By Casper Lawson (RR, 1977-80)
When the 24-storey Grenfell Tower caught fire, one of the many tragedies that night was that the London Fire Brigade’s highest ladder, at around 30 metres, could only reach the 10th floor. A longer ladder could have enabled them to fight the fire from above the flames as it spread up the building.
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As news of the tragedy broke, London Freemasons responded almost immediately by creating a new fund to address this need. In the last year the fund reached £2.5 million, all of which has been donated to the London Fire Brigade to buy two Super Hi-Lift aerial platforms. The 64 metre platforms, the highest in Europe, will enable the Fire Brigade to reach the top floor of other tower blocks like Grenfell. There was enough left over in the fund for us also to donate six fast responder Outlander vehicles and four bariatric stretchers, all of which are now helping save lives on the streets of London.
The Old Westminsters’ Lodge (OWL) is proud to have been part of this story, as one of the many Lodges to have donated. Charity is one of the core principles of Freemasonry. We are apolitical and open to any religious faith. The aim of our ceremonies is to keep reinforcing moral messages, to try to make us, as men, the best members of society that we can be, and for each of us to live our lives as the best possible version of ourselves (womens’ Lodges have the equivalent aim). These aims were formulated many centuries ago, but are as relevant today as ever.
OWL is the School’s oldest alumni group. In normal, non-pandemic, years we meet 4 times a year at the School. We take our meetings seriously and then dine convivially in College Hall. Our May meeting is a ‘white table’ event to which all are welcome. To find out how to join in our ‘serious fun’, or just to find out more about us, we invite you to browse our website or contact us directly by email on sec@oldwestminsterslodge.org
