial Pegasus” where the original rain like this! Here we were on Day One Bridge is now located. Over 50 members of with wet boots and now sure to get Winchester Army Training Regiment blisters.” How right he was! happened to be visiting the museum and A spectacularly sign-painted support roundly clapped and cheered the walkers Land Rover, driven by serving fire-fighter into the grounds. The French press was in Mike Hopkins, attracted much attention attendance and curator, Mark Worthington along the route and drew interest in (ex-RAF), laid on a champagne reception BLESMA from Brits and French alike.